Aquarium de Biarritz

Om museet

The idea of an institution devoted to the study of the ocean emerged in Biarritz at the end of the 19th century, when the Marquis Alexandre de Folin backed a scientific expedition in the Bay of Biscay. After the First World War the town took up the project of an oceanographic institute or museum and chose the Atalaye plateau, near the Rocher de la Vierge.

The project was approved in 1930 and entrusted to the architects Hiriart, Lafaye and Lacoureyre. The aquarium opened on August 10, 1933 in an Art Deco building, and was officially inaugurated in 1935. A research centre was built above it in 1952.

A renovation in 1992 modernised the displays while keeping the original architecture. The Biarritz Océan project, carried out from 2008 to 2011, doubled the size of the aquarium, which now covers about 7,000 m². Over time, living tanks (sharks, jellyfish) have complemented the collections of models and skeletons of whales and dolphins, navigation instruments and maritime objects.

Højdepunkter

• Art Deco building from 1933 facing the Rocher de la Vierge
• Seals, sharks, sea turtles, jellyfish and tropical fish
• Feeding of seals and sharks
• Care centre for stranded seals
• Maritime collections: skeletons, models of cetaceans and navigation instruments

Permanent udstilling

• Aquarium et collections de l'océan – Tanks with seals, sharks, turtles, jellyfish and tropical fish, with skeletons, models of cetaceans and maritime objects.

Grundlagt

1933

Ejer

Biarritz Océan (société d'économie mixte locale)

Entrépriser & rabatter

Large families receive €2 off per person on presentation of the card, at the ticket office only. Booking online avoids the queue. Payment by bank card, cash and ANCV holiday vouchers.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

An adapted route and a lift serve all levels. Two reserved parking spaces are at the entrance, reached via the tunnel from the Atalaye plateau after ringing the intercom; four other spaces are in the paid car park at Port Vieux. Wheelchairs and strollers must use the pedestrian entrance facing the Rocher de la Vierge, as the Atalaye path has steps. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are admitted on proof.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
• Barnevognsvenlig

The free Aquazoom app offers quizzes and challenges; feeding of seals and sharks. Pushchairs are admitted, but a baby carrier is recommended because of a designated staircase.

Transport & parkering

The Cité de l’Océan is 3 km from the aquarium.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik
• Garderobe: findes ikke

Restaurant Olatua from April to November, Le Rooftop outside the visit route, Negua from December to March (12:00–14:00, by reservation). No cloakroom, for safety reasons. Eating is prohibited on the visit route. Gift and souvenir shop.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Firmaarrangementer

Op til 300 personer.

Private hire of the aquarium (1,685 m²), a 385 m² panoramic terrace and a 40 m² meeting room (20 people). Up to 300 people for a cocktail and 60 for a seated dinner. Seminars, receptions and team-building; quote requested via a form.

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