Monaco is a botanical garden of exotic plants. Exotic garden of Monaco: an ancient cave, an anthropology museum and the world's largest collection of cacti Princess Grace Rose Garden

There are flowers in the very heart of the city. Monaco's green spaces are true treasures, created and maintained with great care. Each garden has its own character, and we invite you to discover them with us.
Despite its total area of ​​two square kilometers, Monaco has always cared about green spaces. Gardens highlight the landscapes, being a kind of commas and brackets in the landscape. So, 5 gardens of Monaco, which are the pride of the Principality.

1. Princess Grace's Rose Garden

The Princess Grace Rose Garden is located in the Chapiteau of Fontvieille and is home to numerous plant species from all over the world. It was created June 18, 1984 Prince Rainier III in honor of his wife. Here you can find more 300 types of roses on an area of ​​5,000 m². A real temple of scents, dedicated to one of the most romantic flowers. The most curious can walk between the two alleys and get closer to the flowers created especially for the princely family. But the Grimaldi family is not the only family that has its own rose petals. Here you can find roses by Charles Aznavour, Brigitte Bardot and Louis de Funes.

2. Exotic garden
As soon as we enter the Exotic Garden, “the whole world turns into a cactus,” as Dutronc sang. Succulent plants adapted to dry climates grow freely on area 11,500 m². More than 23,000 plants various species grow along the stone paths that descend to the Observatory grotto. An ideal place for lovers of underground adventures. And if you suddenly get tired, there are many secluded places to relax. It also offers stunning panoramic views of the Principality. The best photos of Monaco are taken in the Exotic Garden.

3. Japanese garden
You are walking towards the beaches of Larvotto when suddenly there is a sharp silence. In the shadow of the Grimaldi Forum lies a Garden of Eden originally from Japan. Garden with an area of ​​7000 m² strictly follows the rules of Asian art. Stone, water and plants combine in a peaceful harmony. Some people come here to meditate to the sound of water, or simply to feel the exotic atmosphere. The garden was open 7 May 1994 by Prince Rainier III at the request of Princess Grace. An Asian priest from the Dazaifu Temple even came here to bless the place before starting work and drive away evil spirits.
In the small lake you can see swimming ducks or Koi carp with incredible colors. You can visit the Zen garden and pagoda, where tea ceremonies take place in the best traditions of Japan.

4. Princess Antoinette's Garden
A curtain of bougainvillea flowers majestically adorns Princess Antoinette Park. This garden provides numerous opportunities to delight young guests: swings, turnstiles, various devices and games that children adore. The park is also the custodian of the sacred tree of the ancestors of the Mediterranean inhabitants, namely the olive tree. Many of the local trees have already celebrated their centenary more than once.

5. Garden of San Martin

As if suspended on the southwest side of the Rock, the San Manten Gardens hug the coastline from the Oceanographic Museum. The gardens were created in 1830. Here you can walk among Mediterranean plants along narrow paths. The gardens also contain works of classical art and a small pond just outside the bustling city. Every year at the end of July the feast of Saint Roman takes place in this place. To the sound of an orchestra, Monegasques try vegetable soup and other traditional delicacies.

In my last review, I partially managed to show some plants and cool views of the country from the mountain. In this review, I want to focus specifically on the vegetation and not be distracted by the beautiful views. Let me also remind you that in addition to exotic plants in this garden there is a cave into which you can additionally go down and a museum, which is included in the ticket price.

1. To be honest, the plants will not cause more interest than the views from this place, and mainly there are cacti of various types. But I'll show you what to expect

2. I like these pot-bellied ones the most

3. Some cacti cannot be photographed at full height; there is little room for maneuver and they are really tall.

4. Between the levels there are such interesting transitions

5. Streams of water flow in the rocks

6. Cacti of all types are dominant, unlike other plants.

7. Sometimes you really come across something unusual that you pay attention to and maybe even be surprised by.

8.

9. For all this variety there is not enough detailed information so as not to guess about them.

10. There are few visitors in the garden. In all this time I have only met a few people. Nothing will stop you from taking pictures against the backdrop of the country or cacti if you wish. Here's another beautiful transition.

11.

12.

13. Incredibly tall cacti are found

14. A small bonus is a pond with fish.

15. As soon as you approach, they immediately begin to swim up and beg for food

16. It seems to me that they are behaving very impudently:)

17.

18. Got carried away

19. The second place where water flows over the rocks.

20. A couple of beggars from another part of the pond

21. Large and small

22. As I already wrote in the header of the post, as a bonus to this ticket you can visit the Museum of Anthropology on the same territory. There's not much to see there and there are only 2 halls. But if you paid, why not go. Surprisingly, at the entrance to the museum I saw a yurt...

23. Human skeleton

24. Mammoth. And the most interesting thing is that all these exhibits are from an expedition to Siberia. Essentially this is a Russian museum.

25. It’s difficult to say what kind of animal this is

26. Stuffed animals

27.

28. In conclusion, I will show you a cave that you can visit as part of a guide. Diagram of the cave at the entrance

29. The entrance to the cave is from behind the fence. There are stairs leading there. The descent is really long and interesting, and the climate below is hot and humid.

30. The whole excursion goes quickly; taking pictures in the twilight is also inconvenient. I only got a few photos.

31. The cave consists of two parts, but only one is open to visitors.

32. Due to the lighting, the cave is very beautiful

33.

34.

35. History of the cave.

That's all. When you pay for a garden, you get a cave and a museum as a bonus. I think it's worth it + also beautiful views of Monaco.

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The smallest country on earth seems to be created for tourists. The mountains, azure sea, rich thousand-year history, parks, gardens, famous entertainment venues are so attractive that visiting Monaco becomes the dream of any traveler. The Principality has long been favored by the rich and famous. Nowhere else in the world can you see so many expensive cars and yachts as in Monaco.

This country is a real little living fairy tale with a king and queen, beloved by all the people, Princess Grace, who was in a car accident and died. Her husband, Prince Rainier, lived alone until his death and was buried next to Grace. Streets were named in honor of the princess, a rose garden was planted, and commemorative coins were issued. During her life, she loved to organize holidays and festivals.

To this day, there are a huge number of them in the country: International Television Festival, International Circus Festival, Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, World Music Festival, International Florist Festival, Fireworks Festival, International Helicopter Salon, International Dog Show, International Tennis Tournaments and etc. Of course, one of the main entertainment attractions is the Casino in Monte Carlo. This place is the calling card of Monaco. There is a strict dress code here, and people under 21 will not be allowed into the establishment. At the gambling club Le Cafe de Paris, a jackpot worth more than 800 euros is paid out every 10 minutes, but the ancient principality can surprise and delight not only with fabulous winnings.

Wander around, take a walk - you will get great pleasure. Take a look at the shops and boutiques: here you can buy some Formula 1 attribute or an embroidered canvas bag as a gift. The principality has many parks and gardens. In addition, pedestrian areas are equipped with elevators, and a red and white tourist express train runs over long distances.

After enjoying the luxury and wealth of the city, take a look at the Museum of Oceanology - there is a lot of interesting things there. Ocean scientists managed to recreate the life of an underwater reef in an aquarium. From here you can enjoy amazing landscapes and views.

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What to see in Monaco?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.

Monaco Ville is an amazing city. About a thousand people live in it, and the whole thing is only 700 meters long and 300 meters wide. Ancient narrow streets and sidewalks huddle closely together on a high, 60-meter cliff. The city was founded on a flat top back in 1215. Today it is the historical center and capital of the Principality of Monaco. It is here that the residence of the princely family, Palace Square, the Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum, which was headed by Cousteau, and many others are located.

The unique collection of Monegasque household items and art can be visited completely free of charge on Wednesdays and Fridays. The more than thousand-year history of the Rock is presented through exhibitions of costumes, books, ancient coins, photographs, musical instruments, collections of ceramics, etc. The Museum of Old Monaco has become a national repository of the history, traditions and language of the ancient principality.

The Botanical Garden of Monaco is famous for its rich collection of succulents from all over the world. In addition, the creators managed to ensure that a huge number of exotic plants have taken root here, thanks to which the garden is fragrant and filled with flowers all year round. The total number of fauna representatives reaches 6000. One of the attractions of the garden is a natural grotto with stalactites and stalagmites.

The most beautiful beach in the city center surprises with the clearest water and snow-white artificial sand. Larvotto is a holiday destination for romantic couples and wealthy tourists. The glamorous public loves to soak up the sun here, sparkling with diamonds. There are also free, well-equipped recreation areas, excellent cuisine and many hotels.

The idea of ​​creating the museum belonged to Prince Renault III. Over the course of 30 years, he has amassed an impressive retro collection. The oldest exhibit is “De Dion Bouton” from 1903. For connoisseurs, encounters with the first brands of such automobile giants as Lincoln, Citroen, Peugeot, Packard, etc. will be especially valuable. In the museum there are ancient military vehicles, wheeled carriages of the princely family, a London taxi, which the princess drove Grace.

The metaphorical garden occupies 7000 square meters. m. It is amazingly filled with the philosophy of unity and harmony of man and nature. All its elements are deeply symbolic and encourage a deep understanding of oneself and the world around us. A rock garden, bridges and ponds with fish, islands, and a tea house create a unique atmosphere. Many elements were brought to Monaco from Japan.

The cathedral was built in 1875. It is the main cathedral of Monaco and is known as the tomb of princes. Solemn services are still held here on church holidays, as well as on November 19 on the national day of the Prince. The majestic white stone building is open to lovers of religious and organ music. Its walls are decorated with paintings by Louis Brea.

Princess Grace, beloved by the Monegasques, will forever remain a beautiful rose in their hearts. Her passion and love for flowers was well known, and a delightful rose garden was opened in her memory in 1984. About 14,000 plants were collected on a small plot of land, of which only 150 species of roses. The rose garden is laid out in the form of one huge rose with 9 unopened petals.

The casino itself is interesting not only as a gambling establishment - it is a masterpiece of architecture, the interior solutions of which are distinguished by originality, luxury and excellent taste. In addition, the opera house is located in the same building. Ordinary tourists have free entry to the casino lobby and theater cloakroom. Interestingly, citizens of Monaco are prohibited from gambling by law. Tourists who want to play or explore all the halls will have to pay 10 euros for entry. Marble floors, columns, elaborate statues, paintings, bronze lamps - there is no doubt that there is something to see here.

The Grimaldi family took a fancy to the Genoese fortress from 1191, gradually turning it into a luxurious palace. For more than 7 centuries, the castle has been the active residence of the princes of Monaco. During the absence of the monarch, as indicated by the flag flying at half-mast, the palace is open to tourists. The salons and halls of the palace are filled with extraordinary treasures.

The strange combination of roulette and opera in one building sounds piquant, but still does not bother the sophisticated public. Verdi, Wagner, Rossini performed at the Monte Carlo Opera House, and Caruso and Chaliapin sang here. The interior of the theater is designed in red and gold tones, and bas-reliefs and sculptures emphasize its pomp and status.

At the same time, the port of Hercule can accommodate up to 700 ships. The wise decision to build a port in this very place belonged to Prince Amber the first - from here it is a stone's throw to the most significant attractions and entertainment of the principality. The port is constantly undergoing reconstruction. The authorities are striving to make the port modern and convenient for their distinguished guests.

The area in front of the Casino is special. There is a dress code - it is forbidden to wear jeans or sneakers. There is even a sign warning about this. In front of the Casino there is a beautiful French park of palm trees, flowers, ponds with reeds and lilies, which smoothly turns into the mountains. At night, the lights around the square in front of the casino light up, creating an indescribable atmosphere.

The Oceanographic Museum seems to have grown out of a rock. From here you can enjoy impressive views of the sea, city, and parks. For a long time, the museum was headed by the honorary citizen of Monaco, Jacques-Yves Cousteau. The museum has a library, laboratories, specialized research centers, and a marine farm. Here you can see rare inhabitants of the deep sea, skeletons of huge whales.

You can attend a free open-air concert or performance at the Fort Antoine Theater. The stepped amphitheater seats 350 spectators and is open almost all summer. The ancient building used to have completely military tasks - to protect Monaco-Ville. In the courtyard of the fort there are cannons and cannonballs stacked in a heap, and parapets, curbs and a watchtower have been preserved on the walls.

According to tradition, all brides of the Princes of Monaco bring their wedding bouquet to the Church of Sainte-Devote as a sign of respect for the young girl who did not want to give up Jesus Christ even in the face of torture and death. The martyred Saint Virgin was washed up by the sea off the coast of the principality. Since then, residents have held a memorial procession and prayer services.

Since 1629 A brotherhood of Black sinners gathered in the chapel, preaching repentance of sins and God's mercy. They were famous for their good deeds and were respected by the people. Many who believed and felt the touch of Grace left jewelry or other gifts to the church. The chapel still houses a statue of Christ, carved from wood by Napoleon's court sculptor.

At the opening of the Club in 1928. Five crowned heads were present - it was a significant event in Europe. The Country Club is a large sports complex. Various competitions are held at its base. Tennis tournaments are the most popular among the sophisticated public. One of the most famous is the April Rolex Masters tournament. In addition, the Country Club has an excellent swimming pool where you can come with children, a squash and golf course.

Sitting in a cafe overlooking the Monte Carlo casino is a special chic experience. It’s convenient to watch the public coming to the casino, watch expensive cars, and you can simply eat at any time. Other cafes in the city close from lunch to 7 pm. In addition, there is free wi-fi and a cozy interior, quite reasonable prices: not the most expensive, but not the lowest either. Here you can order something from Monegasque cuisine - for example, pancakes or lemon tartlets.

Mayenne Corniche is the name of the highway that connects Nice and Monaco. The road goes along the sea, rising serpentine into the mountains. When traveling by car, it is worth stopping in the small town of Eze. Here you can have a snack at a local restaurant, stroll along the narrow ancient streets, and breathe in plenty of clean mountain air. From above you can see stunning views of the mountains and sea.

• Address: 62, Bd du Jardin Exotique 98000 Monaco
• Telephone: +377 9315 2980
• Official site: www.jardin-exotique.mc
• Email: [email protected]
• Working hours: daily, except November 19 and December 25. Opening hours: January - from 09.00 to 17.00, February-April - from 09.00 to 18.00, May-September - from 09.00 to 19.00, October - from 09.00 to 18.00, November-December - from 09.00 to 17.00. Paid entrance.

The unique park, appropriately named “Exotic” (Jardin-Exotique de Monaco), is a beautiful garden that is located on the side of a cliff and has become an observation deck of the principality. From here you have a stunning view of the city and the French Riviera. The opening of the garden took place in 1933; it contains hundreds of thousands of rare plants from all over the world - of which only 7,000 species of cacti grow more than 10 meters in height!

Dozens of bridges and arches, flower beds and plant compositions - all of this inspires with its beauty and gives you a feeling of harmony. Already successful and aspiring artists fall in love with this park, so you will meet many working creators with easels while walking along the alleys.

At the base of the cliff on which the Exotic Garden is located, a cave was discovered by archaeologists in 1916. Valuable exhibits were found in it: Stone Age tools and bones of an extinct animal species. You can study them in the Museum of Anthropology, which is located in the center of the garden. In 1950, the cave was opened to tourists. Of course, all visitors are breathtaking when they see the spacious halls with amazing growths of stalactites and stalagmites. Cable cars along the cave walls will take you under the Mediterranean Sea, but we do not recommend you go down so deep, because with every step the atmospheric pressure will increase.

The Exotic Garden is open daily at any time of the year, but from May 15 to September 15 it is open until 19.00, and from September 16 to May 14 - until 18.00. Sanitation work is being carried out in the park on December 19 and 25, so it is closed.

The cost of a ticket to the garden depends on the age of the visitor:

• Children under 6 years old have free admission;
• from 6 years to 18 – 3.60 euros;
• students with a student card - 3.70 euros;
• adults – 7 euros;
• permission for professional photography – 2 euros (obtained from the administration);
• pensioners (over 65 years old) – 5.30 euros.

You can order tickets to the Exotic Garden in advance on the official website.

At the entrance, you can hire a guide who will tell you not only about the plants of the park, but also captivate you with interesting stories about the life of the Monaco Dynasty. This service will cost you 5 euros and will last 1.5 hours.

The Jardin-Exotique de Monaco park is located nearby. In order to get to the garden, you can use a taxi (1.2 euros per km), take or take a bus along the Rocher de Monaco route from the Touristique-Fonvieille station. The bus station is open from 6.00 to 21.00, the break between bus routes is 30 minutes. The cost of a ticket from the station to the park is 5 euros per person.

The Principality of Monaco is a miniature state located in the south of Europe. Monaco is usually associated with France and there are many reasons for this. To be honest, I used to think, until I visited Monaco myself, that this was an administrative region of France (see).

Monaco is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world. What is Monaco famous for? What comes to mind first? Well, it seems like many famous athletes live and train in Monaco. In addition, rich people live there, the famous Monte Carlo casino is located there, and the Monaco Grand Prix stage of the Formula 1 championship is held in Monaco.

The indigenous population of Monaco are Monegasques. The population of the dwarf state is approximately 40,000 people. And this is on an area of ​​2 square kilometers!

By the way, precisely because Monaco is such a small state, I was able to visit almost everything in this city-state that the average tourist sees. So let's take a look at the sights of Monaco in order.

Before entering Monaco you climb a mountain. Narrow two-lane winding road. High, breathtaking. Well, from this place there is a view of Monaco

Very dense buildings

Well, and, in fact, the entrance to the city-state itself

City streets

Several shuttle buses run around the city. They have a total of 5 bus routes. There is also one night route (www.cam.mc).

The first attraction of Monaco is the Oceanographic Museum. Buses No. 1, 2 go to it; stop: Place de la Visitation

I wasn’t there inside, I just didn’t have enough time. In the museum you can see samples of marine flora, stuffed animals and skeletons of marine life. In general, everything like that. Well, Jacques-Yves Cousteau also worked at the museum as director. In general, there is nothing more to say about the museum.

Botanical Garden of Monaco (Le Jardin Exotique)

I have seen different names for this garden. For example, the Gardens of St. Martin, the Exotic Garden of Monaco, etc.

I didn't see anything special there. It is located near the Oceanographic Museum. There are many exotic plants growing here, and there are pockets of space that offer excellent views of Monaco. There are especially many cacti of the most extravagant shapes here; they are at almost every turn. Some have reached gigantic sizes, some are tiny, like a matchbox. You can stroll through the streets of this garden completely free of charge.

Prince's Palace of Monaco

This is the official residence of the rulers of Monaco. The palace was originally created as a fortress, after which it was rebuilt several times. There is an open square in front of the palace. On the nearby streets there are many shops, boutiques, shops. There are cafes and restaurants everywhere, a sea of ​​tourists everywhere.

Nearby there is an observation deck where Monaco is in full view. There are also incredibly many people here. This is the view from this site

Apparently just tourists, or maybe locals, I don’t know

Menu from a local restaurant. All prices are in euros

small bay

This is a little different from the bay that you see in Formula 1. This is another one. We were walking up the rock and it just caught my attention. This is impossible not to appreciate. Wealth, luxury. Instead of a Ferrari, there is a yacht moored under the windows of your house.

By the way, looking at it is not only beautiful, but also slightly dangerous. Decent height

Just some things

Observation deck near the museum. This is where I took the first photos of the museum

Luxurious expensive cars are found on the roads of Monaco

And there is such a transport. This is a tourist train. It departs from the Oceanographic Museum and passes near the main attractions of Monaco. As far as I know, there is a Russian audio guide there

Casino Monte Carlo

One of the most publicized attractions in Monaco. They say that there were cases when people spent entire fortunes in an evening, after which they threw themselves down the cliff and crashed.

That's basically all I saw in one day in Monaco. I also wandered around the streets and looked into the shops. Another interesting thing. Owning a home in Monaco is very expensive and prestigious. But you can only have housing when you live in it. Therefore, local rich people specifically hire people who imitate life in their apartments during the owner’s absence. They come in the evening, turn on the lights, wash, and cook something. Well, something like this. In general, these are the imitators

Renting housing in Monaco is expensive; on Airbnb the price averages $40-80 per night. Although there are also cheaper options. By the way, you can get a bonus from me for your first stay through the Airbnb website for about $20. To do this you need to register using this link. The bonus will be automatically credited to your account.

That's all for me.