Centre de la Mer et des Eaux

The building you are approaching at 195 rue Saint-Jacques was established in 1911 by Albert the First, Prince of Monaco. As a dedicated pioneer of oceanography, the prince wanted a space in Paris to share his research and findings from his maritime campaigns with the public. The architect Henri-Paul Nénot designed the structure, decorating its exterior with stone carvings of marine life, including octopuses, crabs, and seahorses, to reflect its scientific purpose. For over three decades, the basement of this institute housed the Centre de la Mer et des Eaux, a museum that operated from 1978 until 2010. This center served as an early educational hub for marine science in the heart of Paris, featuring tropical aquariums and some of the city's first interactive touch screens. While the museum portion closed years ago, the building remains the headquarters of the Oceanographic Institute and continues to function as a center for oceanographic research and education.