Located in Boulogne-sur-Mer, on the Opal Coast, Nausicaa is the largest public aquarium in Europe. The site offers an immersion in the marine world thanks to exceptional exhibitions and interactive and immersive experiences such as Grand Large, an augmented reality device unique in the world.
In 2018, the National Sea Centre (which is located half an hour from Le Touquet) inaugurated an extension including a large tank of 10,000 m3. Thanks to this expansion, Nausicaa has doubled in volume and is now called the Grand Nausicaa.
Two circuits are proposed:"Travel the High Seas" and "Shores and Men". The latter corresponds to the old Nausicaa but it has been revisited to adapt to the new spaces. The exhibition "Travel the High Seas", located in the extension, is inspired by the island of Malpelo. Located off the coast of Colombia, this island is home to an exceptional unesco World Heritage Site.
View the wonderful spectacle in front of the immense tank of 20m wide and 5m high, which gathers 20,000 species of different fish.
An immersive tunnel of 18m long allows you to observe as close as possible impressive sea creatures such as sharks, manta rays and many others!
Activities with the crew of Nausicaa and the animals will allow you to learn more about marine species and ocean life. You can watch sea lions being trained, feed manta rays or hammerhead sharks, meet the animal keepers or even watch them dive into the pools to discover the mysteries of the seabed.
This is what the Grand Large augmented reality animation has been offering visitors since the summer of 2022. Comfortably seated in front of the Grande Baie and equipped with HoloLens 2 goggles, they set off to discover the High Seas in the company of Lute, the world's largest turtle, and travel with her through this vast world populated by extraordinary species with which they can interact.
An immersive and emotional way to raise awareness of the importance of their protection and to understand the essential role of this natural environment for the planet. The encounters with a whale, a shark or a school of fish illustrate the richness of what remains one of the last unknown territories on Earth and, thanks to the different educational contents diffused during the experience, we understand the importance of protecting these majestic animals.
Ready to plunge into the world of Nausicaa?
For more information about the National Sea Centre.
Jessica from Comme des Français
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To stay in the marine theme
