Garden policy: MONACO

Responsible institutions

Direction des Affaires Culturelles
4, boulevard des Moulins
Le Winter Palace
MC 98000 MONACO
Tél : (+377) 98 98 83 03
Courriel : [email protected]

The Directorate of Cultural Affairs develops and implements the State's cultural policy, fulfills a mission of international cultural cooperation, and ensures complementary programming of theatre, concerts, festivals, exhibitions, etc.

Institut du Patrimoine
4, avenue Hector Otto
Le Garden House
MC 98000 MONACO
Tél : (+377) 98 98 94 53
Courriel : [email protected]

The Heritage Institute's mission is to ensure the study, protection, conservation, restoration, enhancement and transmission to future generations of the national heritage.

Direction de l’Aménagement Urbain
22, quai Jean-Charles Rey
BP 645
MC 98000 MONACO
Tél : (+377) 98 98 22 77
Courriel : [email protected]

The Gardens Section of the Public Spaces Division is responsible for the creation and maintenance of gardens and for quality control of all planted areas.

Relevant legislation, guidelines and recommendations

Protective measures

The current character of green spaces, such as parks and public gardens, must be maintained.

Regardless of any work requiring a building permit, any creation or modification of green space is subject to authorization by the Director of Urban Planning, possibly with specific requirements.

Furthermore, protective measures also apply to plants of exceptional character due to their rarity, age, size, or historical or commemorative significance. An inventory is established and updated by the Urban Planning Department, and these heritage plants are identified on-site by an information plate.

In addition, the law concerning the preservation of national heritage mentions the protection of built cultural heritage and natural heritage, including sites, landscapes, and perspectives.

Existing inventories

Currently, there are no specific inventories of historic gardens. The Heritage Institute is working to identify the elements that constitute the cultural and historical heritage of the Principality, whether tangible, intangible, or immovable.

The Principality also boasts several heritage gardens, an integral part of its history: the Saint-Martin Gardens, the first gardens opened to the public in the Principality in 1816; the Little Africa Gardens, designed by Édouard André, a French landscape architect of the second half of the 19th century; the Exotic Garden, opened in 1931 and designed by the Monegasque engineer Louis Notari; and the more recent Japanese Garden, commissioned by Prince Rainier III in 1994 and created by Japanese artisans.

Online information

Specialized training

Awareness-raising activities

« Dessine-moi un jardin » (Draw me a garden)
This initiative is a flowerbed design competition that falls within the framework of the "Renaturing the City" policy initiated by the Prince's Government of Monaco. Its objective is to improve urban aesthetics and promote an attractive environment for residents, while involving them in this process.
« Rendez-vous aux jardins »
The gardens of the Principality participate in the "Rendez-vous aux jardins" (Gardens Open Days), showcasing the landscape heritage and expertise of garden professionals. On this occasion, the Urban Planning Department may offer activities to raise public awareness of environmental issues.
European Heritage Days : www.journeepatrimoinemonaco.com
Organized by the Heritage Institute, this pan-European event highlights the cultural heritage of the Principality. Through visits and themed tours, the public is invited to rediscover the gardens of the Principality, a true living heritage combining history, landscape art and biodiversity.

Herein System