Princess Grace Rose Garden: a legacy of roses
Twenty-seven years after founding the Bal de la Rose, Princess Grace of Monaco chaired the jury at the first International Rose Show, held in the Principality in 1981. That year, the ‘Princesse de Monaco’ variety was created as a tribute to the deep affection the actress-turned-sovereign had for this flower. Two years after her tragic death, Prince Rainier III inaugurated the Princess Grace Rose Garden in honour of his late wife. Fifty donors contributed to the planting of a remarkably varied collection of rose beds: for the past forty years, this diversity of origin has been the rose garden’s greatest attraction, and it is now a symbol of international botanical excellence.
The Princess Grace Rose Garden: a journey amongst the roses
Following a recent renovation, more than 450 varieties of roses are now on display across nearly 5,000 m² in the paths of the Princess Grace Rose Garden. Around the central fountain, several thousand rose bushes are arranged in concentric circles: fragrant roses on the inside, landscape shrub roses on the outside near the shopping centre, and collector’s roses (the most famous varieties in the history of rose breeding and hybridisation) near the heliport, the roses honoured by the Monaco International New Rose Competition are situated near the Avenue des Guelfes; finally, the rose bushes named after the Grimaldi family and notable figures – in Monaco, where you can discover varieties named after Léo Ferré, Simone Weil or Nicolas Hulot – are spread across the western part of the garden beside a 50-metre-long water wall, the only man-made feature in this botanical paradise.
Whether shimmering colours or variegated patterns, exotic fragrances or Mediterranean scents: every rose in this magnificent garden exudes a different aroma and hue. The place inspires painters, who come to capture every grove during special workshops, as well as lovers of ‘green’ tourism: a stroll through the Princess Grace Rose Garden is sure to bring a sense of serenity!
A competition and an eco-friendly approach
Holding Ecocert certification, the Princess Grace Rose Garden has made sustainable development and the use of natural solutions one of its hallmarks. In practical terms, as well as using no chemical inputs in its rose production, the site is home to several hens which keep the flowerbeds free of weeds whilst helping to fertilise the soil.
The site promotes this eco-friendly approach to rose cultivation through a range of events and guided tours organised on the grounds. As well as students from horticultural colleges across Europe who come for study visits, anyone interested is welcome to visit the Rose Garden during Heritage Days, when further information is provided by the gardeners and specialists from Monaco’s Urban Planning Department. This department, which is responsible for the site, regularly organises events in collaboration with Monegasque associations, such as rose-pruning workshops.
Every two years, the Princess Grace Rose Garden also hosts the Monaco International New Rose Competition. For example, nearly 76 varieties were presented to the juries and the public in 2024, marking the site’s 40th anniversary, with various prizes awarded and an awards ceremony attended by Princess Caroline of Hanover, representative of the Princess Grace Foundation, which organises charity rose sales at every competition.