Océanopolis, Brest

Oceanopolis is the National Center for Scientific Culture dedicated to the Ocean, located in Brest, near the Moulin Blanc marina. The shape of the first building, the temperate pavilion, recalls that of a crab. Public equipment, it is the property of Brest Métropole and it is managed by a mixed economy company, Brest AIM.

Designed by the architect Jacques Rougerie, Oceanopolis opened in 1990. The primary goal was to offer a showcase to sea sciences through the temperate pavilion. Brest brings together 60 % of European research on the sea. Completely refurbished in 2000 with the addition of polar and tropical pavilions, Oceanopolis offers a scientific approach to the marine environment as a whole.

For this, around fifty aquariums, from 50 to 1,000,000 liters for the shark basin, are offered to the public. In addition to basins, different supports provides additional information on the biology of species, the protection of environments, the functioning of ecosystems...

The center is cut into three pavilions corresponding to three different environments: temperate, polar and tropical. 10,000 marine animals and plants of 1,000 species can thus be discovered in this complex.

Oceanopolis includes 8,700 m2 of visiting spaces and 4 million liters of seawater, including 1 million for the shark aquarium.