A towering bonfire, traditional folk dancing and a crowd gathered beneath the Prince’s Palace marked Monaco’s annual Saint-Jean celebrations on Tuesday evening, as Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene were joined by Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella to watch one of the Principality’s most enduring traditions.

The evening began with the blessing of the Holy Sacrament in the Palatine Chapel, led by Archbishop Dominique-Marie David. Afterwards, the Princely family stepped out from a window overlooking Palace Square to witness the lighting of the traditional Batafoegu bonfire, a ritual that has long been associated with Saint John’s Day and the summer solstice.

Below, residents and visitors filled the square as flames rose into the night sky. Members of Monaco’s folk group, La Palladienne de Monaco, performed traditional dances around the fire, their colourful costumes and choreographed movements adding to the spectacle.

The Batafoegu remains one of the visual highlights of Monaco’s summer calendar, bringing together religious tradition, folklore and community celebration in the heart of Monaco-Ville. From their vantage point above the square, the Princely family watched as the festivities unfolded beneath the Palace walls, sharing the moment with the hundreds of people who had gathered for the occasion.

The celebrations continued on the evening of 23th June with the traditional Saint-Jean festivities, which have been passed down through generations and remain an important part of Monaco’s cultural heritage.

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Photo credit: Michaël Alesi, Prince’s Palace