The Grimaldi family is the oldest ruling dynasty in Europe. Its name is inextricably linked to the Principality of Monaco. In 1297, François Grimaldi established the authority of the family on the Rock.
Then, the Principality experienced various fortunes: in 1848, it had to cede Menton and Roquebrune to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia.
But, what characterizes the Principality is its resilience and its ability to project itself towards the future, as when it placed, at the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century, on tourism, events, the sector. real estate or environmental protection. The Principality bears the imprint of all the sectors in which it has invested to keep up with the times: the Casino de Monte Carlo, the Hôtel de Paris and the Opéra are emblematic of its cultural and tourist life, while the oceanographic museum, reflects the environmentalist concerns of the Grimaldi family. This has succeeded in making the Principality shine through the holding of international events that attract cameras from all over the world, such as the Monaco Grand Prix or the Monte Carlo tennis tournament.
The Grimaldis were key players in the transformations that allowed Monaco to keep up with its times, from François Grimaldi, in 1297, to Albert II, today, through the fundamental reign of Rainier III who was able to bring in the Principality in the reign of the media by making public his marriage to Grace Kelly in 1956.
To learn more about the links between the Grimaldi family and the Principality, book a visit to Monaco with the Guides de France
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