At the beginning of the 20th century, Prince Albert I, a scientist and intellectual, launched archaeological excavation campaigns. Excavations in the Grotte de l'Observatoire established the presence of Homo Erectus in the area. Today, the Grotto is an integral part of Monaco's famous Exotic Garden of Monacoand offers a botanical journey of varied colours and shapes, right down to the depths of the rock. Just opposite, you'll find the Botanical Centre of the Exotic Garden (free of charge), with its greenhouses housing the world's most important collections of cacti and succulents. 85% of the plants conserved by the Botanical Centre are protected. Tel: +377 93 15 29 80

Nearby, the Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology offers a journey that begins several hundred thousand years ago. Like the district itself, the modern rubs shoulders with the ancient, and these two places are neighbours to the Villa Palomaone of the two sites of the New National Museum of Monaco, which hosts contemporary art exhibitions throughout the year. Tel: +377 98 98 48 60

For a moment's break, take a stroll in the Princess Antoinette Parkframed by olive trees and offering splendid views of the sea and the Rock. There's something for everyone with its snack bar, mini-golf course and small farm. A breath of fresh air in the heart of the neighbourhood.

The Jardin Exotique, a district where styles and eras mingle, is one of the highlights of Monegasque architecture. From the Villa Ispahan, in the Persian style chosen in 1910 by the Iranian Prince Arfa Mirza Riza Khan, to the Simona building, whose distinctive style and luminous whiteness are the architectural beacon at the western entrance to Monaco-Ville, not forgetting the very modern troglodyte villa, built right into the rock, the district is a stroll for lovers of history and aesthetics.