HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa Visits Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum

The visit was part of HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa’s activities on the occasion of Her participation at the third edition of the Foundations Dialogue for the Ocean Decade, which kicked off earlier in the day in the Principality.

On her arrival at the famous Museum, HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa was greeted by Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, Foundation Albert I, Prince of Monaco, with whom Her Royal Highness held a discussion notably on the Institute’s Mediterranean project.

During the meeting, Calcagno presented to HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa the history and missions of this emblematic museum, which welcomes 600,000 visitors every year, as well as the Oceanographic Institute’s actions to protect and preserve the seas and oceans and marine life.

Calcagno commended the commitment of HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa and Her Foundation, both in Morocco and in Africa.

Her Royal Highness then visited the Museum’s Salon d’Honneur, where she followed a presentation on Prince Albert 1st of Monaco and exchanges between the Principality and Morocco since the time of Prince Albert 1st, as well as the first part of the « Mission Polaire » exhibition, which presents the men and women who explored the poles.

HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa then visited the aquariums in the lagoon, one of the museum’s largest aquariums, and learned about various critically endangered species, before moving on to the wings featuring Mediterranean and tropical species.

In the Museum’s reserves, the Chief Aquarist presented to Her Royal Highness to the various missions of this area (hospital, nursery, coral farm and species transfers), before visiting the « Monaco and the Ocean » area, where HRH learned about the environmental protection and preservation actions undertaken since the exploration and study of the oceans by Prince Albert I, through to the missions carried out within the framework of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Her Royal Highness’s visit ended with a visit to Oceanomania, the world’s largest cabinet of marine curiosities, and an immersion at both poles.

Built into the side of Monaco’s mythical rock, the Oceanographic Museum was created by Prince Albert I. With its world-renowned expertise, the Museum presents over 6,000 specimens.

From the ornamentation of the facades to that of the rooms, everything in the Museum’s architecture evokes the marine world. Since its inauguration on March 29, 1910, this Temple of the Sea, with 6500 m2 open to the public, has established itself as an international benchmark for the knowledge, love and protection of the oceans.