Prince's Palace of Monaco

A fortress

The palace began as a Genoese fortress in 1191

The palace was built in 1191 as a Genoese fortress. Since the end of the 13th century it has been the stronghold and home of the Grimaldi family, who first captured it in 1297. Over its long history it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers.

Seized

When its walls were relaxed, the French seized it and the family was exiled

While other sovereigns built luxurious Renaissance and Baroque palaces, the rulers of Monaco kept theirs fortified. When the fortifications were finally relaxed in the late 18th century, the palace was seized by the French and stripped of its treasures, and the Grimaldi were exiled for over 20 years.

One address

One family has ruled from the same palace for over 700 years

The absence of alternative palaces and land shortages meant the Grimaldi used the same residence for more than seven centuries. Unlike the Romanovs, Bourbons and Habsburgs, they could not build new palaces. In 1997 the family celebrated 700 years of rule from the same palace.

700years of Grimaldi rule from the same palace, celebrated in 1997

Grace Kelly

In 1956 a film star became the lady of the palace

During the 19th and early 20th centuries the palace and its owners became symbols of the slightly risqué glamour associated with Monte Carlo and the French Riviera. The American film star Grace Kelly became the chatelaine of the palace in 1956.

State rooms

The Mirror Gallery leads to a throne room painted with Alexander

The state apartments were laid out from the 16th century and enhanced in the style of Versailles in the 18th century. The processional route passes the Mirror Gallery, inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, to the Throne Room, whose ceiling by Orazio de Ferrari depicts the surrender of Alexander the Great.