Museum / Gallery Sights in Monaco — 7 of Our Favourites

Founded by Prince Albert I in 1901, the museum aims to conserve relics of our past that have been excavated in and around the Principality of Monaco.

Located in the Exotic Garden, the museum houses evidence of human life from the ice age and through all the major stages in the evolution of the human race. The museum also works as a research centre, carrying out excavation work and studies.

There are regular seminars and lectures that you can attend, please visit the museum website for details of upcoming events.

Closed until June 2018 for renovation works.

Split over three floors this museum covers all aspects of life in Monaco over the years. You can see traditional clothes, furniture and household items, as well as religious paintings and military artefacts. There is also a display of traditional musical instruments.

There are more than a thousand objects and documents relating to the First Empire: objects belonging to the Emperor Napoleon I, garments of the King of Rome and religious souvenirs from Saint Helena.

A wide mezzanine contains memorabilia relating to the history of the Principality: the Charter of Independence of Monaco signed by King Louis XII of France, a letter written by Louis XIV to Prince Antoine I, a collection of Monaco coins and a complete collection of stamps and past uniforms of the Prince's Guards.

There is a guided audio tour available, in 11 languages, that talks you through the exhibition. It lasts for around 30 minutes.

This museum houses over 100 vintage vehicles including a De Dion Bouton from 1903 and an American post-war 1953 Cadillac. A fitting reflection of the Principality.

The collection also includes: Renault 12cv 4 cylindres Torpedo 1911, Panhard Levassor 1913, Ford T 1924, Peugeot Quadrilette 1921, Lincoln 1928, Citroën Kégresse, Ford A 1930, Hispano Suiza 1928, Delage 1934, Packard 1935, Cadillac 1653, Chrysler Imperial 1956, and some of the most prestigious models from Maserati, Jaguar, Mercedes and Rolls Royce.

Built on the side of the mythical Rock of Monaco, the Oceanographic Museum has been watching over the oceans for over a century. Founded by the Prince Albert I, great grandfather of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, it was designed as a Palace entirely dedicated to Art and Science.

Albert II was fascinated by anthropology and human palaeontology, oceanography is finally caught his interest. He built the Oceanographic Institute in 1906 to promote the development of oceanography and make accessible the results of scientific campaigns, including his own.

This museum also houses an aquarium, with over 6,000 species of fish, as well as the shark lagoon, a giant aquarium with sharks, the turtle island on the museum's panoramic terrace and even a tank where you can stroke a sea star, feel a sea urchin or touch a baby shark.

The museum's coin and bank note section displays important and valuable numismatic samples of the Principality dating back to 1640.

There is also a shop selling coins and stamps from Monaco, as well as a range of souvenirs.

Along with numerous temporary exhibitions there are also permanent collections, one of which is the museum of dolls and puppets.

Past exhibitions have included 'Gilbert & George Art Exhibition', 'Princess Grace: More than an Image', 'Kees Van Dongen, L'Atelier' and more recently 'Portraits d'Interieurs'.

For more information on current exhibition or information on each villa please visit the website directly.

Musee National Automates et Poupees
This museum of dolls and puppets is every little girl's dream housed in a lovely Garnier Villa (Villa Sauber). There are over 400 dolls here dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.