Nausicaá Centre National de la Mer opened on May 18, 1991, in the coastal city of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France, on a site once occupied by an old casino. Designed by architect Jacques Rougerie, it was developed as a national project dedicated to scientific and technical discovery of the marine environment, with a particular focus on the relationship between humans and the sea.
Today Nausicaá is recognized as Europe’s largest public aquarium, spanning 15,000 square metres and housing roughly 60,000 animals across some 1,600 species in tanks holding a combined 17 million litres of water. A major 2018 expansion added “The High Seas” gallery, home to a massive pelagic tank with an 18-metre underwater tunnel where visitors walk beneath sharks and other open-ocean species.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
- Opened: May 18, 1991
- Size: 15,000 sq m; 17,000,000 litres of water
- Species/Animal count: About 1,600 species, 60,000 animals
- Annual visitors: Over 800,000
- Famous for: Europe’s largest aquarium and its 18-metre shark tunnel
What to See
Nausicaá’s exhibits are organized around humanity’s relationship with the ocean, from coral reefs and mangroves to the open sea. The aquarium’s largest tank holds 10 million litres and forms the centrepiece of “The High Seas” gallery, opened in 2018, where an 18-metre transparent tunnel lets visitors watch sharks, rays, and other pelagic species swim overhead.
Beyond the tanks, Nausicaá is home to California sea lions, African penguins, and spectacled caimans, and it uses touch screens and an app with indoor geolocation to guide visitors through its scientific exhibits on marine ecosystems and conservation.
A National Project
The aquarium’s origins trace to Guy Lengagne, then mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, who pushed to repurpose the site of an old casino for a marine discovery centre. A non-profit association formed in 1984, and by 1986 France had designated the project one of its major urban developments, renaming it the National Sea Centre.
In 1999, Nausicaá received UNESCO Centre of Excellence designation for its work in ocean education, cementing its role as both a tourist attraction and a hub for marine science communication.
Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.
Nausicaá FAQs
Is Nausicaá the largest aquarium in Europe?
Yes, Nausicaá in Boulogne-sur-Mer is recognized as Europe’s largest public aquarium, with tanks holding a combined 17 million litres of water.
When did Nausicaá open?
Nausicaá opened to the public on May 18, 1991.
How many species does Nausicaá have?
Nausicaá is home to about 60,000 animals representing roughly 1,600 species.
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Photo: Fraizzz / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.