Biarritz Aquarium: discover the marine flora and fauna of the Basque coast

The Biarritz Aquarium is home to a host of fun-loving species, including the colourful mandarin fish, the voluptuous flying scorpion fish, the surprising long-horned cowfish and the now-famous clown fish, to name but a few!

Visitors can watch the seals being fed every day at 10.30am and 5pm by the aquarium's care staff. During this activity, the care staff share information and anecdotes while the seals gobble up kilos of mackerel and sardines! Did you know that seals can remain apneic underwater for 15 to 20 minutes?

The aquarium contributes to the preservation of species through its care centre, which collects seals and sea turtles washed up on beaches with the aim of releasing them back into their natural environment. By buying a ticket, visitors are helping to save marine animals by funding the centre.

Throughout the visit, educational mini-films are shown to explain the marine lifestyle of the fish and cetaceans that navigate the large basins. The tour is also accompanied by audio clips to make it even more immersive.

Part of the aquarium building is a museum dedicated to the maritime history of the Basque coast, with models of boats and explanations of local fishing techniques and the seabed.

The reproductions of cetacean skeletons are impressive, and make you feel very small in the face of the immensity of the ocean!

The Biarritz Aquarium regularly puts on temporary exhibitions, such as the "Coral" photo exhibition. Produced in partnership with the French association Coral Guardian, which works around the world to preserve coral ecosystems, the photos highlight the work of the association and local Indonesian populations to protect the coral reef.

And if you're lucky, you can take part in a mermaiding competition (the art of swimming like a mermaid) with a professional mermaid (yes, it's a profession!).

The calendar of exhibitions and events is available on the official Biarritz Aquarium website.