Old Town of Monaco

Discover the old town, Monaco-Ville, "le rocher" or "the rock" - a veritable open air museum as you wander through narrow alleyways from the Middle Ages. Explore the picturesque Place Saint Nicolas, Placette Bosio, the Chapel of Mercy, Palais de Justice and remains of ancient city walls on this magnificent rocky promontory perched above the Mediterranean Sea.

Visit the Place du Palais, to see the colourful changing of the guard in front of the Princely Palace, every day at 11:55am. The Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs and Collections of the Historical Archives of the Palace housed in the southern wing contains a rich collection of objects and documents about the First Empire, some of which belonged to Emperor Napoleon I. Next door is the Cathedrale de Monaco, Romanesque-Byzantine burial place of past sovereigns, including Prince Rainier and Princess Grace.

Gaze at an exceptional panorama while strolling toward the Saint Martin Gardens surrounding the world famous Oceanographic Museum, built in 1910 by Prince Albert I. Dedicated to marine sciences, the museum was for a long time managed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and houses the all new shark lagoon with hammerhead sharks and stingrays swimming in front of a coral reef, populated with a multitude of tropical fish and living corals.

On the parking terraces of the Chemin des Pecheurs, Monte-Carlo story presents "Monaco the Film" which explores the origins, history and future of the Principality. The Museum of the Chapel of Visitation is part of a Baroque style 17th century chapel with a remarkable collection of sacred art works by Rubens, Zurbaran, Ribera and masters of the Italian Baroque. Chapelle de la Misericorde (1639) is the famous starting point for the torch lit Good Friday religious procession.