Monaco Top Cars Collection

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The Prince’s exquisite private collection is located in Monaco in the Fontvieille district. Fortunately for all car enthusiasts, the prince is so friendly and grants anyone interested access to his personal garage, which is home to over a hundred vehicles from various manufacturers and eras.

The trail of history

The car lover Prince Rainier III. (1923-2005) started collecting vehicles in the late 1950s. Over a period of more than 40 years of collecting passion, the number of his vehicles grew considerably. So the garage of the Prince’s Palace became too small and Prince Rainier decided in 1993 to share his treasures with the public. His son and successor as Prince of Monaco Albert II also continues to work on expanding the considerable collection.

The exhibition extends over 5000 m² and shows over a century of automotive history. The variety of exhibits ranges from the first state cars of the small principality to the current Formula 1 cars. These are real rarities, such as a Helica automobile from 1921. The special thing about this vehicle is the type of propulsion, because like an airplane, a propeller ensures that it moves forward. Real racing vehicles that were used in the Monte Carlo Rally are also represented in these halls.

Useful information

The ticket for adults costs 8 € and for children 4 € – cheaper prices are also possible in the combination ticket. For the exact opening times and ticket prices, please see the museum’s official website.

You will find other attractions right next to the Prince’s vehicle collection. In addition to the Prince’s Palace, the Monaco Zoo, the Maritime Museum, the Postage Stamp and Coin Museum are in the immediate vicinity. But there is also a shopping center there to satisfy the small hunger and thirst cheaply. A little tip: watch out for the change you get there – one or the other Monegasque euro coin could be included.

How to get there?

The easiest way to get here is either by car or by train. The museum is located in the Fontvieille district, in the immediate vicinity of the „Parking de Fontvieille“ car park at Stade Louis II. But the Monaco bus lines also stop right at the entrance. Those who prefer to travel by train only need about 5-10 minutes to get here from the train station.

Conclusion:

Motorsport belongs to Monaco, just like Monaco belongs to motorsport. It is therefore not surprising that the collection includes a large number of old racing cars that are exhibited with pictures of their active time. These allow the visitor to dive deeper into the action, as they stimulate the imagination and you almost believe you can hear the engine noises. But even the civil vehicles are often accompanied with pictures from bygone times and so it is reminded that these are not only silent exhibits, but were really driven once – and will be. The museum is set up like a garage and each exhibit could be picked up by the prince at any time and used for a jaunt on the Côte d’Azur. What we would describe as unsatisfactory are the numerous signs in the museum, because anyone who does not speak French will probably have problems with understanding many of them, even if some are described in English. There is still some catching up to do in terms of the increasing number of international guests.