The Grand Apartments of the Prince’s Palace are finally reopening to the public, two years later than expected, revealing delicately re-worked frescoes and hidden Italian masterpieces.
It was during restoration works, requested by Prince Albert in 2015, that experts unveiled hidden Genoese frescoes dating from the 16th Century, prompting a major research project to unearth the truth behind these stunning pieces of Italian art history.
The frescoes and their stories were to be revealed to the public in April 2020, but a global pandemic curtailed those plans for two years.
Restoration works unveiled hidden works from the Italian renaissance period, photo by Maël Voyer Gadin Prince’s Palace
Now, on Friday 1st July, the Grand Apartments of the Prince’s Palace will be receiving visitors once more. They will be taken on a new chronological tour of the Palace, highlighting restored frescoes and the history of the Grimaldi dynasty, told through paintings and never-before seen artworks, including a portrait of Lucien, who ruled from 1505 to 1523.
Built in 1215, the Palace reveals the changing tastes over time and is filled with beautiful pieces of art, painted ceilings and elaborately decorated spaces. Though certainly museum-quality, the rooms feel more accessible and liveable due to the way they have been staged.
The paintings, which were hand-picked by the princes of Monaco in the 18th century, include one by Jacopo Bassano which was purchased by Jacques I. It was then on display at the Hôtel de Matignon in Paris but disappeared during the French Revolution only to crop up again a few years ago. Prince Albert II bought the painting back and it now sits once again in its rightful place in the Palace.
Photo by Jean-François Ottonello
In fact, all the furniture of the Prince’s Palace was dispersed during the French Revolution. “Prince Albert II’s concern for heritage also manifested in concern for the reconstitution of these old princely collections,” said the Director of Archives of the Prince’s Palace, Thomas Fouilleron, who worked with scenographer Cecile Degos on the project. “The aim being to buy back as much as possible these collector’s items that appear on the art market or finding elements of the same era.”
This new approach differs from the former, where each room represented different styles. The new look is more organic and authentic, according to the Director of Archives.
Audio guides allow guests to explore the space in 11 languages. There is also an app where videos show how the rooms appear when in use. One notable space is the Throne Room, where visitors see the royal chair that has been in use since the time of Charles III.
Galerie des Princes. Photo by Geoffroy Moufflet, Prince’s Palace Archives
The room where Prince Rainier III first met Princess Grace in 1955 is also part of the tour, filled with rather avant-garde 18th century Flemish-style paintings.
The tour ends in the Galerie des Princes where busts of past sovereigns line the walls, including a striking piece by contemporary artist Barry X Ball of Prince Albert II
The Grand Apartments are open daily from 1st July to 15th October. For more information, visit the website at www.visitepalaisdemonaco.com
Renowned fabric designer Maison Pierre Frey has teamed up with Fashion For Homes to open its first furniture showroom in Monaco.
It is the exciting, but not wholly unexpected, coming together of two family businesses – the Moghadams, famous for the Persian and couture carpets passionately curated by Alexander Moghadam and extended to broader interior design fabrics by his son Kamyar, and Maison Pierre Frey, renowned in the world of fabric upholstery for three generations.
On 15th June at Fashion For Homes, Kamyar Moghadam welcomed Vincent Frey to the showroom on Boulevard des Moulins to share with the media and loyal clientele the exciting collaboration.
Fashion For Homes has been designed to showcase its 15,000 fabric samples on offer; from floor to ceiling, from the elevator to the toilet, the entire showroom is a canvas for the best in fabric design.
After featuring Pierre Frey fabrics for the past two years, Kamyar Moghadam decided to kick it up a gear and showcase Pierre Frey’s new range of furniture, which also now fills the showroom.
Kamyar Moghadam and Vincent Frey, photo credit Alain Duprat
“Our family has worked in Monaco for 50 years, so we have to perform in terms of excellence in service and quality,” Kamyar Moghadam tells Monaco Life. “Maison Pierre Frey is a very specific brand that you can’t get anywhere else in Monaco, because everyone here is all about Italian design. But we are very haute couture, and a little French, so it is wonderful to have a French brand, made in France, beautifully crafted, in our showroom.”
Created in Paris in 1935 by designer Pierre Frey, the family-owned company today designs and manufactures fabrics, wallpapers, carpets, rugs and – most recently – furniture. It is now run by Pierre Frey’s son Patrick, who is in charge of creative design, and his sons Pierre, Vincent and Matthieu Frey, who run the business.
“We decided that the only way we would do furniture is if we could control and manufacture it ourselves,” revealed Vincent Frey. “We wanted to have our own French artisanal furniture makers, our own atelier just outside of Paris where we could find local knowledge and expertise, and source the wood locally. So, that’s exactly what we did.”
Furniture by Pierre Frey in Fashion For Homes, photo credit Alain Duprat
Maison Pierre Frey recruits different designers for different furniture projects. This time, they have secured the creative designs of Wanellato/Bortotto, Gesa Hansen, Charles Tassin, Charlotte Juillard, Gonçalo Campos, Sandra Benhamou, Guillaume Delvigne, Constance Guisset, Christophe Delcourt, and Sam Baron.
“For us, it was important… I guess it is a particularity for luxury companies run by a family, that we didn’t want to make furniture that you feel like changing in five years; it is something that your family will live with for years and years, hopefully generations,” said Frey. “When you are bored with it, you can just reupholster it with another fabric, but these are made to last, and that’s why we make them in solid wood, which is also why they are sustainable.”
And the style?
“Everything we do is eclectic,” concludes Frey. “Every model comes from an encounter between a creative designer and us. We don’t limit ourselves, it could be super modern or super classic. Just like our fabrics.”
From concerts and carnivals, to fireworks and kids shows, here is everything that’s happening in family entertainment this summer, organised by the Mairie.
After two summers of disappointment, the Mairie de Monaco is back with a full calendar of events to make the summer sizzle.
In fact, the return to normal began earlier this month with the end-of-school-year Splash Party, UPaint and Fête de la Musique, and that is just the start.
This year, Place Gastaud will play host to several musical events. Every Wednesday from 6th July for eight weeks entertainment can be found on the square with concerts for both young and old. The sounds of jazz, blues and gospel will fill the air for adults while four kids shows, lasting 45 minutes to an hour, are also on the roster.
The summer U Sciaratu carnival will take place on 8th July with an African theme. Floats, parades, and musical troupes will transform the Rock. Other activities, organised in parallel, include the installation of a make-up stand on the Place de Mairie as well as a workshop of giant bubbles and balloon sculptures in the Allée St Jean Paul II. The day will end with a ball hosted by a DJ between 10pm and midnight.
From 14th July to 21st August, a variety of activities will be available in Port Hercule on Quai Albert 1er. For budding race car drivers, the Crazy Kart track will be set up for tots aged three and older. It is an inflatable attraction giving little ones a chance to learn about karting and electric motorbikes.
Additionally, a basketball court and an inflatable structure will be set up on the north side of the Quai. Everyone will benefit from a shady spot under a green roof created to give walkers and passers-by a chance to take a break from the sun in a cool spot. There will also be a “chalet” set up with cool refreshments.
Fireworks are back this year as well, with one exception. The Art-en-Ciel Fireworks Competition, a mainstay for nearly 55 years, has been discontinued due to its environmental impact.
There will still be two pyrotechnic displays to delight audiences, though. The first will be on 30th July on the Quai from 10pm and will be followed by an evening of dance and fun with a live DJ. The second night comes on 13th August with a disco dance and fireworks parry with the group High Energy.
For more info on times and dates, visit the Mairie’s website on www.mairie.mc
Philippe Clement’s men stepped-up preparations for the upcoming season with a friendly against St Gall at La Turbie on Wednesday with the game finishing in a 1-1 draw.
A youthful side took to the field to face St Gall, who finished fifth in the Swiss top division last season. After a 1-0 victory in Saturday’s match against Cercle Brugge, Monaco faced a more difficult task to make it two wins in-a-row. But that is by design. “That’s the point of these matches, to increase the difficulty for the players in each match,” said Clement post-match.
An early Jean Lucas goal alluded to smooth sailing for Monaco, but as Saint Gall grew in confidence, opportunities started to present themselves. Radoslaw Majecki saved smartly from Julain Von Moos, before Jérémy Guillemenot fluffed his lines with the open goal gaping.
“In the first-half, we conceded too many opportunities. We conceded fewer in the second-half when we had more experience at the back,” said Clement. But despite looking more assured with the more experienced duo of Guillermo Maripán and Jean Marcelin, Monaco would let their lead slip.
A stray pass from the latter allowed Boris Babic to steam in on goal, and his ferocious strike was too strong for Alexander Nübel. Offensively, Monaco struggled for fluidity as Clement chose to give experience to the youth. “Experiencing these situations is better than playing in the N2. It was the same for the young players in attack,” he said. He was particularly impressed with Mohamed Bamba, who “showed good things”.
Felix Marechal was also a standout performer during his first-half stint. On his performance, Clement told Monaco Life, “Felix showed good moments but also moments where he over-thinks. He isn’t yet used to everything, but he also shows good things in training and in the match against Cercle.”
At such an early point in pre-season, giving the youth a chance to develop is key, especially at Monaco, which insists upon a youth-oriented project. In such games, the end result is inconsequential. The omnipresent buzz of the drones above, which analyse the game, was a reminder that the true purpose lies in experimentation and in facilitating and measuring the progress of some of the club’s brightest projects.
As Clement rightly pointed out, “Of course we’re not going to start the season with the same team as today. But this is a very interesting time for the young players, for them to learn physical, tactical, technical and also mental lessons.”
Absent from proceedings were Kevin Volland, Vanderson and Eliot Matazo. Volland should return to training on Thursday despite Clement describing the German international’s ankle as “swollen and blue”. Vanderson received a minor knock and should return to training within the next couple of days, whilst Matazo only restarted training a couple of days ago and therefore the match against St Gall came too soon.
Also absent was new signing Takumi Minamino. The €15m forward has “something to sort out in Japan” before joining up with the squad. Clement praised the qualities of his new player, saying, “I have a lot of ideas of how to use him. That’s the advantage with him. He can be very effective in many different roles and in various positions.”
He is the only player not expected to make the trip to Faro, Portugal for the club’s training camp on 4th July, although Clement revealed that he does expect him to join-up with the squad on the Friday 9th July. With the return of international players next week, Monaco’s preparation for another long season is heating up.
Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
Thomas Martini: “Our ambitions are still the same”
AS Monaco Women have narrowly missed out on promotion to the D2 following a 1-0 defeat to Toulouse Women on Sunday, although sporting director Thomas Martini told Monaco Life that their ambition remains untarnished.
Monaco went into the second-leg of their play-off tie needing to win after a profligate performance in the first leg, which saw the side’s draw 2-2. “We have regrets from the first match against Toulouse,” sporting director Martini told Monaco Life. “I think we had the possibility to do a lot better. I think if we had come out with a 3/4-1 victory, it would have been deserved given the number of chances we created.”
But they didn’t, and with home advantage, former professional side Toulouse controlled the match to ensure promotion to the D2. A first-half goal from Sonia Roumiga was enough to consign Monaco to another year in the R1.
Martini lamented the luck of the draw, saying, “It was an opposition between two teams that were really at D2 level. Unfortunately, in a play-off only one can go through, and it wasn’t us. I think we just lacked a bit of experience to get there this year. We were in our first year of play-offs and to this day there isn’t any club that has been promoted in their first year of play-offs. If we had done it, it would have been something extraordinary.”
Regardless of how the season ended, Martini nevertheless gave a positive appraisal of what was a record-breaking year for Stéphane Guigo’s women. “We mustn’t forget that we’ve had an extraordinary journey in the Coupe de France, which was truly historic. In the championship as well, we beat the points record, so you can’t do any better than that. It was perfect in the R1 and we can be proud of that,” said Martini.
Martini, who is the new sporting director at the club having previously been the development manager, is already looking ahead to the upcoming season. Due to a resourcing of the divisions, the side will be hunting a promotion to D3 rather than D2. “We certainly have the capacity to play at a national level and we’re going to get on with preparations for next season and the ambitions are still the same,” he said.
However, the sporting director did admit that there may be some changes during the off-season, with some players potentially seeking new challenges. “We are going to check in with all of our players because some will perhaps have offers to go and play for teams in higher divisions. Maybe some will have a desire to play at the national level. We will go around and gauge their will and their state of mind. Today, the feeling was good and a large majority of them have the will to continue the journey for promotion,” he said.
More than anything, however, Martini’s optimism for the project shines through, and for him, Sunday’s defeat is merely a setback in what he believes will be an ultimately successful venture. “Today brings certainties to the club and its evolution. It will take more time, but the ambition is still to reach the national level very quickly and to continue to shape ourselves as a professional side.”
Photo credit: Marcello Photography
All the headlines and highlights from Monaco, direct to you every morning
