23 Apr Fontvieille-Monaco
Fontvieille-Monaco, one of Monaco’s neighbourhoods, has plenty to offer and is often not well known by tourists. Monaco Addict is here to help you.
Everybody knows about the Rocher and the Place du Casino of Monaco, however the other sections of Monaco still remain in the shadow.
Today we are giving you a tour of Fontvieille, the westernmost district of the Principality. You must know that Fontvieille-Monaco is a 33 hectares land including 22 hectares being a land reclaimed from the sea.
Fontvieille is the district that houses most of the Principality’s light industries. Our company, Monaco Addict is based in Fontvieille-Monaco as many other industries such as chemical and plastic industries but also manufacturers, printers and laboratories.
Industries are the reason why Fontvieille is often neglected or even forgotten by tourists. However, this district does not lack assets.
We have made a selection of the main attractions of the area.
Stade Louis II
7 Avenue des Castelans, 98000 Monaco
The Stade Louis II was inaugurated in 1985 by the Prince Rainier III and is named after Louis II, Prince of Monaco, who was the Sovereign Prince of Monaco when the original stadium was built. It includes a football stadium with a seating capacity of 18,523, an athletics track, a sports hall and a water sports centre.
It also is home for the Monegasque football teams: the AS Monaco and the Monaco national football team. And good news for you, the stadium can be visited in summer excluding Covid periods.
Chapiteau de Fontvieille
5 Avenue des Ligures, 98000 Monaco
Since 1986, the Chapiteau de Fontvieille has been a fixed institution, marking the continuity of the long-awaited annual event for which it was created on the initiative of Prince Rainier III of Monaco, namely the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, a world reference for the Circus Arts. Since 2012, this mythical venue also hosts the New Generation, Festival for Young Circus Talents, presided over by H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and her eldest daughter, Pauline Ducruet, President of the Jury.
This place is perfect to host all types of events such as gala dinners, sports events, exhibitions and shows. Moreover, it has the advantage of being close to the sea which is perfect to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous view.
Roseraie Princesse Grace
Avenue des Papalins, 98000 Monaco
Wished for by Prince Rainier III in memory of his wife Princess Grace, this rose garden was laid out like an English garden, while retaining a Mediterranean touch with hundred-year-old olive trees. It, as well, includes 315 varieties of roses representing 6,000 rosebushes.
The rose garden is freely accessible, allowing visitors to discover the site from dawn to dusk.
The Parc de Fontvieille bordering the rose garden also offers peace and quiet along a botanical discovery trail. A children’s playground is also located in the vicinity, allowing families to spend quality time.
The park is open from 9 am to 6 or 7 pm depending on the season.
Museums
Collection de Voitures Anciennes de S.A.S. Le Prince de Monaco
Terrasses de Fontvieille, 98000, Monaco
The Automobile Museum of Monaco or exhibition of the collection of vintage cars of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco is a museum of vintage cars founded in 1993 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
At the end of the 1950s, Prince Rainier III, a car enthusiast, began his collection of vintage cars.
The garage of the Prince’s Palace proved too small to contain a hundred superb cars, Prince Rainier III decided to unveil his treasures to the public in 1993 on the Terrasses de Fontvieille. The collection ranges from the 1903 DE DION BOUTON to the 2013 LOTUS F1.
By foot: 5 minutes from the railway station and 20 minutes from the Place du Casino.
Prices:
Adults: 8 euros
Children (6-17 years old), Students: 4 euros
Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies
11 terrasses de Fontvieille, 98000, Monaco
The Monaco Stamp and Coin Museum is a museum founded in 1950 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, to exhibit his private collections of coins, medals, banknotes and stamps from the philatelic and postal history of Monaco.
The first Monegasque coins were created in January 1640 by Prince Honoré II. Monaco then adopted the Euro on January the 1st 2001, following the example of France. Today, “Monegasque Euros” circulate throughout the Euro zone.
The museum is open every day except 1 January and 25 December.
From 1st September to 30th June, from 9.30 am to 5 pm.
From 1 July to 30 August, from 9.30 am to 6 pm.
Prices:
Adults: €3
Children aged 12 to 18, pensioners and students: €1.50
bEACHES
Lamparo Plage
Plage Marquet, 06320 Cap-d’Ail, France
The Lamparo Plage, is a beach restaurant offering Mediterranean and Italian flavours, as well as homemade pastries.
The restaurant is open from March to November.
It proposes private beach sunbathing from 9am to 7pm, and a lounge bar on the beach with live music for a relaxing moment at the end of the day and in the evening.
Naos Beach
Plage Marquet, 06320 Cap-d’Ail, France
The Naos Beach is a Greek style restaurant offering Mediterranean cuisine with Greek touches and sunbathing on the beach side.
Opened Tuesday to Sunday from morning to evening, during summer.