The conference hall is situated at the western wing of the ground-floor. Its ample proportions, the sumptuousness of the furniture and the harmony of the decoration give it a most luxurious appearance.
The walls are covered with oak wainstcoting, topped with panels with the repeated monogram of Prince Albert I draw in gold on a blue background. Above the dais intended for personalities during congresses and conferences, a huge painting by Monchablon depicts the second Princesses Alice.
The theme of the chandeliers, made by the firm Bagues, is seabirds flying close to the waves. The ceiling is coffered. The central part is reserved for marine topics, painted by Felix Hippolyte-Lucas (1854-1925): the first mariners; the lighthouse; the trawler relief; sea birds; whaling; seal hunting. The surrounding coffers, done by the person in charge of decorating the hall, Emmanuel Cavaille-Coll (1860-1922), are adorned with marine animals.
The opening of the Oceanographic Museum was celebrated here, on 29 March 1910.
Prestigious international meetings have been held here; among others, the 9th International Congress of Zoology (1913), the 2nd International Hydrographic Conference (1926), the meeting of the meeting of the International Olympic Committee (1927), the Scientific Conference on the Disposal of radio-active Wastes (1959), the 1st International Congress of Aquariology (1960), the 1st International Congress on the History of Oceanography (1966), the Congress on Large Marine Ecosystems(1990), the 7th International Symposium on Biomineralization (1993) and eight congresses-plenary meetings of the International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea between 1951 and 1974.
This hall has also housed many artistic exhibitions, and in addition concerts and recordings thanks to its very good acoustics. It is equipped with a very good audiovisual system enabling it to be used daily to show films dealing with the sea. Two cameras, submerged at 50 and 85 feet depth in front of the Museum, show what is going on underwater in real time.
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