The Principality of Monaco, Europe

Details

Accessibility

https://www.visitmonaco.com/generer-mon-parcours

Brief description

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco

Prince's Palace of Monaco                the Monte Carlo Casino

2025: "Monaco,[a] officially the Principality of Monaco,[b] is a sovereign city-state and microstate in Western Europe. Situated on the French Riviera, it is a semi-enclave bordered by France to the north, east, and west, with the Mediterranean Sea to the south; the Italian region of Liguria is about 15 km (9.3 mi) east.[10] With a population of 38,423 living in an area of 2.08 km2 (0.80 sq mi), Monaco is the second smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City, as well as the most densely populated. It also has the world's shortest national coastline of any non-landlocked nation, at 3.83 km (2.38 mi).[11] Fewer than 10,000 of its residents are Monégasque nationals.[12] While the official language of Monaco is French, Italian and Monégasque are also widely spoken and understood.[c]

Monaco is governed under a form of semi-constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state, who holds substantial political powers. The prime minister, who is the head of government, can be either a Monégasque or French citizen; the monarch consults with the Government of France before an appointment. Key members of the judiciary are detached French magistrates.[13] The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco, with brief interruptions, since 1297.[14] The state's sovereignty was officially recognised by the Franco-Monégasque Treaty of 1861, with Monaco becoming a full United Nations voting member in 1993. Despite Monaco's independence and separate foreign policy, its defence is the responsibility of France, notwithstanding two small military units.

Monaco is recognised as one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the world.[15][16] Its economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with the opening of the state's first casino, the Monte Carlo Casino, and a rail connection to Paris.[17] The country's mild climate, scenery, and gambling facilities contributed to its status as a tourist destination and recreation centre for the wealthy. Monaco has become a major banking centre and sought to diversify into the services sector and small, high-value-added, non-polluting industries. Monaco is a tax haven; it has no personal income tax (except for French citizens) and low business taxes. Over 30% of residents are millionaires,[18] with real estate prices reaching €100,000 ($116,374) per square metre in 2018. Monaco is a global hub of money laundering, and in June 2024 the Financial Action Task Force placed Monaco under increased monitoring to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.[19][20]

Monaco is among the 46 Member States which constitute the Council of Europe. It is not part of the European Union (EU), but participates in certain EU policies, including customs and border controls. Through its relationship with France, Monaco uses the euro as its sole currency. Monaco joined the Council of Europe in 2004 and is a member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). It hosts the annual motor race, the Monaco Grand Prix, one of the original Grands Prix of Formula One. The local motorsports association gives its name to the Monte Carlo Rally, hosted in January in the French Alps. The principality has a club football team, AS Monaco, which competes in French Ligue 1 and has been French champions on multiple occasions, as well as a basketball team, which plays in the EuroLeague. Monaco is a centre of marine conservation and research, being home to one of the world's first protected marine habitats,[21] an Oceanographic Museum, and the International Atomic Energy Agency Marine Environment Laboratories, the only marine laboratory in the UN system.[22][23] 

Monaco exhibits a wide range of architecture, but the principality's signature style, particularly in Monte Carlo, is that of the Belle Époque. It finds its most florid expression in the 1878–9 Casino and the Salle Garnier created by Charles Garnier and Jules Dutrou. Decorative elements include turrets, balconies, pinnacles, multi-coloured ceramics, and caryatids. These were blended to create a picturesque fantasy of pleasure and luxury, and an alluring expression of how Monaco sought and still seeks, to portray itself.[210] This capriccio of French, Italian, and Spanish elements were incorporated into hacienda villas and apartments. Following major development in the 1970s, Prince Rainier III banned high-rise development in the principality. His successor, Prince Albert II, overturned this Sovereign Order.[211] In recent years[when?] the accelerating demolition of Monaco's architectural heritage, including its single-family villas, has created dismay.[212] The principality has no heritage protection legislation.[213]"

Address

New National Museum of Monaco - Villa Paloma

56 Bd du Jardin Exotique

98000 Monaco

+ Tourist Office, 2a Blvd des Moulins, 98000 Monaco

+ Prince's Palace of Monaco

Place du Palais princier

98015

Monaco

+ Église de Sainte-Dévote

1 Rle Sainte-Dévote

98000 Monaco

+ Théâtre du Fort Antoine

Av. de la Quarantaine

98000 Monaco

+ Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate

4 Rue Colonel Bellando de Castro

98000 Monaco

Email

Tourist Office, 2a Blvd des Moulins, 98000 Monaco visitmonaco@gouv.mc

Phone

Tourist Office, 2a Blvd des Moulins, 98000 Monaco  tel:+37792166116, Monday to Saturday, 9:30am-5:30pm 

Website

https://www.visitmonaco.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco

https://www.gouv.mc/

Directions

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

2025: "Information points in Monaco: 

Transport

Amenities

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Our_Lady_Immaculate

2025: "The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (French: Cathédrale de Notre-Dame-Immaculée; Latin: Cathedralis Templum de Nostra Domina Immaculata), formerly called the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas (demolished in 1874),[1] or informally the Cathedral of Monaco (French: Cathédrale de Monaco), is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the Archdiocese of Monaco in the Monaco-Ville ward of Monaco. The cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the venerated title of the Immaculate Conception."

https://cathedrale.diocese.mc/

Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate

4 Rue Colonel Bellando de Castro

98000 Monaco

+ Private Cars Collection of HSH Prince of Monaco

54 Rte de la Piscine

98000 Monaco

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco#Culture

2025: "Monaco has a national museum of contemporary visual art at the New National Museum of Monaco. In 1997, the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco was founded aimed to preserve audiovisual archives and show how the Principality of Monaco is represented in cinema. The country also has numerous works of public art, statues, museums, and memorials (see list of public art in Monaco).

• Monaco Top Cars Collection
• Napoleon Museum (Monaco)
• Oceanographic Museum
• Museum of Stamps and Coins
• Monaco Naval Museum (Musee Naval)

• The Principality of Monaco hosts major international events such as :

  • International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo
  • Mondial du Théâtre
  • Monte-Carlo Television Festival
  • Golden Nymph Awards

 Parks and gardens

Monaco's Japanese Gardens

There are several gardens in Monaco, which are in a variety of styles and purpose. There is an exotic plant garden, Saint Martin garden, African plants garden, Casino Gardens, Princess Grace Rose Garden, and a Japanese Gardens.[215

Monaco has an opera house, a symphony orchestra and a classical ballet company. Monaco participated regularly in the Eurovision Song Contest between 1959–1979 and 2004–2006, winning in 1971, although none of the artists participating for the principality was originally Monegasque. French-born Minouche Barelli, however, acquired Monegasque citizenship in 2002, 35 years after her representing the principality in 1967.[216]

 Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Major sports in Monaco including motor racing and football. Other sports include athletics, rubgy, basketball, and professional boxing. The Stade Louis II is the only football and athletics stadium in the country. The international governing body of World Athletics (WA) is headquartered in Monaco.[218][219]

Formation lap of the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix

The highest-profile annual event in the country is the Monaco Grand Prix, which is held on the temporary Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo. The race was founded in 1929[220] and has been on the Formula One calendar since the first season in 1950. Other races also held on the circuit, include Formula 2, Formula 3, the Monaco ePrix[221], Formula Regional Europe,[222] Porsche Supercup, the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, and in the past, Formula Renault. Since 1911, the ending portions of the Monte Carlo Rally has been held in the principality. The rally has been on the World Rally Championship calendar for most years[223] and was on the International Rally Championship calendar. In 2014, Monaco inaugurated the Solar1 Monte Carlo Cup, a series of ocean races exclusively for solar-powered boats.[224][225]"