One of the distinctive features of Monaco is the statue of François Grimaldi. Legend says that in January 1297, François Grimaldi disguised himself as a monk and took refuge in the castle; When he entered, he killed the guard, and then his men appeared and took the castle, and so the castle became the stronghold of Grimaldi. This event is commemorated by a statue of François Grimaldi on the precincts of the palace and in the arms of his home where François is depicted wielding a sword and dressed as a monk.