The Prince’s Palace of Monaco: an historic fortress

Built in 1215, the Prince’s Palace has been the official residence of the Prince of Monaco since 1297.

Located on top of the Rock of Monaco (the Rocher), the Prince’s Palace overlooks the Mediterranean. “It is both the heart and soul of the Principality,” as Monegasques like to say. This Genoese fortress has been the Grimaldi family residence since 1297.

According to legend, it was on 8 January 1297 that, concealing weapons beneath his Franciscan monk disguise, François Grimaldi alias Malizia (the “Malicious”) conquered the fortress, thereby installing the dynasty that has reigned over Monaco for more than seven hundred years…

Built from Carrara marble, the double helix staircase that connects the Hercule Gallery to the Palace’s Royal Courtyard is inspired by the architecture of the Château de Fontainebleau. The Palace Chapel dedicated to St. Jean-Baptiste features frescoes telling the story of St. Devota, the patron saint of the Principality. The Hercule Gallery is decorated with frescoes depicting mythological figures by Claude Vignon (1593–1670) as well as works illustrating the Labours of Hercules by seventeenth-century Genoese artist Orazio dei Ferrari.

Honoré II, who was an art collector, gathered many works here which were unfortunately lost during the French Revolution, when the Palace was looted.

Some rooms at the Palace evoke historical memories – the Salon Mazarin, for example, whose name pays tribute to the link between the Grimaldi family and the family of the Cardinal de Mazarin, and the Matignon Antechamber, which is a nod to the alliance between the Grimaldis and the Matignons.*