TO VISIT
their prowess in Formula 1 , the Monte-Carlo Rally , or the Paris — Dakar Rally . In its new exhibition space at Port Hercule the museum is home to some 70 vehicles , in a modern and dynamic setting with a specially designed scenography to provide visitors with an optimal experience .
MUSEUM OF STAMPS AND COINS
You won ’ t need one of the Prince ’ s fabulous cars or even a carriage to go to this charming , and reputed to be one of the friendlier spots in Monaco . It ’ s small , quick and easy to reach in Fontvieille which is nice when you ’ re trying to do a lot in a day . The museum is wonderful with great displays of stamps , stamp related items , coins etc . showcasing rare items from the Principality ’ s postal history from 1885 on via a series of themed , chronological exhibitions . A dedicated area displays coins from 1640 on alongside incredible tools such as the astonishing ‘ lion ’ s head ’ scale used in Monaco in 1837 .
Every two years , the Museum hosts the international MonacoPhil exhibition , which attracts the most prestigious philatelists from around the world , a world class exhibition that also features illustrated books on fascinating topics . The most recent edition of MonacoPhil took place at three different venues : a commercial exhibition at the Espace Léo Ferré for international stamp dealers and postal administrations , the Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies ( Stamp and Coin Museum ) hosted an exhibition of 100 iconic stamps and documents and finally , the Monaco Top Cars Collections presented two more exhibitions , one focusing on India , and the other on the postal history of Napoleon ’ s Grande Armée .
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A stamp dedicated to Prince Honoré III Марка , посвященная князю Оноре III
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The Museum is a first-rate cultural institution , and don ’ t be fooled by its small size , there are serious world class collectors and connoisseurs that gather here also . A neat little shop sells Monegasque stamps and coins as well as other related products such as books , enamels , scarves and so on .
And there are always interesting new issues of stamps on sale that are another perfect medium for expressing Monaco ’ s and the Grimaldis ’ unique history . The Grimaldis had estates all over France and Italy and relations and memories continue to this day cemented often by Princely visits .
The Stamp Office is very active in recording these historic visits which continue with special stamps . It has also made a creative modern series dedicated to movie posters of films shot in Monaco .
These stamps are on sale at the Stamp Office , the Museum of Stamps and Coins , in post offices and philatelic counters in the Principality , from Monegasque philately merchants , as well as at Carré d ’ Encre in Paris .
THE NAVAL MUSEUM
Ships as well as automobiles fascinated Prince Rainier who found a passionate champion to help create the Naval Museum of Monaco . And if you too , like Prince Rainier , are a sea-lover , then this is the museum for you , particularly if you adore model ships and paintings . There lies its uniqueness , because the collection includes more than 1,200 scale models inspired by international navies . It showcases every model you can imagine related to sea travel , such as full-scale model Viking longboats , Spanish galleons , and much more .
The naval museum was created as a result of two men ’ s passion . Professor Claude Pallanca dreamed of sailing and because of his great interest for boats and sea travel , he built model ships — an interest which would eventually lead to creating the naval museum in Monaco enriched by the loan of numerous antique models from the magnificent personal collection of H . S . H . Prince Rainier III of Monaco .
Furthermore , over the last few years Professor Pallanca has added to this unique collection with paintings illustrating ships and aircraft from the Second World War . Among the most remarkable models , you can see a funerary boat found in an Egyptian tomb , classical Roman and Greek vessels , and liners such as the Titanic and the France . Other models on display include training ships such as the Amerigo Vespucci and the Belem , not to mention numerous submarines and warships , from the Jeanne d ’ Arc to the battleship Missouri , and impressive aircraft carriers like the Nimitz , which is more than five metres long .
The Naval Museum Морской музей
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Monaco ’ s coins Монеты Монако
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