Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate

Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate tickets: which one to buy

The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, known as Saint Nicholas Cathedral, stands on the Rock of Monaco, in Monaco-Ville, the old town, a short walk from the Prince's Palace and the Oceanographic Museum, and entry is free. It is the burial place of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III, and many visitors come to see their graves. Monaco-Ville is reached by bus from Monte Carlo and the railway station, or on foot up a ramp and steps from the port.

Walking tours of Monaco combine the cathedral with the Changing of the Guard at the Prince's Palace, held every day just before noon, the palace's state apartments, the Oceanographic Museum, the Saint Martin Gardens and the Monte Carlo Casino. Many day trips from Nice include Monaco and Èze. The cathedral is active, and visiting pauses during services. Modest dress is expected. Buses 1 and 2 from Monte Carlo stop at the Place de la Visitation, a short walk from the cathedral.

Visiting Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate: what to see

The cathedral was built between 1875 and 1903 on the site of a thirteenth-century church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, in a Romanesque-Byzantine style, using white stone from La Turbie, a village on the hills above Monaco. Inside, the cathedral has a mosaic in the apse showing Christ, the Virgin and the saints, and a white marble high altar and bishop's throne. Behind the altar, the tombs of the princes of Monaco lie in the ambulatory, including the simple graves of Princess Grace, the former actress Grace Kelly, who died in 1982, and Prince Rainier III, who died in 2005, often decorated with flowers. The cathedral holds a retable of Saint Nicholas painted by Louis Bréa around 1500, from the earlier church, and other works by Bréa.

The great organ, installed in 1976, is used for concerts. The royal wedding of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly was held here in 1956. The cathedral's facade is decorated with carved stone and a large arched portal. The bishop's throne, carved in white Carrara marble, stands in the choir. The side chapels hold altarpieces and statues of saints. The tombs of the princes are arranged in a semicircle around the choir, and their names are carved on the slabs. The cathedral's windows are decorated with stained glass. The organ has four keyboards and more than six thousand pipes. The square in front of the cathedral is quiet and shaded. The cathedral is the venue for the religious ceremonies of the principality.

Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate opening hours and the best time to go

The cathedral is open daily, with visits restricted during services. Monaco is busy all year, especially during the Monaco Grand Prix in May, when the streets become a racing circuit, and in summer, when yachts fill the port. The National Day of Monaco on 19 November brings a service in the cathedral attended by the princely family. Winter is mild. Organ concerts are held in summer. Allow about twenty minutes for the cathedral, and arrive at the palace square before noon for the Changing of the Guard. The Saint Martin Gardens, on the cliffs beside the cathedral, have Mediterranean plants, sculptures and views over the sea.