Oceanographic Museum - the Whale

In the west wing of the Museum, the Hall of Applied Oceanography, renamed the Whale Hall in 2004, displays a series of skeletons of marine mammals.

The emblem of this hall is the 20 metre skeleton of a fin whale (balaenoptera physalus).

Please click here to view thumbnails for all participants in CDP's theme: Animals

Oceanographic Museum - Huang Yong Ping's Giant Octopus

When Prince Albert I of Monaco created the Oceanographic Museum, he wanted to associate art with science and so throughout the building and on the facades outside, you'll find many incredible works of art.

One that really hits you in the face - and almost literally - is this sculpture of a giant octopus that measures 25 metres from tentacle to tentacle. It's the work of Chinese artist Huang Yong Ping - note one of the tentacles touching a plastic shoe, plastic bottles: the detritus of man on the ocean floor ...

You can read a full account of this work, the exhibition and see photos of the installation at CityOut Monaco. Thanks, Alex.

Below you'll find a video of the installation.

This exhibition - 'Méditerranée: Spelndide, Fragile, Vivant' - continues until the 21st March.

Oceanographic Museum - Prince Albert I of Monaco

The first thing that strikes you as you enter the Oceanographic Museum is that the building is going to be every bit as stunning as the fish - and it is.

This is the main entrance hall with a sculpture of Prince Albert I of Monaco (1848 - 1922), mariner and scientist and founder of the musuem.

As a young man, Prince Albert I served in the Spanish Navy, but during the Franco-Prussian War, he joined the French Navy where he was awarded the Legion of Honor. He was only 22 years old when he began to develop an interest in the then relatively new science of oceanography. After several years of study, Albert showed his ingenuity by devising a number of techniques and instruments used for measurement and exploration. Accompanied by some of the world's leading marine scientists, he recorded numerous oceanographic studies, maps and charts. He then founded what would become the world renowned Oceanographic Institute which is based here, at the museum, and in Paris. We'll learn more as we continue our visit.

The tentacles of the octupus are part of a exhibition - more another day.

Prince Albert I, (click to see him in the Saint Martin Gardens looking out to sea) is the great grandfather of the current ruler of Monaco, Albert II.

More tomorrow...

Oceanographic Museum - the Octopus

We are outside the main entrance of the Oceanographic Museum - we've bought our tickets and will soon walk up the steps...

But first... let's take a look at this 1981 sculpture by Emma de Sigaldi. It's called - no surprise - the Octopus.

Emma de Sigaldi was born in Germany in 1910. She trained and later performed as a classical dancer and then, in 1954, she married Monegasque Count de Sigaldi and from then on lived in the Principality. You'll find many sculptures by her in Monaco, including the famous 'Plongeur' that stands, arms outstretched and ready to dive, in front of the swimming pool on Port Hercule.

Emma de Sigaldi died in 2010, just before her 100th birthday.

Oceanographic Museum

These photos of the Oceanographic Museum on le rocher are by way of introduction to a series that starts on Monday.

Founded by Prince Albert 1, it was inaugurated in 1910. The building rises majestically from the sea to a height of 279 feet and took 11 years to build, using 100,000 tons of white limestone from La Turbie, a village high above Monte Carlo. It houses a fabulous museum of marine sciences.

We've a treat ahead so do come along for the ride.

Arman's Melodie

Can't you just hear the music! This sculpture - Melody by Arman - stands on le rocher just above Port Hercule.