During our journey through the Loire Valley we visited the Grand Aquarium de Touraine, at Lussault-sur-Loire, only a few kilometres from Amboise. After several days spent among villages, châteaux and small motorhome stops, it was a completely different kind of visit and an easy way to spend a few hours indoors while still discovering something closely connected with the region. The aquarium is particularly interesting because it does not concentrate only on tropical fish and sharks: a large part of the visit begins much closer to home, with the freshwater ecosystems of the Loire and the other rivers of the area, before gradually moving towards tropical freshwater species and finally the sea.
The site is much larger than it initially appears, with around eighty aquariums spread through a series of themed areas and more than 360 species. One of the most memorable parts is the long freshwater tunnel devoted to the Loire ecosystem. Walking beneath the water, we could see large European freshwater fish swimming above and around us, including pike, pike-perch and particularly impressive catfish. It is unusual to see species that normally live in French rivers presented on the same scale usually reserved for sharks and tropical marine animals, and this first part of the aquarium made the connection with the Loire Valley itself much clearer. There are also large sturgeons, smaller native species and displays explaining the different environments and stages of aquatic life.
As the route continues, the surroundings gradually change and the species become increasingly exotic. Tropical freshwater fish introduce much brighter colours, while reptiles, including caimans, add some variety to what is otherwise a predominantly aquatic visit. There are also touch pools with rays and several areas designed to make the visit more interactive, rather than simply presenting one tank after another. This worked particularly well for a family visit because there was always something new to look at without requiring long explanations or a great deal of patience.
The final part moves into the marine world and includes another glass tunnel, this time about fifteen metres long, where blacktip reef sharks swim overhead alongside colourful tropical fish. After beginning with the familiar waters of the Loire, finishing among sharks and coral-reef species gives the whole visit a surprisingly broad scope. The aquarium contains around two million litres of water in total and covers approximately 5,000 square metres, so despite being situated in the countryside outside Amboise it is a substantial attraction rather than a small local aquarium.
We enjoyed the Grand Aquarium de Touraine precisely because it was different from most of the places we had been visiting in the Loire Valley. The region is naturally dominated by its famous châteaux, historic towns and vineyards, but after several days of those, an aquarium offered a welcome change, especially with a young child. It was educational without feeling like a museum, varied enough to keep the visit interesting from beginning to end, and the progression from local freshwater species to tropical rivers and finally the ocean gave the route a clear structure. It may not be the first attraction people associate with the Loire Valley, but for us it was a worthwhile stop and one of the more unusual family visits of this part of the journey.