The green heart of the Fontvieille district
With a total surface area of four hectares, the Parc Paysager de Fontvieille is one of the green lungs of the Principality of Monaco, alongside the Exotic Garden, the Jardins Saint-Martin & Sainte-Barbe, and the Jardins du Casino de Monte-Carlo. While part of this area is given over to the Espace Fontvieille big top, home to the legendary Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, various paths lead from the Heliport to the pretty Place du Campanin. Rows of palms, Mediterranean trees and an aquatic pool enhance the stroll through this haven of peace, located below Monaco-Ville and close to the Port of Fontvieille.
In the middle of this luxuriant garden stand the majestic roses for which the Princess Grace Rose Garden is world-renowned. Created in 1984, the garden boasts more than 450 varieties of rose, spread over 5,000 m², with areas dedicated to specific types of flowers: Grimaldi Family Roses, prize-winning plants from the International Competition of New Roses of Monaco and tapestry or shrub species all coexist in this must-see spot in the Principality.
A landscaped park ideal for families
For a long time, the landscaped park was populated by venerable swans, who made the place famous. Today, the garden's main pond, known as the " Bassin de Fontvieille ", which was renovated in 2020 and features a walkway accessible to people with reduced mobility, is also home to turtles, fish and ducks in its transparent water. Dragonflies can also be seen here, symbolizing the rich biotope that constantly gravitates around the aquatic part of the park.
A Playground, between the Rose Garden and the Chapiteau, adds a touch of relaxation to family visits. Slides, swings and climbing walls are available in two areas, one for children under five, the other for those over six.
An artistic journey
Aesthete and patron of the arts, Prince Rainier III turned Monaco into an open-air museum. The Chemin des Sculptures Rainier III, maintained by the Institut du Patrimoine, includes almost 200 sculptures that can be seen in every part of the Principality. The landscaped Parc de Fontvieille is the setting for some twenty works scattered along its paths. The ballerinas of Passo a due, not far from the Princess Grace Rose Garden, sculpted by Sauro Cavallini, remind visitors to the park of Monaco's appetite for choreographic art. Another sculpture, another theme: the Universal Fountain of Children's Rights, inaugurated in 2000, by Franco Maschio, features a clown surrounded by five children (symbols of the five continents). A fitting way to honor this major cause, and to underscore the fountain's proximity to one of the world's circus hotspots!
And close to the ducks, swans and other animals of the Fontvieille basin, keen observers can contemplate one of the most renowned sculptures in the Fontvieille landscape park: La Grande Laveuse, sculpted by Richard Guino to a design by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This lovely bronze with its aquatic theme recalls the many bathers painted by the famous French artist, who turned to sculpture at the end of his life.
Blake Ward, André Masson, Victor Ochoa, Roberto Barni... Some of the greatest names in modern and contemporary sculpture are among the bronzes to be discovered at the Parc Paysager de Fontvieille. Simply activate the geolocation function on your mobile phone and use the interactive map available at https://cheminsculpturesrainier3.mc/carte-interactive/ to follow the works of art that dot the paths, lawns and ponds...
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