Located in Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France, Nausicaá Aquarium is Europe's largest aquarium, with 10,000 cubic metres (that's 10,000,000 litres).
With 58,000 marine species including sharks, rays and giant schools of fish, as well as a wide range of unusual aquatic plants, the Nausicaá Aquarium is the ultimate in size and beauty!
Let yourself be taken to the deepest heart of the ocean without getting your feet wet. An adventure for both the young and the experienced explorer! The Nausicaá Aquarium in Boulogne-sur-Mer is definitely worth a visit if you are staying in the area.
The aim of this aquarium is to offer visitors a voyage of discovery through the entire marine environment. From the North Sea and the Pacific Ocean to the Californian coast and beyond, Nausicaá Boulogne-sur-Mer has it all.
Nausicaá hopes to educate its visitors about the world we live in and what is needed to keep it as livable as possible. The sea and the life in it are crucial to life on earth, one of the many lessons Nausicaá offers through its exhibitions.
Nausicaá has something of interest for everyone and you are guaranteed to leave the Aquarium with new knowledge or insights.
Nausicaá
Boulevard Sainte Beuve
62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
+33 (0)3 21 30 99 99
info@nausicaa.fr
Nausicaá Aquarium offers the most complete journey through marine and coastal life, with more than 20 exhibits you will soon see why Nausicaá is the largest aquarium in Europe.
From deep sea to coast, dark to light, animal to man and from freshwater to brackish, the many mysteries of the sea are discovered and explained in Nausicaá's exhibitions.
Below is a brief sneak peak of what the Nausicaá Aquarium has to offer. Then, for those who are interested, we have taken a closer look at some of the exhibits.
The exhibitions can be divided into two main themes: On the High Seas & About Coasts and People.
On the High Seas takes you to one of the last unexplored areas of the globe, through courses and tours you step into the shoes of an explorer through the gigantic depths of the wondrous Pacific Ocean.
Sharks have fascinated and moved mankind for centuries. Both admired and feared, this ancient predator is rightly called the "King of the Sea". At Nausicaá Boulogne-sur-Mer, you can come and admire a number of shark species.
There are some 500 different species of sharks in the seas and oceans, a small proportion of which can be seen in this exhibition. A fraction are man-eaters and the cliché "they are probably more afraid of you than you are of them" is more than true here too.
Predators are a particularly important link in keeping food chains balanced and thus maintaining natural equilibrium. The human reduction of shark species is therefore also a threat to the entire underwater world.
To date, man is the shark's greatest enemy and an estimated 100 million sharks die each year as a result of human activity! It is a major ecological disaster resulting in an irreparable imbalance.
Besides the extraordinary experience, this is one of the lessons that the exhibition The Kingdom of Sharks wants to teach you. Are you fascinated by sharks? Come and see them at Nausicaá!
The Blue Society Forum, focuses on the 'blue' world and its preservation.
As you may know, the ocean plays an indispensable role in maintaining the natural balance of our planet. It is the source of all life on earth, regulates and influences our many climate zones and is the engine for the water cycle and the production of oxygen.
In this exhibition, you will be interactively challenged to test your knowledge about the ocean or participate in the debate on ocean management.
The Blue Society or "Blue Society" aims to promote positive growth of the oceans and seas to meet the future needs of humanity.
A good, respectful, but above all balanced, development of marine space is certainly not impossible. However, there are a number of challenges: political, economic, technological and cultural. These are factors that all influence how we deal with the space of the seas and oceans.
There are already so many lessons to be learned from our seas and oceans that can contribute to areas such as food, energy and health. The Blue Society is committed to finding solutions that will lead to a sustainable and just society.
The exhibition "Mankind & Shores," focuses on the age-old relationship between man and the sea. In this exhibition, you will experience how much man and the sea are intertwined and how much mankind has been dependent on the sea.
You will discover the great biodiversity and different ecosystems, but above all the importance of the ocean and the seas for mankind and what is needed to protect them. So that this age-old relationship can be maintained for many years to come.
The touch tank is designed with the idea that humans and animals have direct contact. You can touch the animals here in peace and quiet, which makes for an unforgettable experience!
The rays, which can feel the slightest vibration in the water, are happy to come and say hello. In addition to stingrays, this aquarium is also home to Pollock fish and codfish.
Come and literally feel what marine life has to offer in this special exhibition at the Nausicaá Aquarium.
These 'lions' do not have impressive manes, but they do have smooth skin, a surprising intellect and an impressive roar. Let these five California sea lions surprise and entertain you.
When the population declined sharply, they were moved to various reserves to continue the species, including one at the Nausicaá aquarium.
At the entrance, you will come into contact with the animals for the first time through a glass tunnel.
In the enclosure, the animals shoot from left to right above your head at speeds of up to 30 km/h, as if you were in the middle of the ocean. A truly unique experience.
On the surface, you can admire the animals resting, playing and diving in the open air on specially made rocks and wooden reconstructions of their natural habitat.
Are you interested in this admirable Aquarium and its thousands of animal species?
Then don't delay and book your holiday accommodation near the Nausicaá Aquarium today!
The Evancy Boulogne-sur-Mer residence is less than 800 metres away from this magnificent aquarium. A brand new residence where you and your family are guaranteed a wonderful and restful stay. With a view of the old marina or the basilica, your stay is complete.
You also have access to your own terrace and kitchen so if you want to cook yourself that's no problem! Pets are also welcome here, ideal for animal lovers. Moreover, it is the perfect base for the Opal Coast and the cliffs of Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez.