President of the Commemoration Committee of Prince Rainier III, H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie is at
the initiative of this exhibition which is part of the Centenary of the birth of his father
and the 50th anniversary of the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival.
This captivating retrospective is coordinated by the Department of Cultural Affairs as well as the
Prince Rainier III Commemoration Committee, in collaboration with Monte-Carlo Festivals and
open to the public from November 22, 2023 to January 28, 2024, within the former Museum of
Automobile, located on the Terrasses de Fontvieille.
The International Circus Festival was founded in 1974 by Prince Rainier III who led
numerous actions in favor of the circus world. His visionary spirit and his kindness towards
the artists and the animals were able to give new life to the circus arts.
At the heart of the exhibition, the sincere story of Prince Rainier III and the Circus unfolds, between
tradition and modernity, which has made this Festival an unmissable meeting of the greatest
families and circus schools around the world where virtuosity, exploits, laughter and magic combine, for fun spectators.
Charlène Dray, scientific curator and scenographer, and Lucas Lemme, scenographer, were
guided by the words of this Prince, who recalled that “the circus is experienced with the senses and that it is above all a living art”. His writings and testimonies accompany the visitor on journey where video extracts from emblematic numbers, unpublished documents from the Archives of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, numerous costumes from the collection of Dr. Alain Frère and
works brought together for the very first time, in order to experience and discover the history of the most prestigious Circus Festival in the world.
Useful information :
Terraces of Fontvieille, former Automobile Museum
25-29 Avenue Albert II – Monaco
Free admission
Open 7 days a week, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed on December 25, 2023 and January 1, 2024
More information on the Commemorations: https://centenairerainier3.mc
