Inauguration of the exhibition ‘The Prince at the heart of the Circus’

S.A.S. le Prince Albert II de Monaco entouré de S.A.S. la Princesse Stéphanie de Monaco, de Mademoiselle Camille Gottlieb et de Monsieur Louis Ducruet ©Direction de la Communication / Frédéric Nebinger

Tuesday 21 November 2023, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco inaugurated the exhibition ‘The Prince at the Heart of the Circus’, accompanied by His sister, H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie and her children, Louis Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb together with H.S.H. Pierre Dartout and many officials from the Principality.

As President of the Committee to Commemorate Prince Rainier III, H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie had the initiative for this exhibition, part of the Centenary of the birth of her father and the 50th anniversary of the International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.
This fascinating retrospective has been coordinated by the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Committee to Commemorate Prince Rainier III, in collaboration with Monte-Carlo Festivals and is open to the public from 22 November 2023 to 28 January 2024 at the former Musée de l’Automobile, located on the Terrasses de Fontvieille.

The International Circus Festival was founded in 1974 by Prince Rainier III who was very active in his support for the world of the Circus. His visionary mind and kindness towards the artists and animals gave new life to the arts of the circus.

At the heart of the exhibition is the true story of Prince Rainier III and the Circus, both traditional and modern, making this Festival an unmissable event for the greatest circus families and schools in the world, with virtuosity combining with adventure, laughter and magic, for the great pleasure of the spectators.

©DR

Charlène Dray, scientific curator and scenographer, and Lucas Lemme, scenographer, were guided by the words of the Prince, who reminded us all that “circus is felt with the senses and is above all a living art”. His writings and experiences accompany the visitor on a journey through video extracts of iconic performances, original 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, so you can experience and discover the story of the most prestigious Circus Festival in the world.

Practical information:
Terrasses de Fontvieille, formerly the Musée de l’Automobile
25-29 Avenue Albert II – Monaco
Free entry to all
Open every day, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed 25 December 2023 and 1 January 2024

Contact: +377 97 77 91 49 - infodac@gouv.mc

For more information on the Commemorations: https://centenairerainier3.mc/