Monaco Cathedral
The white stone cathedral on the Rock, holding the tombs of the Grimaldi princes.
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The cathedral of Monaco stands on the Rock in the old town, begun in 1875 of white La Turbie stone on the site of an earlier church and completed in 1903, and the princes of Monaco are buried in it: the tombs run around the ambulatory behind the altar, with Grace Kelly's among them, which is why most visitors come. A Louis Bréa altarpiece of 1500 survives from the earlier building. Prince Rainier III is buried beside Princess Grace, and the two graves are the most visited in the building.
What you actually see
- The princely tombs - the Grimaldi burials around the ambulatory.
- Grace Kelly's tomb - the grave most visitors come to see.
- The Bréa altarpiece - the 1500 panel surviving from the earlier church.
- The white stone - the La Turbie limestone the building is faced in.
When to go
April to October is the main season. Services take priority and the cathedral closes to visitors during them. Cruise days bring crowds.
Honest expectations
It is very busy and the queue past the tombs moves quickly. The building is nineteenth century rather than medieval. Dress code is enforced.
Nearby
The Palace is nearby, and Saint-Martin Gardens are below.
What to pack for Monaco Cathedral
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
