Portal:Monaco

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The Monaco Portal
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Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a semi-enclave bordered by France to the north, east and west. The principality is home to 38,682 residents, of whom 9,486 are Monégasque nationals; it is recognised as one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the world. The official language is French; Monégasque, English and Italian are spoken and understood by many residents.

With an area of 2.08 km² (0.80 sq mi), Monaco is the second-smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City. Its population of 38,367 in 2023 makes it the most densely-populated sovereign state, trailing only Macau. Monaco has the world's shortest coastline: 3.83 km (2.38 mi). The principality is about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the border with Italy and consists of nine administrative wards, the largest of which is Monte Carlo.

The principality is governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state, who wields political power despite his constitutional status. 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. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco, with brief interruptions, since 1297. 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, besides maintenance of two small military units. (Full article...)

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Selected location article

The Casino Gardens and Terraces are public gardens that surround the Monte Carlo Casino in the Monte Carlo district of Monaco. The gardens contain lawns and fountains and a "Little Africa" garden. At the bottom of the terraces is Victor Vasarely's artwork Hexa Grace, made of multi coloured tiles. The gardens were founded in the late 19th century and formed the largest public space in Monaco in the 1950s. The gardens are frequently used to display large public artworks. The gardens were designed by the architect Edouard André. The original designs for the garden incorporated waterfalls stretching down a slope to terminate in a pond amidst sunken gardens. The trees washingtonia robusta and brachychiton populneus are prominent in the gardens.

A 1959 report on the gardens noted a long avenue of palm trees, in addition to flower beds, bottle trees, and cacti thriving in the frost free subtropic environment. (Full article...)

List of articles
Avenue Princesse Grace Columbus Hotel Monaco Fort Antoine Theatre Grimaldi Forum Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo Hotel Metropole, Monte Carlo Japanese Garden, Monaco Jardin Exotique de Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology New National Museum of Monaco Oceanographic Museum Odeon Tower St Martin Gardens Zoological Garden of Monaco

Selected pictures

Image 1The Monaco harbour during the days of the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 2Port Hercules (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 3Formation lap for the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix (from Monaco)
Image 4Fontvieille (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 5
Panoramic view of La Condamine and Monte Carlo
(from Monaco)
Image 6Palace guards in Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 7Monte Carlo Casino (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 8Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 9Wards of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 10Charles Leclerc (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 11The location of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 12Benjamin Balleret (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 13The Mayor of Monaco announcing concessions, ending the absolute monarchy of Prince Albert I in 1910 (from Monaco)
Image 14Logo of the princely government of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 15Monte Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 16The Rock of Monaco in 1890 (from Monaco)
Image 17Satellite view of Monaco, with the France–Monaco border shown in yellow (from Monaco)
Image 18Monaco-Ville (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 19Jacques I, Prince of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 20Fontvieille and its new harbour (from Monaco)
Image 21Public art in Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 22
Panoramic view of Monaco City and the port of Fontvieille
(from Monaco)
Image 23Satellite view with border (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 24Monaco (as part of the Republic of Genoa) in 1494 (from Monaco)
Image 25The marriage of actress Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III brought media attention to the principality. (from Monaco)
Image 26Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 27Rainier I, victor of the naval battle at Zierikzee and first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 28Embassy of Monaco, Paris, France (from Monaco)
Image 29Prince's Palace of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 30View of Monaco in 2016 (from Monaco)
Image 311978 Monégasque franc coin with an effigy of Rainier III (from Monaco)
Image 32A map of the County of Nice showing the area of the Italian kingdom of Sardinia annexed in 1860 to France (light brown). The area in red had already become part of France before 1860 (from Monaco)
Image 33Photochrom of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 34Enlargeable, detailed map of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 35Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (from Monaco)
Image 36Sainte-Dévote Chapel (from Monaco)
Image 37Albert II, Prince of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 38Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Monaco)
Image 39Prince Albert I of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 40View of the Rock of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 41La Condamine (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 42Monte Carlo Casino (from Monaco)
Image 43Monaco's flag and its coat of arms (from Monaco)
Image 44Hôtel de Paris (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 45Stade Louis II, home of AS Monaco FC (from Monaco)
Image 46
Panoramic view of Monaco from the Tête de Chien (Dog's Head) high rock promontory
(from Monaco)
Image 47Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 48In the centre is La Condamine. At the right with the smaller harbour is Fontvieille, with The Rock (the old town, fortress, and Palace) jutting out between the two harbours. At the left are the high-rise buildings of La Rousse/Saint Roman. (from Monaco)
Image 49A view of the 2011 Monaco Porsche Supercup. Motor racing is very popular, with one course encompassing almost the whole country. (from Monaco)
Image 50
Land reclamation in Monaco since 1861
(from Monaco)
Image 51Oceanographic Museum (from Monaco)
Image 52Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)

Selected ward

A view of the Mediterranean in La Rousse

La Rousse (French pronunciation: [la ʁus]; Monégasque: A Russa), also formerly known as La Rousse-Saint Roman (until 2013), is the northernmost ward in the Principality of Monaco. La Rousse is incorporated in the traditional quarter of Monte Carlo. Since 2018, it is home to a police station near the border with France. (Full article...)

List of articles
La Condamine Fontvieille, Monaco Larvotto Jardin exotique Monaco-Ville Les Moneghetti Monte-Carlo Ravin de Sainte-Dévote

Selected environment article

The Tête de Chien (Monégasque: Testa de Can; "Dog's Head") is a 550 m (1,804 ft) high rock promontory near the village of La Turbie in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. It overlooks the Principality of Monaco, and is the highest point on the Grande Corniche road.

The American diplomat Samuel S. Cox, in his 1870 travel book Search for Winter Sunbeams in the Riviera, Corsica, Algiers and Spain wrote that the Tête de Chien more resembled a tortoise than a dog's head, and believed that Tête de Chien, or rather Testa de Can, was a corruption of Testa de Camp ("Field Head"), as it was where Caesar stationed his troops after the conquest of Gaul. Vere Herbert, the heroine of Ouida's 1880 novel Moths is described as living under the Tête de Chien, "...within a few miles of the brilliant Hell [Monaco]." (Full article...)

List of articles
Land reclamation in Monaco Mont Agel Port Hercules Rock of Monaco

Selected arts article

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo (The Monte Carlo Ballet) is a classical ballet company established in 1985 by the Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. It is the official national company of the Principality of Monaco. (Full article...)

Selected religion article

The Catholic Church in Monaco is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.

The country forms a single archdiocese: the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monaco, which is part of the Catholic Church in France since the beginning of its history. Per the Constitution of Monaco (Art. 9) Catholicism is the official church of Monaco, and is the majority religion; religious freedom is also guaranteed by the constitution. In 2023, the country was scored 4 out of 4 for religious freedom. (Full article...)

Selected sports article

Philippe Charles Lucien Christanval (born 31 August 1978) is a French former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. During his career, he played for Monaco, Barcelona, Marseille and Fulham and earned six full international caps, as well as selection to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. (Full article...)

Selected education article

The International School of Monaco (ISM) is an independent, co-educational, not-for-profit day school located in Monaco. Founded in 1994, ISM has over 800 students aged 3 to 18 years old, drawn from over 50 nationalities.

ISM offers a bilingual education in English and French for students in the Primary School (Kindergarten to Year 6). From Year 7 onwards, the Secondary School offers a programme taught in English, leading to internationally-recognised academic qualifications. The University of Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations are offered at the end of Year 11, following a two-year course of study. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) examinations are offered at the end of Year 13, following a two-year course of study. The school offers both the IBDP and, since September 2020, the IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme). (Full article...)

Selected transportation article

Transport in Monaco is facilitated with road, air (helicopter), rail, and water networks. Rail transport is operated by SNCF with only Monaco Monte Carlo station seeing passenger service and the total length of the line inside the Principality is 1.7 km (1.1 mi). Monaco has five bus routes operated by Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco. There are also two other bus routes which connect Monaco with neighboring regions such as Nice and Menton. (Full article...)

Selected biography

Beretta in 2012

Olivier Henri Aldo Léopold Beretta (born 23 November 1969) is a professional racing driver from Monaco who raced in Formula One in 1994 for the Larrousse team, partnering Érik Comas. He participated in 10 Grands Prix, debuting on 27 March 1994. He scored no championship points, and was replaced when his sponsorship money ran out. During 2003 and 2004, he tested for the Williams team. (Full article...)