Due to open in April 2002, and targeting the 800,000 British visitors who regularly pass through Cherbourg, La Cité de la Mer will present more than 3,000 fish, on view from a spiral trail.

Starting at the top of the building (the surface), the trail descends down three storeys of exhibits each one corresponding to a level of depth.

To enable visitors to experience 'the emotion of the ocean depths' the 'tallest cylindrical aquarium in Europe' has been installed as well as approximately 15 other aquariums.

The first fish will start to arrive by the end of January 2002. 'It's a complex operation. It's not just a matter of putting fish in the water', explained Pierre-Yves Bouis, in charge of aquariums.

'There will be no mixing of fish from completely different zones. We are not seeking exoticism at any price. The aquarium is a support at the service of any overall educational project of evocation and scientific coherence.'

Visitors will also be able to view the 128m long Redoutable, on show in dry dock, purportedly the largest submarine open to the public worldwide.

The Grande Halle, a 9,000sq metre Art Deco exhibition space renovated as part of the refurbishment of the Gare Maritime Transatlantique de Cherbourg has already opened for business.

The first presentation of La Cité la Mer will be at the Paris International Boat Show (1-10 December; Hall1-P 81).

Details: www.citedelamer.com