This vast aquatic centre leaves all the British ones looking wet. Who would have thought you would find such a gem so close to home, in Boulogne? The Nausicaá centre opened in 1991 and has since expanded to 5,000 square metres, so you'll need three hours to do the exhibition justice.
One of the headline displays is the large, open shark lagoon, but there are also more unusual creatures on show. At Nausicaá you'll find the pig-nosed turtle, the giant octopus, the spotted wobbegong shark, the tomato clownfish and the blackchin guitarfish, each one as strange and distinctive as their names.
The best thing about Nausicaá is the chance to get close to the animals and fish. Children, especially, are thrilled at the chance to play with stingray at the touch pool, or to feed the cod, turbot and halibut.
Another big draw is the frisky Californian sea lions. The newest additions among Nausicaá's seven animals are Max and Moritz, which arrived in 2011 to mark the centre's 20th anniversary. Their new home, recently rebuilt, is now a 450-seater covered arena.
Make sure you watch the feeding of the fish in the mangrove area: some species, such as the frogfish, actually leave the water and walk on sand to grab a bite. More spectacular still is feeding time at the coral reefs. If a rainbow could dance, it might look something like this. More than 3,000 angelfish, surgeonfish, coralfish, cowfish and batfish all swirl together in an underwater ballet.
Outside the water, the African penguins delight, especially if you've seen the BBC's recent Spy in the Huddle series; and clap, please, for the sea lions in the Californian reserve (temporarily being redeveloped).
There is education as well as entertainment. Visitors will come away with a more profound knowledge of the interconnectedness of marine animals and habitats, and the importance of sustainability. Over the Easter weekend, the 22nd festival of sea imagery offers meetings with photographers, filmmakers, writers and other marine specialists.
It's easy to see why Nausicaá is the only sealife centre to be declared a Unesco centre of excellence. And if it doesn't seem heartless to point out … the fish restaurant is good, too.
To find out more about this destination, visit gotofrancenow.com/northern-france-nausicaa
