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Origin and history

The Carnolès Palace, located in Menton in the Alpes-Maritimes, was built in the early eighteenth century as a summer residence for Prince Antoine I of Monaco. Inspired by the Grand Trianon, it was designed from plans attributed to Jacques V Gabriel, a French architect, and adapted by Jean Antoine Latour. The palace, surrounded by orchards and terraced gardens, became a princely resort, decorated by local artists such as Bressan and Puppo. Its park, planted with oranges and lemon trees, reflected the taste of the Grimaldi for Mediterranean appetizer and horticulture.

In 1793, during the annexation of Monaco by revolutionary France, the palace was confiscated and then purchased in 1818 by the principality. In the 19th century, he underwent transformations under Prince Honoré V, adopting an Empire style with decorations by Raphaël Orsolino. After Menton's transfer to France in 1861, the palace changed hands several times: it served as a casino (1863-1876), and was acquired in 1896 by the American Edward Phelps Allis, who restored it in a neo-Régence style with architect Hans-Georg Tersling. The interiors were redecorated by Danish artists such as Oscar Matthiesen.

Ranked a historic monument in 1969, the palace has been home to the Museum of Fine Arts in Menton since 1977, enriched with collections by Charles Wakefield-Mori. Its botanical park, listed as historical monuments, preserves 137 citrus varieties, including rare orange and lemon trees, as well as centuries-old palm trees. The hexagonal kiosk, the old outbuildings (like the tower of the noria) and the French gardens bear witness to its princely and horticultural heritage.

The palace's history is marked by periods of fascist and decline: looted during the Menton revolution of 1848, it was restored before being sold to private individuals. Its acquisition by the city of Menton in 1961 allowed its preservation and conversion into a cultural space. Today, it combines architectural heritage, artistic collections (Raoul Dufy, Max Jacob) and biodiversity, embodying the evolution of Menton, from a princely city to a tourist destination on the French Riviera.

The palace is part of a larger landscape, including the old property of the Madonna and barracks transformed into hotels. Its interior decorations, mixing baroque trompe-l'oeil and neo-pompeian motifs, reflect the eclectic tastes of its successive owners. The funeral chapel of Governor Pretti de Saint-Ambroise (1829) and the remains of the commons recall his role as an aristocratic residence, while contemporary exhibitions in the gardens dialogue with his past.

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