Institut de la Mer de Villefranche

Since the beginning of the 19th century, naturalists from Nice, Paris, and all over Europe visited Villefranche because of the wealth of pelagic fauna found in the bay. In 1882 Jules Barrois and Hermann Fol created a laboratory in the building of the former arsenal of Villefranche. With the support of Alexis Korotneff, this laboratory was moved to the « Russian house » in 1884. In 1931, the laboratory became part of the French Ministry of National Education, and Villefranche marine station was managed under the authority of Banyuls marine station and the University of Paris.

Many scientists have contributed to the creation and the development of research laboratories in Villefranche-sur-Mer, but it is the exceptional location on the edge of a harbor with rapid and easy access to the deep sea which has ensured the longevity of these laboratories until today.