This palace was originally constructed in the 12th century as a fortress. The Republic of Genoa had just acquired Monaco’s accessible harbor, and they needed to protect the coastline. Why not build a fortress atop a hill?
The Genoese were weathly merchants – so rich, in fact, that they banked the other European nation states. For the Genoese, life was great until the beginning of the 13th century when a religious rift formed and divided them into two camps. The Grimaldi family, one of Genoa’s most powerful, was on the losing side and were eventually banished to the French Riviera.
Of course, the Grimaldis were not content to merely set up camp and live peacefully. One night, François Grimaldi dressed as a monk, accessed the Genoese castle, murdered the guards and, with the help of his troops, captured the castle.
For the next few centuries, the Grimaldis and Genoese fought for control of the castle, and then the Grimaldis spent a century fighting off every other state (Pisa, Naples, Germany, England, etc.). When the Grimaldis finally relaxed the palace’s fortifications in the 18th century, the French quickly moved in, ransacked the place and threw the Grimaldis in prison for two decades.
Unlike other European ruling families, the Grimaldis never built a new residence, just renovated throughout the years. As a result, the palace is a mix of architectural styles. The principal façade is from different periods in the Renaissance era and masks earlier fortifications and towers. The whole structure is built around a cour d’honneur with two-storied frescoed arcades. The state apartments and galleries were modeled after Versailles and contain treasures such as Murano glass chandeliers, Brueghel masterpieces and Carrera marble floors.
Palais des Princes, Monaco, Grimaldi, castle, palace, fortress
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