Inaugurated in 1910 by its founder, Prince Albert 1, this exceptional museum of marine sciences is a monumental architectural masterpiece with a grandiose façade rising sheer above the sea to a height of 85 metres.

It took eleven years to build. Using 100,000 tons of stone from La Turbie.

The impressive rooms of the "Museum", open to the public on two floors, contain remarkable collections of marine fauna gathered by Prince Albert, numerous specimens of sea creatures (stuffed or in skeleton form, including the skeleton of a 20 metre whale), models of Prince Albert's laboratory ships, and craft-ware made from the sea's natural products.

In the basement, the visitor can enjoy the spectacular delights of the world-famous "Aquarium" with its extraordinary show of marine flora and fauna. The rarest species of multi-coloured fish from the world's oceans and seas swim around in seawater which is pumped directly to their 90 tanks. This silent world is also a world of beauty, with fascinating varied forms and colours. All the other lower floors down to sea level house 2,000 square metres of scientific research laboratories.

Films about the sea, notably those made for television by Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, are permanently screened (with exceptional acoustics) in the sumptuous conference hall, which can seat up to 300 spectators.

From the terrace (open to the public) there is a splendid view from the Italian Riviera to the Esterel mountain range.

Open daily:
During October and March from 9.30am to 7pm
During April, May, June and September from 9am to 7pm
During July and August from 9am to 8pm
From November to February from 10am to 6pm
Closed the 24th May, in the afternoon

Rates: (per person) 14,00 €
Children from 6 to 12 years : 7,00 €
Students from 13 to 18 years : 10,00 €