For the first time, Monaco is putting its century-plus relationship with the automobile on full display. Opening this week, a new exhibition traces the Principality’s unique bond with cars, from the earliest motor vehicles to today’s racing legends.
The story begins under Prince Albert I, whose fascination with mechanical innovation transformed Monaco into a laboratory for mobility. In 1902, Dr Ernest Guglielminetti developed the world’s first tarred road surface in the Principality, a breakthrough that paved the way for safer and smoother driving. From there, automobiles quickly became part of Monaco’s urban fabric, sharing the streets with horse-drawn carriages and setting the stage for the Principality’s enduring motor heritage.
The exhibition charts Monaco’s rise as a motorsport mecca, highlighting iconic events such as the Monte-Carlo Rally (1911), the post-war Concours d’Élégance, and the legendary Monaco Grand Prix, established in 1929 by Antony Noghès. Visitors can follow a three-part immersive journey: a chronological display of authentic vehicles, an artistic showcase of cars as design masterpieces, and an interactive exploration of rallies and Grand Prix history, including a large-scale model of the famed circuit.
Under the curation of Rodolphe Rapetti, around fifty historic vehicles, rare documents, and previously unseen images celebrate not only sporting achievements but also the cultural and patrimonial significance of Monaco’s automotive story.
The exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Automobile Club de Monaco and supported by CMB Monaco, Sotheby’s, Groupe Marzocco, Groupe Segond Automobiles, and Fiuggi, offering visitors a unique window into more than a century of motoring heritage in the Principality.
Image: © Xavier de Nombel – Bugatti 35B Grand Prix de Monaco 1929 Collection “Stiftung Nationales Automuseum, The Loh Collection”
