Château Grimaldi, Medieval castle in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France.
Château Grimaldi is a stone fortress perched on the hilltop of Haut-de-Cagnes, featuring defensive towers, a triangular courtyard, and viewing areas. The site now operates as a museum displaying contemporary art and historical works in its rooms.
Rainier Grimaldi, a French admiral connected to Monaco's ruling family, built this fortress in 1309 as a military stronghold. The structure served defensive purposes for centuries before eventually being repurposed as a cultural institution.
The castle displays rotating contemporary art exhibitions and houses a notable collection of over forty portraits of French entertainer Suzy Solidor painted by different artists. This transformation shows how the fortress reinvented itself as a space for artistic expression and cultural encounters.
The fortress is easily accessible from downtown Cagnes-sur-Mer via a free shuttle service, with guided tours offered in multiple languages. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as the paths and staircases leading to the hilltop are steep and uneven.
The great hall contains a painted ceiling from the 1620s depicting the Fall of Phaëton by Genoese artist Giulio Benso. This baroque work reveals the artistic refinement hidden within the fortress's medieval walls.
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