Discover and book the top Monaco sights
This chapel belonged to the White Penitents, Catholic laymen living under a common rule. It was built between 1680 and 1687 on land outside the city's walls.
Situated in front of the Saint Michel basilica, this chapel is a jewel of Baroque art, with a beautiful facade and tower.
It was declared historical monument in 1947, and restored in 1987.
The cathedral of Monaco is dedicated to the Virgin, although popularly known as Saint Nicholas because of the church that previously stood on its site. The current building was built in the 19th century.
The first chapel was built here in the 13th century, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It was turned into a cathedral in the 19th century, and the old building was demolished in 1874. The first stone of the new cathedral was set in 1875 with works finishing in 1903, although it was not consecrated until 1911.
The church was designed according to a Roman-Byzantine style. Inside, there are chapels dedicated to Sainte Devote, Saint Roman and the Saint Sacrament. The 16th-century altarpiece of Saint Nicolas comes from the old church and was produced by the famous Niçois painter Louis Bréa.
Most of the princely family is buried in the cathedral, from Jean II Grimaldi, who died in 1505, to Grace Kelly, deceased in 1982, and Rainier III, who passed away in 2005. It was also where Albert II was invested prince in 2005, and where the wedding of Rainier III and Grace Kelly took place on April 19th 1956 before 600 guests, including Cary Grant, Aristotle Onassis, Ava Gardner and Gloria Swanson.
Beautiful baroque architecture, examples of 17th- and 18th-century frescoes and furniture and a large terraced garden.
Perched high on the rocks of Saorge, overlooking the valley and gorges of Roya, this important convent controlled the route between Nice and Turin through the col de Tende. It was founded in 1633 during the Catholic Counter-Reformation.
The former Franciscan monastery is now a writers' residence that is open to the public. Guided tours are available of the 17th century artworks, fantastic frescoes, religious relics and a terraced kitchen garden.
This Baroque Italianate church dates to the 1750s, although it was built on the site of a 14th-century church.
There was a priory on the site in the 13th century, while the 14th-century church was rebuilt in the 18th century.
Look out for the wooden statue of San Rocco, patron saint of dog trainers. Its organ, dating from the end of the 18th century, is one of the oldest working organs in the region.
The first stone of the Saint Michel basilica in Menton was set in 1619, but it was not finished until 1653, and consecrated in 1675. Located in the old town, it boasts a beautiful Baroque style.
The tower was built in 1701, and it is 53 metres high, dominating the village. The current façade was rebuilt in 1819. The coloured cobbles of its square are arranged to form the Grimaldi's coat of arms
Inside, it has an interesting 17th-century organ. The Festival of Classical Music of Menton is celebrated in this church every August.
The heart of the old town of Sospel opens out into a wide sunny square dominated by the colourful facade of the Saint-Michel cathedral.
Although the bell tower is thought to be 11th century, the rest of the church originates from the 14th century when the church became a cathedral during the great schism, in which Sospel supported the Avignon pope. However, it was mostly rebuilt in 1641 after a plague epidemic in 1632. It was designed by the army architect Jean-André Guiberto, who also designed the Sainte-Reparate cathedral in Nice.
Built in the Baroque style, the cathedral is bright and spacious inside with an organ dating from 1843 and numerous works of art from the 15th to 17th centuries. The cathedral holds regular Roman Catholic masses.
Sainte-Dévote is the patron saint of the Principality of Monaco.
In the very early 4th century, in Corsica (which was a Roman province at that time) the Roman governor, Diocletian, ordered the great persecution of the Christians.
A young Christian, Devote, was arrested, imprisoned and tortured. She died without denying her faith. After her death, the governor of the province ordered for her body to be burnt, but the Christians saved her body and placed it on a boat bound for Africa, where they believed she would receive a proper Christian burial. When a storm struck it is said that a white dove flew from her mouth and guided the boat to Monaco.
This church is built on the site where a storm-struck ship carrying Dévote's body docked in Monaco. The small church dates back to 1870, further refurbished in 1891 in a Neo-Greek style.