When the weather forecast called for high temperatures, we decided to spend the day indoors at Océanopolis in Brest. Océanopolis is a very well-thought-out aquarium, well-presented museum, and a nice research centre in the Finistere of Bretagne, France, that has been open to the public since June 21, 1990. It recounts the natural history of the oceans, and focuses on different marine ecosystems and how to preserve them better.
As soon as we entered, we were given a map and set loose to explore Océanopolis. Here are ten reasons that make our family day out to Océanopolis a wonderful experience as well as a rigorous scientific journey:
1. Explore the oceans of the world. It has three well-laid-out key zones — tropical, polar, and regional Brittany — that are easy to navigate. Each zone contains so many exhibits, and all the animals are well cared for in 77 large and clean aquaria.
2.Learn about the biodiversity of Brittany. The Brittany zone is amazing, providing a wealth of knowledge on the fascinating mosaic of ocean habitats, the shellfish industry, and the factors that contribute to the region’s particularly diversity. As we traveled through a variety of fascinating species, we got to meet the largest seals on the Brittany coast and the tiniest organisms known as plankton.
3.Dive into the tropical explosion of colors. With all of its enormous tanks filled with a rainbow of colors, the tropical zone is especially beautiful. They are very interesting because of the vibrant fish, lovely jellyfish and shellfish, impressive sharks, and incredible coral reefs.
4.More adventure in the polar pavilion. The North and South Poles are each represented by a different species. There is a place where you can find out more about the Arctic’s Inuit population and its fauna. We saw dolphins, penguins, sea lions, seals, and even polar bears.
5.See incredible creatures you have never seen before. We enjoyed the wide variety of marine creatures on display, especially the sharks, sea horses, penguins, crabs, and all the tanks of fish. We had a lovely time getting up close to all the animals and saw incredible creatures we had never seen before, including bearded seals, king penguins, zebra sharks, and many more. And on the otter trail, we got a gorgeous surprise at the end when we came across some adorable sea otters.
6.Bump into the fossil of a 100 million year-old ray. It was amazing.
7.Go behind the scenes. The “Carer for a Day” experience allowed us to experience what it’s like to be an animal caregiver in the real world. It was a nice experience and we had lots of fun.
8.Take a tour of the world’s most original research laboratory. It is one of my favorite sections in Oceanopolis, where some resident researchers shared their knowledge with us. We gained more knowledge about the effects of microplastics and climate change on the oyster reefs of Brittany.
9.Raise awareness. The exhibits are incredible and educational for both adults and children, and they are suitable for the whole family because we were all engaged for the entire afternoon while we learned and discovered new things, relaxed, had fun, and experienced excitement. We looked at all the tanks, read the information panels and watched the videos. While exploring it, we realized that it is a window into the oceans and much more than a recreational facility. With 10,000 different animals, it is a great resource for raising awareness and providing information about our seas, as it has a strong emphasis on ecology and sustainability. We left Océanopolis, more knowledgeable and eager to do more to protect the life and beauty of our seas and oceans. It was undoubtedly a fantastic family outing as well as a rigorous scientific journey.
10.Visit 70.8 science museum. It’s a Centre for Scientific and Technical Culture dedicated for our oceans. Here, we learned more about our oceans and its many challenges, including climate change, renewable energy, human health, transportation, food security, and biodiversity.
We went there as a family with a teenager, and we were glad we did because we really had a great time there. It is the best oceanarium we have ever visited, as it is based on oceanographic research. We couldn’t recommend it enough for all families of all ages — such amazing hydrotherapy for the mind. And it is certainly a must-see when you are in Brest to experience sea life!
Little Lilly travel tips:
- It is easy to book online and the tickets are very reasonably priced. You can also purchase a ticket on-site at the desk.
- Many of the information boards are written in French and English, so we were able to learn heaps of facts. Also, there’s an app that you can download to scan QR codes and get further information in the language you would like.
- The parking is straightforward and well signposted, and there is plenty of free parking available. It’s a 5-minute walk to the entrance. However, it is also accessible by public transport.
- There is a restaurant, but we haven’t tried it. You can also bring your lunch or snacks, as there’s plenty of space outside for picnics.
- The staff we encountered spoke both French and English and were very helpful.
- The whole site is wheelchair/pushchair accessible.
- The gift shop is well stocked, full of interesting and reasonably priced things, and has a huge range of books, toys, clothes and gifts to purchase.
- There is an outdoor play area too.
Little Lilly Meets the World 