The Main Courtyard of the Prince's Palace
HSH Prince Albert II has chosen the main Courtyard of the Prince’s Palace for the religious wedding ceremony with Miss Charlene Wittstock.
The Royal Courtyard can be considered as the former central part of the fortress back in the 13th century. Its current architectural appearance dates from the reign of Honoré II. But it was his successor, Prince Louis I, who decided to open up the monumental entrance in the main façade, which faces the Square and the old town. During renovations to the Palace ordered by HSH Prince Rainier III, the Main Courtyard was paved with three million white and coloured pebbles forming huge geometrical patterns.
Opposite the staircase of the Main Courtyard, frescoes attributed to Luca Cambiaso (1527-1585) adorn the façade; they represent “The Triumph of Bacchus” and “The Sea Divinities”. Other frescoes decorate the elegant Hercule Gallery: in the archway bezels feature the birth, work and death of Hercules, painted by Orazio dei Ferrari (1605-1657), also the creator of decors designed for the ballets performed in the Court of Prince Honoré II; between the doors and windows are mythological characters (Antiope, Semiramis, Sphiron, Artemis…) inspired by engravings produced in the style of Claude Vignon (1593-1670).
In 1960, the Sovereign Prince opened the Main Courtyard to the prestigious Orchestra of the National Opera (which was renamed the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra in 1980) bestowing upon it international renown and prestige. Since this date, the tradition has been for high-quality classical concerts and recitals, featuring the best soloists and conductors from around the world, to take place in the Main Courtyard during the summer season.
The Main Courtyard Staircase
Leading to the Galerie Hercule, this spectacular horseshoe-shaped staircase, inspired by the one in Fontainebleau Château, stands at the centre of the Main Courtyard. Built under the reign of Louis I, the godson of King Louis XIV, each of the thirty steps has been carved from the same block of Carrara marble. Rose-shaped Venetian mosaics form the ornamental tiling of the front steps, while the banisters are adorned with Portor marble spheres.
The Chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste
The Palatine Chapel was built in the 17th century, under Honoré II, at the far end of the Main Courtyard, as a replacement for the old oratory.
Two centuries later, Prince Charles III embarked upon a major restoration programme; frescoes by Jacob Froschle and Deschler d'Augsbourg were added to the external walls, while the interior was given a baroque style by Italian painter and ceramist Ernesto Sprega.
The Palatine Chapel, embellished with a high altar in precious marble, is used solely for private religious ceremonies.
The Galerie Hercule (Hercules Gallery)
Overhanging the Main Courtyard, this Italian-style gallery, designed by Milanese architect Dominico Gallo in the XVIth century, runs parallel to the State Apartments. It is decorated with frescoes depicting mythological characters, including one featuring this famous ancient hero, by Genoese artist Orazio Ferrari, who has succeeded beautifully in giving it the magnificent style of an Italian Renaissance Palace.
The murals underwent several changes upon the request of HSH Prince Rainier III who asked for four frescoes by Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli and "Il Morazzone", representing mythological or legendary characters, to be brought in.
It is from this gallery that the Sovereign appears before all the Monegasques gathered in the Main Courtyard, during important events, such as accessions, presentations of a future Princess or a Sovereign child.
To find out more about the Palace and its architecture: www.palais.mc
Behind the scenes of the Royal Wedding with the teams orchestrated by François Marcadé and Françoise Dumas & Anne Roustang
Main Courtyard in the Palace:
- Covering for the whole of the main courtyard
- 1,800 m2 of temporary roofing with double-thickness awning, totalling 3,600 m2 of unbleached cotton made to measure and matching the walls of the Palace
- 40 tonnes of metal structure and girders, custom-made to fit the venue’s unique topography, fixed 8m under the courtyard directly into the rock
- The posts supporting the roofing have been painted using the trompe-l’œil technique to faithfully reflect the Renaissance frescoes in the Galerie d'Hercule
- The chancel floor of this ephemeral “Church”, which has been consecrated, comprises two levels covered in false marble connected to the staircase in the courtyard
- Lighting is provided by 200 energy-saving spotlights to guarantee a constant level of light for the TV cameras
- We have worked closely with members of the clergy to use ornaments and accessories from the Palace Chapel, the Cathedral and the Chapelle de la Visitation
- One month on site employing around 300 technicians, carpenters, painters, sculptors, locksmiths, upholsterers, electricians, TV teams, etc, totalling over 100,000 working hours, not counting those spent on preparatory work in the studio
Opera House Terraces:
- 120 tonnes of metal structure
- 3,200 m2 awning
Guests will come into the dinner via a monumental staircase with the Opera House facings and coat of arms from the Palace sculpted in bas relief, leading to a 1,600 m2 terrace, suspended 10 m high above the sea on a level with the glass doors opening directly into the Opera House
The dinner will take place amidst a Mediterranean garden according to the Sovereign Prince’s wishes. He asked for:
- 400 trees and plants - Traditional tablecloths embroidered by hand
- Table decorations featuring silver objects, fish and boats, from the Palace’s own collections and earthenware made by hand using 18th century methods
- For the flowers he wanted a sea of blue and green hydrangeas mixed with proteas, South Africa’s national flower, recalling the colours of the Mediterranean
The seats in the stalls of the Opera House have been removed to accommodate flooring for a ballroom and a lounge in a contemporary style but in total harmony with the gold gilt of the famous Opera House designed by Charles Garnier
Around 200 other technicians from the various trades have worked almost round-the-clock for three weeks to complete this part of the project.