Are you in Amboise with the family and looking for an exciting visit?
The Aquarium de Touraine invites you to plunge into thefascinating world of the seabed , taking you on a journey from the Loire to the distant oceans.
From carp to sharks to caimans, get ready for an unforgettable adventure on the water!
Here are our useful tips for planning your visit to the Aquarium de Touraine near the town of Amboise.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to the Aquarium de Touraine worthwhile?
Yes, the Aquarium de Touraine is ideal for an entertaining and educational family outing! The aquarium exhibits over 360 different species in an immersive, educational setting. A number of fun features help children understand marine ecosystems and conservation issues. For us, it's one of the best things to do in Amboise as a family.
What you can do
Take the shark tunnel
This is surely the most magical moment of the visit! Walk through the 15m-long tunnel and watch the graceful reef sharks swimming peacefully overhead! The contrast with the multicolored fish is striking!
Meet the caimans
In the warm water zone, we met several intimidating species, including caimans. The special feature of the Aquarium de Touraine is that it presents several generations. Some are under 3 years old, born at the Aquarium and pampered in the Reptile Nursery.
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
- Think aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Plunge into the darkness of Silrium
Here's a step that should fascinate your kids! Immersed in a twilight atmosphere, this 100m² pool is home to impressive catfish, considered to be the largest predators in European rivers. This unique attraction lets you discover these mysterious creatures, which can grow up to 2.50 metres and weigh up to 90 kg, in an environment that simulates their natural nocturnal habitat.
Feeding fish in the touch tank
Your children won't be able to resist petting the koi that come into contact with them in the touch pool. Remind them to touch these domestic fish delicately, so as not to frighten them. You can even take part in feeding them, with slots scheduled throughout the day.
Enjoy the immersive scenography
We also particularly liked the care with which each room was decorated. In particular, you'll be able to enter a bathyscaphe, an exploration submarine that lets you see species from the depths. Outdoor settings are just as elaborate, such as the jungle-like corridor through the tropical zone, or the area where you can learn to tie rope knots.
Wonder at the wreck of Saint-Exupéry
An original curiosity on this tour! You can see a reconstruction of the wreckage of Saint-Exupéry's plane, the author of The Little Prince, on which moss grows poetically, and around which fish circulate.
Discover rare species
The Aquarium de Touraine is also an opportunity to discover rare species such as the rock bass, a river fish, electric eels and the Japanese giant crab, which nests in the depths. Each species is presented with a personalized sheet detailing its characteristics and natural habitat.
For our part, we really liked Waltl's pleurodel, a 20cm newt of the Salamandridae family that fascinated us with its strangeness (photo below).
Marvel at the diversity of colorful fish
This is without doubt what we appreciated most about the visit! The farandole of shapes and colors of the different species that intermingle from room to room.
A real feast for the eyes!
WHERE TO STAY IN Amboise
Downtown
To enjoy the city, its restaurants and castles, we recommend:
- Hotel Le Manoir Saint Thomas - view prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Le Manoir des Minimes - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Au Charme Rabelaisien - prices, pictures and availability
In the countryside around
Charming places nearby. We recommend..:
- Hotel Château du Perreux - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Château de Pray - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Chateau de Nazelles - prices, pictures and availability
Aquarium de Touraine in Amboise: how to get there
Where to find Aquarium de Touraine
- In the town of Lussault-Sur-Loire
- 11min drive from Amboise
Access by car and parking
Access by car is easy from Amboise, and ample free parking is available on site.
Public transport access
The Aquarium de Touraine is accessible by public transport from Amboise.
The Amboise SNCF train station is about 5 km from the aquarium. From the station, take the REMI "TA" bus line towards Amboise, get off at the "Hôpital" stop, then take the "C" line towards Montlouis and stop at the "Aquarium" stop. More information on the transport website here.
If you prefer to cycle, the "La Loire à Vélo" itinerary passes in front of the aquarium parking lot, and a bicycle reception area with lockers is available near the entrance.
Visiting difficulties
There are no visiting difficulties. The entire course is on one level.
Note, however, that some rooms are in darkness.
Tourism & Handicap accredited, the Grand Aquarium de Touraine has parking spaces for disabled visitors and offers a range of facilities adapted to all disabilities (more info here).
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
Visit the Aquarium de Touraine: useful tips
Schedules and prices
The Aquarium is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
Find all the latest news on the official website here.
Prices are as follows: €16 (adults) and €12 (children), free (under 3s).
Family packages (2 adults + 3 children) are also available for €65.
Combined tickets with the Parc des Mini Châteaux are also available.
How long
We advise you to allow 1h30 for a complete tour of the spaces (45min for the freshwater section of the Loire, 20min for the tropical water section and 25min for the seawater section). However, we advise you to allow more time if your children wish to take part in workshops.
Also note that they should spend some time begging you to buy toys from the store!
Best moment
The Loire Valley is very popular in summer. If you're traveling at this time of year, we recommend visiting the aquarium in the morning to avoid the crowds. The rest of the year, you can enjoy a quieter visit, but we recommend you buy your tickets online to save time.
Direction of visit
The Aquarium offers a perfectly organized tour. Just let it wash over you! You can find out where you stand by looking at the maps in the various rooms.
Visiting with children
The Aquarium de Touraine is the perfect place for youngsters!
First of all, we'd like to emphasize that the scenography has been designed at a child's level, and that a number of tools are available to make the visit as educational as possible:
- Playful manipulative areas at different levels of the visit. Special mention for the space to protect the seabed!
- Booklets (travel logs, imagiers) available to accompany the visit.
- A downloadable audioguide for self-guided tours, with commentary on species and ecosystems.
Numerous activities are also offered to complete the visit in a fun way, such as..:
- Escape game sessions.
- A 45-minute behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium.
- The "Soigneur d'un jour" service gives children the chance to step into the shoes of a soigneur for 2 hours, and learn all about the workings of the profession.
Last but not least, the aquarium also offers birthday parties for your children. On the program: guided tour, treasure hunt, creative art workshop, and of course a snack!
Eating out
The Aquarium has a picnic area with several tables in the parking lot. If you have time, take a trip to Amboise, where you'll find some great restaurants. We tell you all about it in our article on where to eat in Amboise!
Hotels
You're just an 11-minute drive from Amboise, where you'll find a great range of hotels, the best of which you can discover in our dedicated article.
DISCOVER Amboise
- Things to do in Amboise
- Where to sleep in Amboise: best hotels
- Where to eat in Amboise: best restaurants
- Visit the Château d'Amboise
- Visit the Château du Clos Lucé
- Mini-cake park
- Best castles around Amboise
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
