European Heritage Days: Eglise Sainte-Dévote

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Originally a modest chapel built before 1070, near a grotto where the body of Sainte-Dévote, Patroness of Monaco, was buried, the chapel underwent successive restorations and enlargements between 1476 and 1870. Prince Antoine I endowed it with a polychrome marble altar featuring the Grimaldi coat of arms on the front, which had been taken from the Palatine Chapel.

The present church was built during the reign of Charles III and inaugurated on January 25, 1871. Three medallions depict scenes from the saint's life, while a shrine containing the relics is displayed on the altar dedicated to her. The stained glass windows are by Nicolas Lorin of Chartres. They were destroyed during the bombing of Monaco during the Second World War and restored by Fassi Cadet of Nice in 1948.

In front is the official statue of the Saint, commissioned by Prince Rainier III from sculptor Cyril de La Patellière, and inaugurated on January 26, 1997 in the presence of the princely family and the artist.