The Prince's Palace of Monaco
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Monaco

A fortress taken by a Grimaldi in disguise in 1297, a casino that made a legend and a principality of opera, ballet and the sea: the history and culture of Monaco.

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The Prince's Palace of Monaco · Photo: snap wander / Unsplash

History

The story of Monaco

The Greeks knew the harbour as the Port of Hercules Monoikos, and the Genoese built a fortress on the Rock in 1215. On a January night in 1297 François Grimaldi, disguised as a Franciscan friar, talked his way through the gate and seized it; the monk with a sword is still on the princely coat of arms, and his family reigns today.

In the 1860s, having lost Menton and Roquebrune, Prince Charles III needed a new fortune. A casino on the plateau of Spélugues was the answer, and in 1866 the new quarter was named Monte-Carlo in his honour. Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opéra, built the opera house in 1879. Prince Albert I, a pioneering oceanographer, opened the Oceanographic Museum on the cliff in 1910, and the Grand Prix was first run in 1929.

A short timeline

  • The Genoese fortress1215

    The Rock is fortified.

  • The Grimaldis1297

    François Grimaldi takes the fortress.

  • Monte-Carlo1860s

    The casino and the new quarter named after Charles III.

  • The Opéra1879

    Charles Garnier's Salle Garnier.

  • The Oceanographic Museum1910

    Albert I's temple to the sea.

  • Grace Kelly1956

    Prince Rainier III marries the American actress.

  • Albert II2005

    The reigning Sovereign Prince accedes.

Monaco from above
Monaco from above · Photo: Kit Suman / Unsplash
Superyachts in Port Hercule below Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Port Hercule · Photo: Jessika Stumbo / Unsplash

Arts and letters

Great figures and the arts

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra give the principality a cultural life far beyond its size. The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco shows contemporary art in two villas, and the Jardin Exotique clings to the cliff above Fontvieille.

Great figures

  • Prince Albert INavigator and scientist

    Founder of the Oceanographic Museum.

  • Sergei DiaghilevImpresario

    His Ballets Russes made Monte-Carlo their home from 1911.

  • Princess GraceActress and Princess

    Her foundation still supports the arts in Monaco.

At the table

The cuisine of Monaco

Monaco's own dishes are those of the Riviera: barbagiuan, small fried pastries of chard and ricotta, eaten on the National Day, and stocafi, dried cod stewed with tomatoes and olives. Its tables are among the most famous in the world.

Great tables on TheMediterranean.com

  • Le Louis XV-Alain DucasseHôtel de Paris

    Alain Ducasse's flagship.

  • Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe CussacHôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo

    Steps from the Casino.

The finest restaurants in Monaco →

Landmarks

The landmarks of Monaco

Monaco has no site on the UNESCO World Heritage List; these are its great landmarks.

The Prince's Palace

The Grimaldi residence on the Rock; the State Apartments open to visitors in season, and the guard changes daily just before noon.

The Oceanographic Museum

Built into the cliff on the Rock and opened in 1910.

The Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Charles Garnier's Salle Garnier, joined to the Casino.

Monaco Cathedral

Where Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III are buried.

Plan

Explore Monaco

Before you go, read our notes on customs and etiquette in Monaco: how to greet, what to wear and how to tip.

MonacoLuxury Monaco Holidays: Monte-Carlo Hotels & the Grand PrixExplore MonacoReal estateMonaco Real Estate: Buying Apartments in Monte-CarloRead the guideCustoms and etiquetteGreetings, dress, dining and tipping in MonacoRead the customsHistory and cultureEvery country of the MediterraneanAll countries

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