Visiting a Prince in his Palace

Visiting the palace on a quiet Thursday in early April turned out to be the perfect time to come and see this lavish building that sits high atop the Rocher de Monaco - the rock of Monaco. Your entry to the Palais Princier is via a rather plush ticket office and gift shop and although you can tell that they are set up to handle large crowds of people coming through I was lucky enough to find that there were very few people in front of me.

Security is strict as you enter the palace, with armed guards patrolling the exterior, a bit like Buckingham Palace I suppose, and passing through x-ray machines with bag checks. You are warned here that there is strictly no photographer allowed inside the palace, which is a bit of a shame. I was sorely tempted for a couple of iphone snaps but when I spied the security cameras on the way out I'm glad I didn't bother! You are under strict surveillance inside.

You are given an audio guide as part of your entrance fee and this gives you more than enough information about the part of the palace you are allowed to visit as well as what goes on behind closed doors and more besides. It is incredibly detailed and gives you a great insight into the lives of the royal family throughout the ages. your visit begins in the Hercule Gallery overlooking a courtyard in the centre of the palace, where special events still take place. It contains amazing frescoes of mythological figures, attributed to Francesco Mazzuchelli dating from the 16th century and to the Genovese artist Orazio Ferrari in the 17th century. Some of these were being restored when I visited meaning there were sections you couldn't view. It is, however, surprising what has remained of them over the centuries.

When you move through into the state apartments and reception rooms you will instantly be struck by the opulence with which they are decorated. Each one is individually decorated with rich damask wall coverings and matching furniture, with artwork, sculptures, vases and dishes gifted to the royal family from across the globe. There are several busts of family members and portraits of the entire Grimaldi family.

Many of these rooms are still in use today for particular state visits or traditional ceremonies and events.

If you listen to the entire audio commentary then the tour will take around an hour, perhaps more if you are keen to spend any time admiring the art and lavish furnishings in any of the rooms. Although the audio may be a little too much for younger children to understand or enjoy, you can purchase a special 'dual' ticket which allows entry into the palace and then also gives you entry to the nearby Oceanographic Museum. This one is a real winner for the kids, meaning that you can have the best of both worlds.

An adult pass for the Oceanographic Museum and Palais Princier in April was €19, a saving of €3. Other passes are available including pairing the palace with the Antique Car Collection or the Jardin Exotique.