Although it
is located within Fontvieille Park, the Princess Grace Rose Garden is a
completely separate garden.
Conceived
by Prince Rainier III in memory of his wife Princess Grace, the Rose Garden is
laid out according to the principles of an English garden, while retaining a
Mediterranean character through the planting of hundred-year-old olive trees.
When it was officially opened on 18 June 1984, the rose collection covered an
area of 3,000 m2; it was expanded in 2000 and again in 2014 to mark
its thirtieth anniversary.
Although
the gates bearing H.S.H. Princess Grace’s monogram have been conserved to
maintain the garden’s sense of history, the “new” Rose Garden can now be
accessed freely, so that visitors can discover it at any time of the day.
The bronze statue
of H.S.H. Princess Grace created by sculptor KEES VERKADE in 1983 dominates the
garden and watches over the location’s tranquillity. Visitors are invited to
enjoy a refreshing break in the central square, laid out around a bronze
fountain at the foot of the wall of water, which is lit up at night.
Throughout
the 5,000 m2 of the Rose Garden, visitors can discover more than 315
varieties of rosebush, with a total of 6,000 rosebushes divided into seven
themes.
As part of
the modernisation of the Rose Garden, an interactive terminal was installed at
one of the entrances to the site. This can be used to identify the location of
each rosebush on a map. Visitors are also invited to scan the QR codes on each
of the plaques to identify the rosebushes (information available on the Rose
Garden website: www.roseraie.mc).
All of the
site’s maintenance activities and the events offered throughout the year have
resulted in it being awarded the Espace Végétal Ecologique (EVE) certification
by "ECOCERT".
Accessibility: The Rose Garden and Fontvieille Park are
accessible to those with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. All slopes are
gentle and accessible toilet facilities are available.
Free entry
Photo credits:
©Benjamin Vergély