CITY OF SCIENCE AQUARIUM

Dive into the heart of the Mediterranean in three aquariums, immersing yourself from the surface to the depths. The 40,000-litre aquarium, located opposite the entrance, is home to an ecosystem of large and small organisms, known as the herbarium zone. It lies between zero and twenty meters, and is teeming with invertebrates seeking shelter from predators. A veritable seagrass meadow, it's the grazers' larder. Taking advantage of these sources of food and protection, small marine animals (knotty newt, sea woodcock, hermit crab, shame crab, peacock wrasse...) live and multiply in this environment. The 10,000-litre aquarium is made up of caves and sandy bottoms, where small species can burrow and hide between twenty and sixty meters. The 80,000-litre aquarium is made up of coralligenous bottoms, covered with false corals, sponges and gorgonians, in order to limit sampling in the natural environment, deep rocks and underwater cliffs, at depths ranging from twenty to two hundred meters. Only red algae are able to grow. Sheltered from the tumult of the waves, tiny animals build ramified colonies. On the seabed, worms and coral build boulders where predatory fish (grouper, red bream, moray eel...) hide to hunt at night towards the surface. Behind the scenes at the aquarium, watch the aquariums being cleaned on Wednesday mornings. You'll be able to see the caretakers at work behind the glass. On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, fish meals are also served. This is also where you'll find the quarantine tanks dedicated to care and reproduction, which are not open to the public. The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is a vast museum dedicated to the understanding of science, with the principle of combining education, games and experimentation. While toddlers can learn a lot in the science workshops, older children can enjoy the planetarium, with its 3D screen in a hemispherical room, to learn all about astronomy, shooting stars and the Universe. Submarine enthusiasts can also visit the Argonaute, a genuine fighter submarine from the 1950s, located in the park. Don't miss our permanent and temporary exhibitions, events and conferences.