Independent State, situated at the foot of the southern alps and bordering the Mediterranean, the principality of Monaco sharing its borders with many French communities of the "Alpes-Martimes" region: Cap-d'Ail, La Turbie, Beausoleil and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. From the height of antiquity on, the rock of Monaco served as a refuge to the primitive population. However, Monaco's history didn't actually start at the beginning of the 13th century.
June 10th 1215 marking the birth of the future principality, on this day, the Genoan Gibelin family put down the first stone of the fortress, which is today the Princier Palace. To attract inhabitants, the first "master" of the rock granted the new arrivals precious advantages such as the concession of land or the exemption of paying income taxes. Monaco's history has been associated with that of the Grimaldi family since 700 years.
The official spoken language is French. Italian and English are also frequently and fluently spoken. The traditional Monegasque language "le monegù" was used amongst the "older" inhabitants and taught in schools of the principality. The population of the principality: 29.972 inhabitants (official number in 1990), which include 5.070 Monegasque, 12.047 French, and 5.000 Italians. More than 100 nationalities are represented.
Today, the principality of Monaco is spread across 195 acres, of which 40 had been won over the last 20 years. It borders the sea the length of 4.100 meters with its highest point being at 163 meters. The principality doesn't only form one single community, Monaco, but there are 5 districts within the principality of Monaco:
Monaco-Ville: Upon the Rock, the old fortified town with the Prince's Palace, the ramparts, the gardens, the Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum.
La Condamine: The district in which the port is situated (Port Hercule) - the harbour area
Monte-Carlo: founded in 1866, in the reign of Prince Charles III giving it its name. Le Larvotto: this district is made up of its internationally renowned Casino, it's great hotels and leisure facilities, some created recently (Larvotto beach, the Monte-Carlo Sporting Club, the Boulingrins Gardens).
Fontvieille: A large technical achievement with the filling-in, with rock, of 40 meters of water to produce a platform of 22 acres supporting an urban, tourist and sports complex adjoining a yachting/boating harbour and a pollution-free industrial zone.
Moneghetti: Les Révoires, containing the Jardin exotique (exotic gardens), which form the border with the French community of Cap-d'Ail.
Points of interest : La vieille ville - Le musée océanographique - Les casinos & les palaces - Le circuit du grand prix automobile
- Sports Events: the Grand Prix, Monte-Carlo Rally, tennis and golf professional tournaments, athletic competitions held in a superb stadium
- Entertainments: opera, ballet, concerts, chess tournaments, circus competition, television festival, radio festival, music awards
- Health: the famous Monte-Carlo Thalassa offering a luxurious indoor swimming-pool and a qualified team of masseurs and keep fit instructors
- Sightseeing: the palace, the famous Monte-Carlo casino, the Cafe de Paris, Jimmy'z and other top night clubs and discos such as the Sporting where top stars feature, the Oceanographic Museum, the Automatons and Doll Museum, the Exotic Gardens.
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