High on the cliffs overlooking Monaco, the Exotic Garden is a showcase
for the exuberance, strangeness and surrealism of nature. (Currently closed - due to
re-open in 2025)
Sixty metres underground, explore a prehistoric cave with its
spectacular limestone formations, formed over thousands of years.
The Exotic Garden
Spread over an area of around 15 hectares, the Exotic Garden is home to
a thousand cacti and other succulent plants with stems or hypertrophic leaves
which store water. Originally from the planet’s main semi-arid regions, these
plants still produce plenty of flowers.
The principal flowering seasons are winter (January–February) for South
African succulents such as Aloe and Crassula, and spring and summer for cacti,
a family native to the American continent.
The enormous plants lining the paths of the Exotic Garden show the age of the
collection, which served as the basis for the garden’s creation at the
instigation of Prince Albert I. Opened
to the public in February 1933, and supplemented in the 1960s by a botanical
centre and specialist tree nursery, the garden is one of the Principality’s
most visited tourist attractions.
The Observatory Cave
At the base of the cliff on which the Exotic Garden is situated (called
“the observatory” due to the small astronomical observatory that has long stood
there), 100 metres above sea level, there is a subterranean chamber that is
open to visitors. The limestone rock, carved out by carbon dioxide-containing
water, is studded with caverns adorned with geological formations bearing
evocative names: stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, columns, soda straws...
Expert-guided tours of the Cave are included in the entry ticket for the
Exotic Garden. The tour travels from a depth of 98 metres to a depth of 40
meters (around 300 steps). The chamber
plunges down almost to sea level and is regularly explored by local cavers.
The presence of prehistoric humans in the region of the cave is
confirmed by the bones of the animals that they ate. These remains also provide an insight into
how the climate has changed over the last 250,000 years.
If you enjoyed exploring the cave, you might also like to visit the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology.
Accessibility:
Pushchairs and prams are not permitted in the garden (they may be left
at the entrance).
Due to the topography of the garden, accessibility for wheelchair users
is limited to the flat area at the entrance to the exhibition hall.
The stunning panoramic view of the Principality and the Riviera is accessible.
Wheelchair users enjoy free entry and reduced rates are available for persons
accompanying them.
People with disabilities will be charged a reduced rate on presentation of
their disability card.
The Cave is not accessible by wheelchair and people with reduced mobility will
find access difficult due to the numerous steps and narrow passageways.
Opening times and admission
prices:
The Exotic Garden and Observatory Cave will remain closed until 2025
while renovation and safety work is carried out.
The Botanical Centre at the Exotic Garden is open to the public from Tuesday to
Saturday, 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. There is no charge for admission.
The Exotic Garden Gift Shop also remains open, from Tuesday to Saturday, 8.30
am to 5 pm.