The Principality of Monaco has been inhabited since prehistoric times.
In the Middle Ages, it was at the heart of the rivalries between Genoa, a Ghibelline city loyal to the Emperor, and the Grimaldi family, supporters of the Pope.
The founder of the reigning dynasty was François Grimaldi who, following a ruse, seized the Rock in 1297. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Principality developed thanks to tourism. The Hôtel de Paris and the Société des Bains de Mer were created, as were the oceanographic museum and the opera.
It is becoming an essential event center on the Côte d’Azur with the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Monte Carlo Tennis Tournament. In 1956, the marriage of Rainier III to Grace Kelly placed Monaco under the fire of the international media: interest in the Grimaldi family and the Principality has not waned since.
To get to know the different districts of the Principality better, book your guided tour of Monaco.
Discover the major sites of Provence and the Alpes Maritimes (Avignon, Marseille, Toulon, Cannes, Antibes and Nice) with the Guides de France.