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Partially explored, mysterious or fantastic, the underwater world is a continual
source of fascination. Since 1970, millions of visitors have shared our passion
and desire to learn more about the wonders of the sea.
From the microscopic world to the lords of the oceans, we wanted to share this
unique journey exploring the origins of life with you.
So, to prolong this great adventure, we created the new Aquarium La Rochelle.
Be amazed and enchanted, understand and learn as well, so that Planet Earth,
this small round fragile pebble lost in the immensity of space,
stays the Blue Planet, unique and amazing.
Roselyne Coutant Bénier et Pascal CoutantAquarium La Rochelle Creators
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- An Exceptional place
- The Aquarium and preservation
- The Gallery of lights
- Atlantic Port of Call
- Exploration of the Mediterranean
- Open Ocean Area
- Jellyfish
- Diving in the Caribbean
- Escape to the Indo-Pacific
- Shark Theatre
- Turtles Area
- Tropical Forest
- Children’s Voyage
- Group visits
- The Aquarium’s Restaurant and Gift Shop
- Event spaces
- Plan your visit
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An Exceptional place
The Aquarium in Figures
3 millions litres of sea water
2-hours tour into the depths of the oceans
12,000 marine animals
450 m2 of tropical rainforests
78 aquariums
800,000 visitors/year
15 million visitors since its creation
Most popular tourist attraction in
Charente-Maritime
2nd in Poitou-Charentes
6th in France
The Aquarium La Rochelle has been voted best aquarium in France on TripAdvisor.
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The Aquarium and preservation
The Aquarium La Rochelle is one of the largest private
aquariums in Europe. It was born from a family passion
for the marine world over three generations and is the
result of 50 years of experience.
The Aquarium is a place for scientific research and
training and has a leading role in the knowledge and
protection of the marine world.
Focusing on the study and conservation of marine
species, the Aquarium conducts scientific research and
training for the preservation of biodiversity through its
Research and Care Centre for Marine Turtles.
It breeds some 20 marine species and is successfully
developing the cultivation various types of coral, thus
avoiding having to capture them in the wild. Each year,
the Aquarium La Rochelle welcomes researchers and
PhD students who conduct studies with the technical
and scientific support of the Aquarium..
The Research and Care Centre for Marine Turtles
conducts rescue missions and awareness campaigns
to protect the turtles on the French Atlantic coast.
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In 2016,Live the enchantment
of the oceans...
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The Gallery of lights
Dive into a new universe, for a magical journey into the
deep sea.
There, into the darkness, the marine species light up,
revealing their bright colored treasures.
From the surface to the mysterious abyssal depths, let
yourself be carried away by a magical experience and
discover the secrets of the light.
Hold your breath, sharpen your senses, the immersion
into the Gallery of lights will fill you with wonder !
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AtlanticPort of Call
The temperate waters of the Atlantic reveal themselves…
Cuttlefish, rays, sole and turbot try out their camouflage
techniques.
A few steps away, in an unassuming ecosystem, the
foreshore hides many a mystery.
From the delicate shrimp to the timid gobies, they all
seem so fragile. Each day they battle wind and tide to
fight for their survival.
Further on, a shoal of sardines creates a huge gold and
silver painting, while Norway lobsters disappear into a
landscape of jewel anemones. In this vast ocean, every
fish is unique.
22 aquariums75 species6,000 marine animals
The long-snouted seahorse is believed to be
monogamous, living with the same partner for its entire
life.
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Explorationof the Mediterranean
In the birthplace of history, in the middle of a cave, a
multitude of windows open up to reveal the riches of
the sea.
A shoal of salenga dances to the rhythm of the undertow
and cardinalfish parade through a forest of red coral,
while a troop of pomfrets plays among the branches of
sea fans.
The spectacles come one after another : lullabies of
burrowing anemone in a gentle moonscape, the song
of slipper lobsters amidst the scorpionfish, and even an
octopus testing out its mime show...
12 aquariums84 species1,000 marine animals
The octopus has a visual, tactile memory but, even more
surprisingly, they have the capacity to learn, simply by
watching one another.
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OpenOcean Area
The stage opens onto the Ocean for a musical tableau...
Blue runners tune up to the guitarfish, and a duo of
little bonnethead sharks composes a fugue before the
serious eyes of stoic barracudas.
11 aquariums12 species700 marine animals
The guitarfish is nicknamed the «shark ray» for its
seeming mixture of a ray (in front) and a shark (at the
back).
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Jellyfish
While the jellyfish ballet is in motion, dainty strands of
lace float about. White-spotted and compass jellyfish,
Cassiopeas and Aurelias : these lovely ladies gracefully
parade by, drawing attention for the elegance of their
unfurled gowns.
Medusa was a beautiful sea goddess, proud of her
hair. To punish her for her vanity, Athena transformed
her into a frightening monster, with boar’s teeth, hair
made of snakes, and eyes that would turn anyone who
looked at her into stone.
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Diving inthe Caribbean
A wave pushes us to the warmth of the tropics, where
the imagination is stirred at the sight of angelfish,
surgeonfish, boxfish and parrot fish. Here, all the
acrobats compete with one another with their iridescent
hues !
Green and snowflake moray eels and queen triggerfish
dress up in subtle outfits of blues and greens that
reflect in the mirrored scales carved into the moon of
the moonfish...
5 aquariums78 species500 marine animals
When frightened, the long-spine porcupinefish swallows
a large amount of water and inflates a pouch near its
stomach. By doubling in size and raising the spines all
over its body, it attempts to intimidate its predators.
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Escapeto the Indo-Pacific
Discover the wealth of coral landscapes : in great
barriers, reefs and atolls, many different forms of life
are having a ball.
A score of multicoloured fish fan out on the sandy bed
of the turquoise lagoon. The joyful saraband includes
blowfish and unicornfish teasing the humphead wrasse.
Then, in the middle of the corals with their multitude of
forms and colours, a number of famous acts appear :
the clownfish and its anemone, the hatpin urchin and
its razorfish, a carnival of fish and harlequin shrimp,
cascades of lionfish and fire shrimp, the show just goes
on and on...
22 aquariums385 species3,000 marine animals
Surgeonfish have a spine as sharp as a scalpel on
either side of their caudal peduncle (tail).
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1 aquarium20 species500 marine animals
SharkTheatre
Seated in front of the large aquarium or watching from
the ledge, experience the intensity of an encounter
with the lord of the oceans !
An opera of the sea, in which different species brush
against one another, like blue runners, Anisotremus,
sawfish and, of course, sharks : leopard, bull, nurse,
bamboo, blacktip, whitetip reef, and grey reef.
But the trio of bull sharks shares the title role, with their
sleek two metres in length automatically drawing the
eye in this vast aquarium holding 1.5 million litres of
seawater.
The Zebra shark also called a «leopard shark», owes its
name to the stripes that it sports while young.
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TurtleArea
In a cloud of golden trevally, two sea turtles gently
brush up against a rocky landscape. The hawksbill
turtle stands out for its size and for the designs on its
shell that allow this tricky creature to hide among the
rocks.
The younger green turtle mischievously darts about
here and there, under the kindly eyes of two leopard
moray eels.
1 aquarium8 species45 marine animals
Of the world’s seven species of sea turtles, four can be
found on the French Atlantic coastline. All of them are
endangered species.
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TropicalForest
Return to the earth in a tropical rainforest where the
path winds its way through palm trees, climbers, tree
ferns and orchids.
Freshwater harbouring turtles and piranhas flows
around their roots and a waterfall, while tarpons and
mudskippers show off their odd features in brackish
water.
In this beautiful nature setting, carnivorous plants give
way to the captivating scents of cinnamon, vanilla,
pepper, citronella and patchouli that fill the tour with
amazing aromas.
Powerful jaws and triangular teeth reinforce the bad
reputation of piranhas. However, the only proven case
of a fatal piranha attack on humans dates back to 1870.
3 aquariums220 species200 marine animals
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Children’sVoyage
These spaces were designed for our younger audience so they can share a unique experience
with their families.
From sharks to turtles, and from the sparkling fish of the Atlantic to the colourful swimmers of
the Tropics, all the heroes of the ocean are here. Over the space of two hours, your kids will be
amazed and their curiosity excited by this captivating world.
Surprises await Aquarium La Rochelle’s youngest guests : an underwater cave, a magic carpet,
games and more, to inspire them to dream, understand and learn about the sea.
Schools groups
We welcome primary schools, secondary schools, therapeutic education and teaching
institutes, clinics for developmentally disabled children, rural training centres, public education
wards, state school residences, state holiday camps, sailing schools/residences, etc.
As a place of scientific knowledge, Aquarium La Rochelle offers educational visits and activities
that will give visitors a better understanding of the sea.
Group visits are completely self-guided and can be scheduled anytime during normal operating
hours.
As a supplement to your visit, we recommend the audio
guide (about 2 hours) : Sea life will hold no secrets for you !
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GroupsvisitsAquarium La Rochelle can accommodate any group (of 20+ people).We welcome associations, schools, coach operators,travel agencies, retirement homes and more.
Choose your programfor your visit to the Aquarium :
Visit (about 90 min.)Discover the underwater world by diving into the planet’s oceans and seas.
As a supplement to your visit, we recommend :
The Audio guide(about 2 hours)
Sea life will hold no secrets for you !
Our Audio guides are available in French, English, German and Spanish.
Book now For complete peace of mind
- guaranteed group pricing
- audio-guide
- cloakroom
By booking in advance, you get priority
access to the group reception desk.
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The Restaurantle Café de l’Aquarium
Located on the second floor of the Aquarium (accessible from the entrance hall, Aquarium
admission not required), le Café de l’Aquarium overlooks a tropical forest and offers a unique
view of La Rochelle’s famous towers from its dining room and terrace.
The cuisine is prepared on-site by a team of culinary professionals, using high-quality fresh,
seasonal products.
Thev Aquarium’sGift shop
Mémoires d’Océans proffers a large selection of precious items, souvenirs, educational games
and business gifts related to the ocean and nature.
Contact the Restaurant
Tel: +33 (0)5 46 50 17 17
www.cafe-aquarium.com
Contact the Gift shop
Tel: +33 (0)5 46 34 89 07
www.memoiresdoceans.com
You can fully or partially hire the restaurant for your coffee
breaks, business lunches, cocktail receptions and gala
dinners.
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The « Privilege Tour »
From September to Juneavailable from 7:30pm :Ideal for your professional events the
exhibition space can be hired out for
the evening for a magical cocktail
reception between the Caribbean and
the coral reefs of the Red Sea...
Surprise your guests with a wondrous
and unique setting !
Amphitheatre
Available during the dayor in the evening throughout the year :Perfect for your work meetings, seminars
and conferences
- 130 chairs with small writing desks
- Control room + additional services
- Configuration : amphitheatre
- Bonus : the stage’s backdrop is a
150,000 litre aquarium
Eventspaces
If you are looking for an event venue, a prestigious site for a company party, seminar, meeting,
conference, film screening, etc., look no further than Aquarium La Rochelle !
Located in the heart of the city, on the Grands Yachts marina, nearby hotels and popular sites
for business visitors, the Aquarium is a fabulous setting for your events.
Our team provides comprehensive services and will help you organize your event : meeting
rooms, catering, private events, etc.
Contact us for a customized quote for your event !
+33 (0)5 46 34 89 05
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Planyour visit
Reception and comfort
- Booking required.
- Aquarium and gift shop air-conditioned.
- Video cameras and cameras without flash permitted.
Access and facilities
- «Tourisme et Handicap» accreditation (for visitors
with physical, mental and hearing disabilities) fully
accessible by wheelchair.
- Wheelchairs and pushchairs are available free of
charge by request.
- Lockers are available.
Refreshments
Once you leave the exhibition, you will not be allowed
back in. Plan to eat something before or after your visit.
Feel free to contact Le Café de l’Aquarium
at +33 (0)5 46 50 17 17 for a quote.
For more information or help organizing your
stay, please contact the Tourist Office
at +33 (0)5 46 41 14 68.
Group drop-off and pick-up are allowed in front
of the Aquarium. Long-term parking is located
400m away (Place Moitessier).
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A rich storyLa Rochelle is a historic town that was once the Huguenot capital. From its origins as a fishing village, it became a very
important port from the 13th century, thanks particularly to trade in salt and wine. The old port in the middle of the town with
its two towers symbolises this rich past. To stop for a few moments on a sunny café terrace is a moment of pure pleasure
that sets the tone of your holiday. The old town behind the port is perfect for a stroll and is a real voyage of discovery. After
passing under the Grosse Horloge (Main Clock) - entrance to the city - through the small streets and under the arches,
discover the medieval houses with timber-framed walls and slate, the private luxury residences of the ship-owners and the
old market halls.
A town on the moveA historic town centre is today bustling with activity with its many shops and events jostling for your attention during the
summer days. La Rochelle is a town on the move. The University, aquarium - one of the finest in Europe - airport and large
number of events such as the Francofolies, the International Film Festival, the Grand Pavois… all bear witness to the vitality of
La Rochelle. Welcoming and proud of their city, the people of La Rochelle would be glad to guide you through this town that
today is nick-named «La Belle et Rebelle» («the Beauty and the Rebel»).
© Charente-Maritime Tourisme - www.france-atlantic.com
The archetypal town Of the Atlantic coast
Information
Opening hours365 days/year
October to March : 10am to 8pm
April to June and September : 9am to 8pm
July and August : 9am to 11pm
AccessSigns for the Aquarium are posted at the entrance of the city.
Follow the signs toward the «Aquarium» or «Gare SNCF».
By train
The SNCF railway station is a 5-minute walk from the Aquarium.
By plane
Regular lines - La Rochelle Airport
ContactQuai Louis Prunier BP 4
17002 La Rochelle Cedex 1, France
Tel. +33 (0)5 46 34 00 00
Fax. +33 (0)5 46 45 35 71
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