Czechia’s largest shark aquarium is being built at Olomouc Zoo

Construction work has begun in Olomouc on what is set to become Czechia’s largest shark aquarium, part of a new educational center being built inside the city’s zoo at Svatý Kopeček.

Heavy machinery has taken over the area next to the Archa restaurant, where the new facility, called Loděnka (Nautilus) is taking shape. The project is funded primarily by the City of Olomouc and is designed to combine large-scale marine exhibits with modern educational spaces for schools and visitors.

Officials say the development reflects growing demand for educational programs at the zoo, which already hosts thousands of students each year through guided lessons, camps, and school visits.

The centerpiece of the new complex will be a deep-water shark aquarium, which the zoo says will be the largest in the country once completed. The tank will be part of a building shaped like a nautilus, a marine mollusk that gives the project its name.

Construction began in March and is currently in full swing, with excavators and heavy equipment preparing the site. The facility is expected to open in 2028 after roughly two years of construction.

Once finished, the aquarium will house sharks and other marine species, offering visitors a close-up view designed to simulate deep-ocean conditions. The tank will hold around 350,000 liters of water, several times larger than existing exhibits at the zoo.

Zoo officials say the goal is not only to create a new attraction, but also to improve educational opportunities and expand the institution’s capacity to host school groups.

The Loděnka center will include a 100-seat lecture hall and two classrooms with space for 30 students each. It is intended to serve as a hub for educational programs, which have become a major part of the zoo’s activities in recent years.

In 2025 alone, the zoo ran around 140 educational programs, worked with more than 100 schools, and hosted hundreds of children through summer camps. Officials say demand continues to grow, but current facilities are no longer sufficient.

“Educational programs are one of the key activities of zoological gardens because they help people understand nature and animals,” said Olomouc Mayor Miroslava Ferancová. She added that the new center will provide much-needed space for children, students, and teachers.

The City of Olomouc is the main investor in the project, which is estimated to cost around CZK 71 million. Officials say they have secured around CZK 28 million in funding from the EU’s Integrated Regional Operational Programme.

Completion of the Loděnka center is planned for 2028, with construction expected to continue through the next two years. More information and updates can be found at the zoo's official website.