Diving into the deep at Nausicaa Aquarium, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
With the white cliffs of Dover hazy in the distance we stepped inside one of the highlights of northern France in the town of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Nausicaā is a large sprawling aquarium on the beach front. With a range of impressive sea life including a large shark exhibit, Californian sea lion reserve and tropical lagoon.
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About Nausicaa Aquarium, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
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The aquarium is set out on a number of different levels with plenty of space to show life beneath the waves.
It is mixed with visual installations showing the importance of the world’s oceans. And how protecting the fragile eco-system needs to be a priority.
We loved the range and variety of exhibits across Nausicaā, with no two rooms being the same.
There are plenty of weird and wonderful fish to spot, as well as crocodiles basking on the sides, and turtles dashing past.
The shark aquarium
And the most breath-taking of all, the shark aquarium which you can view from above. Here you can see their fins slowly rising out of the water as they streak past and then watch them up close in all their toothy glory, eyes glinting as they come by.
Tropical sealife
There are some lovely exhibits of tropical sea life too.
Reptiles – Nausicaa Aquarium, Boulogne-sur-Mer
And a section of reptiles, with snakes, geckos and chameleons.
Sea lions
My children loved seeing the sea lions dashing under the water. But we were a little disappointed that their feeding time was more like a circus act with tricks being performed in return for their lunch.
Penguins
And while my little one loved seeing the group of penguins, their beach area did feel like it should be larger.
These two areas aside though Nausicaa felt like a lovely aquarium with really well cared for sea life.
Jellyfish – Nausicaa Aquarium, Boulogne-sur-Mer
There is such a range of creatures it was wonderful to find out more about them. And the children were mesmerised by the number of tanks of different jellyfish.
And I loved the colourful sea anemone.
After a tasty and well-priced hot lunch in one of the three onsite restaurants we took in the short 4D cinema experience. With its blasts of ‘sea water spray’ as the cameras zoomed through breaking waves and over cliff edges.
Although the commentary for the film is in French (with English subtitles) my little ones didn’t seem to mind. And the film was a stark but beautiful reminder of the power of nature.
Although Boulogne is no longer home to regular ferry crossings to the UK, it’s a town well worth stopping off in to or from the Calais terminal. As Nausicaā, over 25 years old, is absolutely somewhere to support and take the opportunity to see the creatures of the sea up close.
Book your skip-the-line tickets here:
Book your skip-the-line tickets here.
The best holidays in northern France
Some truly amazing pictures.