05 September 2009

The Oceanographic Museum

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

The Oceanographic Musuem rises majestically from the sea to a height of 279 feet and took 11 years to build, using 100,000 tons of stone from La Turbie, a village high above Monte Carlo. It was inaugurated in 1910 and is dedicated to its founder Albert I, who was a major navigator. Here you'll find his laboratory ships and collections of marine fauna including a skeleton from a 66-foot whale.

The famous Jacques Cousteau was director of this museum of marine sciences for many years and in the basement, you will find the world-famous aquarium with its extraordinary show of marine flora and fauna. With 4,000 species of fish and over 200 families of invertebrates, the aquarium is now an authority on the presentation of the Mediterranean and tropical marine ecosystem.

In the distance you see Cap Martin jutting out into the sea and beyond that you'll find Menton and then Italy.

10 comments:

maria said...

And that's why they call it Cote d'Azur..... Beautiful!

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

I have my version of this photo, taken from almost the same spot, on display in my office (along with several other photos of Monaco).

Jacque Cousteau did a lot of good and was a pioneer in our awareness of environmental issues. We had lecturers from Jean Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society as part of the enrichment program on board our cruise ship in the South Pacific during our recent cruise to the solar eclipse.

Virginia said...

Absolutely beautiful and the perfect spot for such a museum. I think my daughter and her husband visited here on their honeymoon!
V

Saretta said...

What a dramatic setting, just lovely!

Saretta said...

What a dramatic setting, just lovely!

Sharon said...

That is a very impressive building commanding an incredible view!

glenda said...

This is such a beautiful building inside and out. You captured a great shot. The fish were so interesting to see and read about.

Hilda said...

Magnificent! It's an architectural feat, the view is spectacular, and the museum itself sounds amazing.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is gorgeous! Jealous!

Arnaud said...

Je connais bien ce coin, mais du coté de la mer ... je vais souvent plonger là bas !

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