Monaco Cathedral

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.

History

The cathedral was built from 1875 to 1903 and consecrated on 11 June 1911, on the site of Monaco's first parish church, built in 1252 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas; its retable of about 1500 survives, and its four-manual organ was inaugurated in 1976 (Wikipedia, Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate).

What you'll find

• 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.

What to expect

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.

Key facts