MONACO, MONTE-CARLO
An independent sovereign state located between the foot of the Southern Alps and the Mediterranean, Principality of Monaco’s history started in the 13th Century when the Genoan family of the Gibelins laid the first stone of the Prince's Palace.
With its exceptional location between mountain and sea and thanks to its Mediterranean climate, Monaco is a pleasant destination all year round. With its gardens, its sport and cultural events, with its active nightlife and its active economy Monaco is the ideal leisure and business destination.
Not to be missed:
- Prince’s Palace
- Guards' Change
- Cathedral
- Oceanographic Museum
- Casino Square
- Exotic Garden
Prince’s Palace
Palace's State Apartments
The Princes Palace is the private residence of the ruling Prince but the State Apartments are open for public visits from June to October.
The original fortress and ramparts were built by the Genoese in 1215 and throughout the centuries was transformed into one of the most luxurious residences in the style of Louis XIV. Prince Honore II was responsible for re-assembling the rich collections of art, which had been auctioned off during the French Revolution when the Palace was turned into a hospital for the Italian Army. However Prince Rainier III is credited restoring the Palace to its former glory and the magnificent state in which it can be seen today.
Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
Created in 1910 by Prince Albert Ier of Monaco, The oceanographic Museum is an exceptional place completely dedicated to the sea. Its mission is to divulgate Oceanography to a wide public, through the historic collections of the Prince founder, the permanent and temporary presentations or the “living collections” of his Aquarium.
Exotic Garden
The exotic garden
This municipal garden located along the side of a cliff is home to over a thousand species of cacti and other succulent plants. Many of them are part of a collection started at the turn of the 20 th century and have reached giant proportions. The view is an exceptional panorama of the Principality and the French and Italian Riviera.
The observatory cave
Open to the public in 1950, this natural cavity was fit out for visitors and boasts a wide array of concretions at 90 m to 48 m in elevation: stalactites, stalagmites, columns, curtains, etc.
Anthropology museum
Founded in 1902 by Prince Albert I, in 1955, the Prehistoric Anthropology Museum was established in the Exotic Garden near the Observatory Cave. It houses exhibits of the archaeological remains found in the Principality and in neighbouring regions.