In the heart of the lush gardens of Fontvieille, you will find a place of peace and serenity, laid out over an area of more than 5,000 m².
On a path lined with contemporary sculptures, some 4,000 rose bushes perfume the atmosphere with their scent. Desired by Prince Rainier III, in memory of his wife, Princess Grace, this rose garden was built in the style of an English garden, while retaining a Mediterranean character with the planting of century-old olive trees. Covering an area of 3,000 m² when it was inaugurated on 18 June 1984, this collection of roses was extended in 2000 and again in 2014, as part of the 30th anniversary of its creation.
Although the gates with the monograms of Princess Grace have been preserved for the historical side of the site, the “new” rose garden is freely accessible. In addition, the bronze statue of Princess Grace, created by the sculptor Kees Verkade in 1983, dominates the garden, looking out at the peace and quiet of the place. Visitors are invited to take a refreshing break in the central square, built around a bronze fountain and at the foot of the water wall, which lights up at night. 315 varieties of rose bushes, or 6,000 plants, also adorn the square,
Over time, the modernisation of the rose garden has made it possible to place an interactive board at one of the entrances to the site, making it possible to locate each rose bush on a map. Visitors are also invited to scan the QR Code placed on each of the plaques to identify each rose. All the maintenance operations as well as the activities offered throughout the year have enabled the site to obtain the “Ecocert” “Ecological Plant Space” (EVE) label for this site.
