Monaco has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the caves of the current Exotic Garden. In ancient times, the Greeks, then the Romans settled on the site.
In the Middle Ages, Monaco was a territory of the Republic of Genoa. In 1297, François Grimaldi, known as Malice, seized the Rock by a ruse. By forging alliances with the Savoy family and the King of France, the Grimaldis established themselves permanently on the Rock. They are, to this day, one of the oldest ruling families in Europe.
To find out about the Principality’s historic sites, book a visit to Monaco on the Guides de France platform:
Find the greatest destinations in the South of France (Marseille, Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Monaco) on the Guides Sud Provence website.