Prince's Palace of Monaco

The Prince's Palace of Monaco (Palais Princier de Monaco) is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. It is one of the few royal palaces in Europe still in daily use as a home for a reigning monarch.

The palace was originally built as a Genoese fortress in 1191. In 1297, François Grimaldi seized the fortress by disguising himself as a Franciscan monk - an event still depicted in the family's coat of arms showing two monks with swords.

Through the centuries, the palace has been expanded and embellished. Renaissance architecture was added in the 16th and 17th centuries, with magnificent frescoes and galleries in Italian style. Napoleon's visit in 1796 led to the plundering of many treasures.

Unlike other European royal houses, the Grimaldi family has used the same residence for over 700 years. Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace modernized the private apartments, and today Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, and their twins live here. The state rooms are open to the public during parts of the year.