Princess Antoinette Park

Here you are in Princess Antoinette Park, on Boulevard du Jardin-Exotique, in the upper part of Monaco. Far from the bustle of the harbour, this public garden is one of the places where Monegasque families like to meet. Its story begins in 1911, under another name: the Révoires garden. In 1923, after a decision of the Communal Council, Prince Louis II named it after his granddaughter, Princess Antoinette, the first child of Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre. Born in 1920, Antoinette was the elder sister of the future Prince Rainier III. In the 1920s the garden underwent major works. Today the olive tree takes pride of place, and the park has a mini-golf course popular with children. Every year, at the end of June, the town hall holds a large open-air meal here, in the Monegasque tradition of picnics. Sit for a while in the shade of the trees: it is an ideal break before or after visiting the nearby Exotic Garden.

History

The park lies at 54 bis Boulevard du Jardin-Exotique, in the district of the same name, in the upper part of the Principality. It was created in 1911 as the Révoires garden, a name drawn from local place names, "giardin d’ë Revëre" in Monegasque.

On 25 April 1923 the Communal Council deliberated on its new name. Prince Louis II then named it Princesse-Antoinette, in honour of the first child of his daughter Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre. In the 1920s the garden underwent works costing about 600,000 francs of the time.

Today the park is a municipal garden managed by the Commune of Monaco, and one of the familiar green spaces for residents of the upper districts.

Art and architecture

There is no grand architecture here: the appeal lies in the vegetation and atmosphere. The garden is dedicated to the olive tree, emblem of the Mediterranean, some of which have twisted trunks and offer welcome shade in summer.

The terraced layout, typical of terrain as steep as Monaco’s, creates resting spots, paths and play areas. The park has a mini-golf course, which makes it popular with families. In a country as dense as Monaco, every square metre of greenery counts, and this park gives the upper districts a real haven of calm.

Anecdotes

Princess Antoinette, after whom the park is named, was born in Paris on 28 December 1920. Daughter of Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre, she was the elder sister of Prince Rainier III. In 1951 her brother made her Baroness of Massy in her own right. She died in Monaco in March 2011. When the garden was named after her in 1923, she was only 2 years old.

Every year, at the end of June, the Mairie de Monaco holds a large open-air meal in the park. The event continues a lively Monegasque tradition: picnics shared among neighbours and families.

What to look for

Stroll beneath the olive trees and look at their gnarled trunks, shaped by time. Spot the mini-golf and play areas, then find a shady bench to enjoy the calm. Depending on where you stand, the buildings of the upper districts show how the city was built on the mountainside. It is also a good place to observe the daily life of Monegasques, away from the busiest routes.

Practical

The park is a freely accessible public garden, usually open during the day; exact hours and any closures are listed on the official website of the town hall, mairie.mc. It is on Boulevard du Jardin-Exotique, a few minutes’ walk from the Exotic Garden. The street is steep: wear good shoes, and consider the buses and public lifts serving the upper districts.

Nearby

Continue to the nearby Exotic Garden and its cave, or head down to La Condamine and its market. The Mairie de Monaco website presents the commune’s parks and gardens and its events, including the end-of-June meal.

Test yourself

Sources

• Wikipédia : Parc Princesse-Antoinette
• Wikipedia: Princess Antoinette Park
• Wikipédia : Antoinette de Monaco
• Mairie de Monaco : le Parc Princesse Antoinette
• Mairie de Monaco : U Cavagnëtu au Parc Princesse Antoinette

Information checked on 30 September 2026.