What to See in Monaco
The principality is divided into four districts. From south to north, Fontville, Monaco-Ville, La Condamine and Monte Carlo are located.
MONACO-VILLE is the oldest part of the country where ancient buildings are located. It is located at an altitude of 60 m above sea level. The most important cathedral of Monaco is located here – the Cathedral, which was built in 1875 of white stone in the neo-romanesque style. Inside, the Cathedral is decorated with paintings by the painter Louis Brea, and during worship, the sounds of the organ, which was installed in 1976, are heard from the Cathedral. In the Cathedral, the princes of Monaco and members of their families are escorted on their “last journey”.
At the top of the city cliff stands the Prince’s Palace. It is the official residence of the ruling Grimaldi family. The palace was built on the site of a fortress built by the Genoese in 1215. In front of the Palace is Palace Square, where the changing of the guard of honor takes place daily. It is surrounded by cannons cast in the era of Louis XIV. On the northeast side of the cliff stands the 18th century fortress of Fort Antoine. Today it is used as an open-air theater that can accommodate 350 spectators. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Monaco.
On City Hall Square is the chapel of the “Mercy of God”. It was built in 1635 for the meetings of the Brotherhood of Penitent Sinners. Inside the chapel is a wooden sculpture of Christ, which was sculpted by the Monegasque Francis-Joseph Bosio (sculptor of Emperor Napoleon I). In Monaco-Ville, you can go for a walk in the Gardens of Saint Martin. Pine trees, agaves and aloes grow here, among which fountains and statues are located, as well as a monument to Prince Albert I.
There are many museums in the Old Town. The Napoleon Museum and the Historical Archive of the Prince’s Palace on Palace Square housed more than a thousand items and documents related to the Empire of Napoleon I, personal belongings of the emperor, items belonging to the Russian Emperor Alexander II, as well as an exposition of the history of Monaco, where you can see a collection of postage stamps and coins of the Principality. The Museum of Old Monaco is interesting with a unique historical collection of paintings, books, ceramics, old photographs, costumes and household items. Wax Museum, dedicated to the history of the Grimaldi dynasty, tells about the famous personalities of this family from the end of the 13th century to the present day.
On the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, on a sheer cliff, the Oceanographic Museum is located. It was founded in 1910 as a scientific and cultural center. Here are collected collections of marine flora specimens, stuffed animals and skeletons of marine animals. In the underground part of the museum there is an Aquarium with a volume of 400 cubic meters. meters, where a variety of inhabitants of the seabed live.
MONTE CARLO area called European Las Vegas. There are casinos and nightclubs, bars and restaurants. In Monte Carlo, life does not stop even at night. The center of the district is the Golden Square, where the oldest gambling establishment in Europe, Monte Carlo Casino, is located. The first building of the Casino was built in 1878 by Charles Garanier, and the current one – in 1910. The atrium of the building is lined with marble and surrounded by 28 onyx columns. The casino consists of a gallery of gambling halls – a hall in the Renaissance style, a European hall, a White hall, an American games hall, a Graces salon, as well as two halls for privileged visitors. All rooms are decorated with paintings, sculptures and bronze lamps. The Casino has a Cabaret and an Opera House (Hall Garnier), which is considered the most beautiful of all the halls of the Casino. The Garagne Hall is decorated with gold ornaments, bas-reliefs, frescoes and sculptures. Exquisite balls are held here and prestigious concerts are given. The facade of the Casino overlooks the sea, it is bordered by terraces and a park. The park gradually rises to the mountains. The park has ponds, flower beds and lawns.
In addition to the Casino building, the church of St. Charles stands out in the architecture of Monte Carlo. It was built in 1883 in the Renaissance style. The building of the church is crowned with a 30-meter bell tower, and inside it is decorated with colored stained-glass windows and a chic chandelier from the Prince’s Palace. The Japanese Garden of Monte Carlo is very beautiful.
on the seashore, the area of which is 7000 sq. m. The garden was planned in the best traditions of Japanese landscape parks, and bamboo fences, a tea house, stone lanterns, tiles and wooden gates were brought directly from Japan.
Be sure to visit the National Puppet Museum. It is located in a luxurious villa surrounded by a park. The museum’s collection includes dolls dressed in costumes from different eras, they are displayed in showcases with miniature furniture.
The port of Monaco is located in LA CONDAMINE. This area is considered the business center of the principality. The main attraction of La Condamine is the Church of Saint Devota (patron of the country). It was built in the 11th century. Every year on January 26, a model ship is burned in the square in front of the church, which, according to legend, sank off the coast of Monaco with the body of Devota. The Princess Caroline Walking Street is full of shops, cafes and restaurants. Orange trees are planted in two rows on the street, it leads to the city market. The market was opened in 1880, now it is a covered building with trading pavilions. On the mountain slope of La Condamine there is an exotic Jardin Exotic park. Here are collected 7 thousand species of cacti and several thousand species of tropical plants. At the foot of the slope is the entrance to a deep grotto with illumination, stalactites, stalagmites and limestone formations.
Also of interest in La Condamine is the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, which has been operating since 1902. It contains exhibits found during local archaeological excavations.
The FONVILLE area was built on the territory “conquered” (due to drainage) from the sea. Here is the Commercial Center with the Museum of Vintage Cars of Prince Rainier III, where more than 100 cars are exhibited. The Landscape Park (area – 4 hectares) with a collection of various plants and the Rosary of Princess Grace (wife of Prince Rainier III) is very beautiful. In the Rose Garden you can see more than 5000 rose bushes, of which 150 species are unique varieties. The zoo
is located on the southern slope of Mont-Agel where representatives of tropical and African fauna live. There is a Maritime Museum in Fontville, where an exposition of 180 copies of famous ships is open, telling about the history of shipbuilding. Fontville is also home to the Principality’s largest stadium, the Prince Louis II Stadium. This sports complex is designed for 20,000 seats. There is an Olympic-class underground swimming pool.
SOUTH OF FRANCE
Excursions are organized from Monaco to such French cities as Nice, Cannes, Marseille. Entry into France from the territory of Monaco is free.
