The Grimaldi Forum’s acclaimed exhibition Monaco and the Napoleons: Intertwined Destinies will mark Napoleon Bonaparte’s birthday this week with special guided tours and themed activities, offering visitors an even richer experience of this unprecedented collection.

Running until 31st August, the exhibition features more than 180 artworks, rare historical documents, and personal objects belonging to the Emperor and those closest to him. From Napoleon’s iconic bicorne hat to the intricate mechanical songbirds that fascinated 19th-century audiences, each piece tells part of the story of a man who, as Stendhal once wrote, has become “no longer a real person today, but a legendary figure… the only true one.”

The display brings together treasures that have never before been shown side by side, including portraits by celebrated artists François Gérard, Jacques-Louis David, Antonio Canova, Jean-Baptiste Isabey, and Carle Vernet. For the first time, visitors can view these masterpieces alongside artefacts that illuminate the links between the Emperors of France and the Princes of Monaco — connections that shaped both dynasties and contributed to the creation of Napoleon’s enduring legend.

On Wednesday 14th August, the museum’s Happy Hours will feature a special English-language guided tour at 6pm, accompanied by a few surprises. The following day, 15th August, Napoleon’s birthday will be honoured with themed English tours at 12pm and 4pm, offering deeper insight into the life, legacy, and myth of the first Emperor of France.

With many works on display to the public for the very first time, Monaco and the Napoleons is a rare chance to step inside an extraordinary chapter of European history before the exhibition closes at the end of the month.

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Photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life