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Home Page > Travelogues > Monaco > Monaco-Ville (Fontvielle and Moneghetti)
The southwestern half of Monaco is incredibly picturesque, and
has more to offer the casual tourist. The old fort of Monaco-Ville and the
adjacent port district of
Monaco-Ville was constructed on the site of a 13th century
Genovese fortress, the towers of which are still present and
well-preserved. Although it looks isolated and difficult to reach, you
needn't worry -- there is a major roadway dug into the side of the plateau (near
the leftmost tower in the photo) that brings cars and buses directly to the
top. Also, the pedestrian walkway is only a moderate climb, reasonably
accessible by those in OK physical condition. There is an
The Prince's Palace, shown in the second photo, is both royal residence and museum. Like the rest of Monaco, the Palace grounds are pristine and scenic, as the photo suggests. When planning your visit to Monaco-Ville, pen in 11:55 as the time to be at the Palace. 11:55 is the time of day for the ceremonial changing of the guard, and it is every bit as impressive to watch as at Buckingham Palace.
An even more impressive structure is the nearby Monaco
Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium. Commissioned only a century ago, it is
both an extraordinary museum of the aquatic sciences and an architecutural
masterpiece, constructed above and into the cliffside. There's also a wax The port shown is Fontvielle, the southernmost of Monaco's districts. The port is smaller than its bustling northern cousin, but it has several wonderful museums and shops to catch your attention. Included are Monaco's Zoological Terraces, Museum of Stamps and Coins, and Naval Museum. The shopping center is less well known, and less expensive, than those in Monte Carlo. Nearby, there is a rose garden planted at Fontvielle Park in honor of Princess Grace (who's legacy is treated with great reverence, judging from the quantity of state facilities named for or attributed to her). Fontvielle is also home to the Chemin des Sculptures, an open-air sculpture trail across the town.
Also small in size, the southwest half of Monaco is simply jam-packed with things to do and places to see. One day was simply not enough to do everything! Trip taken 16 February 2002 -- Page last updated 16 October 2006 -- (C) 2001 Tom Galvin |
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Fontvielle, the southwest breathtakingly embraces the
Meditteranean coastline. But there's a lot more than just the coast, as
you will see. 
advantage to
making the climb, as you will have a clear view of the Port de Monaco.
The
Palace only occupies a small part of the Ville, there is much more to see
here. The next photo shows the Monaco Cathedral, built in the 13th century
on the site of an earlier church. The church stands near the cliff's edge
facing Fontvielle to the south, and the church square (left of this photo)
contains some of the Ville's finest restaurants.
museum, a couple pretty chapels, and several of Monaco's government buildings
here. The Ville's center is made of tight cobblestone streets with many of
the usual tourist accoutrements -- hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops.
There is also a walkway that follows most of the Ville's exterior, allowing
visitors to capture some breathtaking views, such as shown here.
Another
district, Moneghetti, sits in the hills overlooking Fontvielle, and is home to
several scenic attractions -- most notably the Exotic Garden and Observatory
Caves from where the beautiful photo of Monaco-Ville (the first photo) was
taken. The Exotic Garden exhibits plants brought in from all over the
world, with the Meditteranean serving as a perfect backdrop. Moneghetti
also has the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology.
