The building stands over a length of 100 metres, clinging to the sheer flank of the Monaco Rock, and rises from sea level to over 250 feet.
The plans drawn by the architect Paul Delefortrie (1843-1910) were carried out by the contractors Fontana and Gamba. The two upper floors, reserved for the Museum itself have an identical layout: a square central part, twenty metres in length, surrounded by two symmetrical wings, 120 feet long and 45 feet wide.
The materials used are white limestone from la Turbie and, for special interest features (pillars on the facade and inside, monumental staircase), marble from Brescia.
The central topic of all the decoration, on the facade as well as inside the room, is the sea and the creatures living in it.
The Museum opened on 29 March 1910, after eleven years of work. Its successive directors have been Dr. Jules Richard, the Price's assistant, from 1900 to 1945; Captain Jules Rouch from 1945 to 1957; Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau from 1957 to 1988. It is presently headed by Professor Jean Jaubert.
Today, the Museum welcomes almost one million visitors a year.
Art and Science
According to the founder's wishes to associate art with the sciences, the Museum both outside and inside, is adorned with many items made by the best artists and craftsmen of the time. They depict marine creatures, seascapes or various symbolical figures of the marine world.
Thus, on the facade, we can see two large allegorical sculptures, bas-reliefs and the names of the main oceanographic ships of the 19th century.
Inside, the woodwork, chandeliers, furniture and decoration elegantly recall the marine elements.
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page", St. Augustine said. Here at www.travel-university.org we believe that every page must be read and explored. Travel is an avenue of learning that no text or classroom can teach. The world is a living classroom and you the student. We invite you to the www.travel-university.org library where you can read general interest and detail oriented articles.
