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Our French course in Monaco (see below)
Population 31,693 (July 2000 est.)
Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque History 6th to 10th Century: From the beginning of the 6th century to the end of the 10th century, AttractionsMonaco is really just one big town, but likes to think of itself as four separate areas. Monaco Ville is the old town, built on the rock; Monte Carlo is the glitzy area north of the port; La Condamine is the port itself; and Fontvieille is an industrial area south-west of the port. A system of public lifts lugs pedestrians up and down Monaco's steep hillside. La Condamine is the best place to look for hotels (unless you fancy the top-dollar luxury of Monte Carlo), and this is also a good area for restaurants. The old town also has some pleasant eateries, with the added advantage of atmospheric alleys and sea views. Palais du PrinceMonaco's royal palace has been around since the 13th century. Every Grimaldi since has found it necessary to leave their mark on the place, and as a result this is not one of Europe's most elegant castles. It is worth taking a look inside though - 15 rooms, including the Throne Room, are open to the public. If you've already blown your cash and can't afford the entrance fee, the changing of the guard won't cost you a cent. It starts at 11.55 am precisely and is over within two minutes, so be on time. In the south wing of the palace, the Musée des souvenirs Napoléoniens has a collection of Napoleon's personal knick knacks, including one sock, a handkerchief and a bunch of medals, coins, uniforms and swords. Monte Carlo CasinoIf it weren't for the Casino, Monaco would be just another little town on the Côte d'Azur, somewhere for Parisian public servants to take their secretaries for a dirty weekend. Instead, Monaco is a fairytale land built on luck, where the glitterati advertise the fact that they've got so much they're throwing it away. You may not have two francs to rub together, but you can soak up the atmosphere and use the toilets for free, provided you can disguise yourself as a high-roller with money to burn. However, if your ambitions go beyond one-armed bandits and hanging out with other impoverished backpackers, you'll have to fork out - 50FF to get into the Salon Ordinaire, and 100FF for the Salon Privé - a snap when you consider the minimum bet in the inner sanctum is US$5000. It's almost worth it just to view the over-the-top baroque splendor of the Casino's architecture. Off the Beaten TrackMusée OcéanographiqueIf you've got a thing for fishies, it's worth making the trip to Monaco just to come here. The Musée is probably the best aquarium in Europe, with 90 sea water tanks and a display of living coral. There's also a display on the work of the late, great Jacques Cousteau, as well as other ocean explorers. If you're unlucky enough to hit Monaco on one of those 65 rainy days, this is the perfect place to console yourself. Jardin Exotique Who would've thought cacti could be so much fun? With 7000 varieties of cacti and succulents, the Jardin Exotique is paradise for prickle-lovers. If 7000 cacti is about 6998 too many, the Jardin is still worth a visit for its spectacular views. The entry price also gets you into a cave complex packed full of stalagmites and stalactites, and the Musée d'Anthropologie Préhistorique, which tells the history of humanity through archaeological finds from the area.
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What to see and what to do The Palace of the Prince
Currency Euro Formalities Travel information and advisory reports. For nationals of other countries, please address yourself to the embassy or the consulate of Monaco in your own country.
Culture Monegasque culture is the type one buys a new frock for; it's an ideal accompaniment to martinis and finger food. Most of its cultural institutions sprang up fresh-faced in the 17th century under the patronage of Prince Honoré III. The prize-winning Monte Carlo Philharmonic has been thumping out tunes since 1863, while the more modern Monte Carlo Ballet was established by Princess Caroline to honor her mother's memory. Monte Carlo also has its own opera and several theatres. If you scrape off Monaco's flawless make-up, however, you'll find the remnants of a deeply religious, spiritual culture underneath. The legend of Dévote, the country's patron saint and founder, is a cherished part of Monegasque heritage. Every year on 27 January a torchlit ceremony is held for her at the Church of St Dévote. Monaco also venerates saints such as Saint Roman, a martyred Roman legionary, and St John. History Monaco's history is pretty much the history of the Grimaldi family. The country is their private playground, and they are its raison d'etre - a 1918 treaty with France states that, should the Grimaldis die out, Monaco will become an autonomous state of France. The area which is now Monaco has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Legend has it that during the Roman era a young Corsican Christian named Dévote was executed and her body placed in a boat for Africa. The boat drifted off course and ran aground on the coast of modern-day Monaco, where a state was founded in her honor. The first serious spate of building in the area - the perimeters of today's Princes Palace - was undertaken by the Ligurians, a Ghibelline Genovese dynasty which ruled Monaco in the 13th century. But on 8 January 1297 the first of the Grimaldis, François, snuck into the citadel behind the backs of the Ghibellines and scored his heirs 700 years' worth of easy living. In 1489 King Charles VIII of France recognized Monaco's independence. Although they were leading separate lives, and despite Monaco's brief flirtation with Spanish dominance between 1524 and 1641, France and Monaco remained close. Eventually, however, France's possessive nature got the better of it, and in 1793 the new Revolutionary regime annexed Monaco. A treaty signed in 1861 reinstated Monaco's independence, and bickering in recent decades has been restricted to the question of tax laws - Monaco refuses to tax French residents or French companies with their headquarters in Monaco. Prince Rainier III's fairytale marriage to movie starlet Grace Kelly in 1956 was the icing on the cake of Monaco's glamorous image. When the royal family is made up of leggy models and drop-dead gorgeous screen stars, representative democracy seems a tad dull in comparison. Nevertheless, in 1962 Prince Rainier instituted a National Council elected by native Monegasques, just 16% of the population. As all laws must be passed by the Prince, the Council is mostly for show, and in a country without income tax there's very little to discuss anyway. Besides, with 300 sunny days a year, voting would be a criminal waste of tanning time. EventsMonaco is a country that thrives on spectacle and glitz. The big one for the year has to be the Formula One Grand Prix, held in mid-May, when the world's best drivers hit the city streets and crossing the road becomes an extreme sport. Those who can't get enough of big, throbbing engines should also be in town in January for the Monte Carlo Motor Rally. Dedicated to showing off in all its forms, Monaco also hosts the International Circus Festival in January, the Great Magic Prize (an international prestidigitators' playoff) in March, and the International Fireworks Competition (fought out in the natural amphitheatre of Monaco's harbour) in July. ActivitiesWhat would an internationally famous resort be without novel ways to drain your cash supplies? Foremost among Monaco's entertainment options is a flutter at the Casino. Celeb spotters will be unable to resist Monte Carlo's beach, where the swimming is lousy but the tanning and conspicuous yacht parties are world class. Those with a taste for strolling should be able to circumnavigate the country (4.5 km of borders) before lunch, taking in some beautiful gardens, touristy alleys and views of France and Italy along the way. |
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National Anthem
A sovereign and independent state, the Principality of Monaco has borders on its landward side with several communes of the French Department of the Alpes-Maritimes; from west to east these are Cap d'Ail, la Turbie, Beausoleil and Roquebrune Cap Martin. Seawards, Monaco faces the Mediterranean.
The Principality has only one commune, Monte Carlo, whose limits are the same as those of the state. Monaco is divided into five areas :
