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. 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

Exterior of the Museum

The Oceanographic Museum (Musée océanographique) is a museum of marine sciences in Monaco-Ville, Monaco.

This building is part of the Institut océanographique, which is committed to sharing its knowledge of the oceans. (Full article...)

List of articles
Casino Gardens and Terraces 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 Odeon Tower St Martin Gardens Zoological Garden of Monaco

Selected pictures

Image 1A view of the 2011 Monaco Porsche Supercup. Motor racing is very popular, with one course encompassing almost the whole country. (from Monaco)
Image 2Port Hercules (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 3Public art in Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 4The location of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 5Photochrom of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 6Jacques I, Prince of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 7Monte Carlo Casino (from Monaco)
Image 8Wards of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 9Stade Louis II, home of AS Monaco FC (from Monaco)
Image 10
Panoramic view of La Condamine and Monte Carlo
(from Monaco)
Image 11The Mayor of Monaco announcing concessions, ending the absolute monarchy of Prince Albert I in 1910 (from Monaco)
Image 12Monte Carlo Casino (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 13Benjamin Balleret (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 14Hôtel de Paris (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 15In 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 16Formation lap for the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix (from Monaco)
Image 17Satellite view of Monaco, with the France–Monaco border shown in yellow (from Monaco)
Image 18La Condamine (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 19The Monaco harbour during the days of the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 20Prince Albert I of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 211978 Monégasque franc coin with an effigy of Rainier III (from Monaco)
Image 22Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 23View of Monaco in 2016 (from Monaco)
Image 24A 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 25
Panoramic view of Monaco City and the port of Fontvieille
(from Monaco)
Image 26Fontvieille and its new harbour (from Monaco)
Image 27Sainte-Dévote Chapel (from Monaco)
Image 28Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 29The marriage of actress Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III brought media attention to the principality. (from Monaco)
Image 30Palace guards in Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 31The Rock of Monaco in 1890 (from Monaco)
Image 32Monaco (as part of the Republic of Genoa) in 1494 (from Monaco)
Image 33Logo of the princely government of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 34Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (from Monaco)
Image 35Albert II, Prince of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 36Enlargeable, detailed map of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 37Monte Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 38Rainier I, victor of the naval battle at Zierikzee and first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 39Fontvieille (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 40Prince's Palace of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 41Monaco-Ville (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 42Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 43
Land reclamation in Monaco since 1861
(from Monaco)
Image 44Oceanographic Museum (from Monaco)
Image 45
Panoramic view of Monaco from the Tête de Chien (Dog's Head) high rock promontory
(from Monaco)
Image 46View of the Rock of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 47Monaco's flag and its coat of arms (from Monaco)
Image 48Charles Leclerc (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 49Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Monaco)
Image 50Embassy of Monaco, Paris, France (from Monaco)
Image 51Satellite view with border (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 52Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)

Selected ward

View of Monaco City

Monaco City (French: Monaco-Ville [mɔnakɔ vil]; Monégasque: Mùnegu Autu) is the southcentral ward in the Principality of Monaco. Located on a headland that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, it is nicknamed The Rock (French: Le Rocher; Monégasque: A Roca). The name "Monaco City" is misleading: it is not itself a city, but a historical and statistical district. It holds most of the country's political and judicial institutions: the Prince's Palace, the town hall, the government, the National Council (parliament of Monaco), the Municipal Council, the courts and a prison (hanging on The Rock). (Full article...)

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

Selected environment article

The Rock of Monaco (French: Rocher de Monaco; Monégasque: Roca de Mùnegu) is a 62-metre (203 ft) tall monolith on the Mediterranean coast of the Principality of Monaco. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the Port Hercules. (Full article...)

List of articles
Land reclamation in Monaco Mont Agel Port Hercules Tête de Chien

Selected arts article

The Eurovision Song Contest 1979 was the 24th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Jerusalem, Israel, following the country's victory at the 1978 contest with the song "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Israeli Broadcasting Authority (IBA), the contest was held at the International Convention Centre on 31 March 1979 and was hosted by Israeli television presenter Daniel Pe'er and singer Yardena Arazi. This was the first time that the Eurovision Song Contest was held outside Europe.

Nineteen countries participated in the contest with Turkey deciding not to participate after Arab countries had pressured it into not participating in a contest held in Israel. Yugoslavia, who had missed the 1977 and 1978 contest, also did not want to take part nor transmit the show this year for political reasons, despite a poll held earlier in which almost 100,000 people declared that they wanted Yugoslavia to return to the contest. (Full article...)

Selected religion article

The history of the Jews in Monaco goes back at least a century, most notably to the time of the Holocaust. Monaco had a very small Jewish presence before World War II, numbering approximately 300 people. During the war, the principality's government issued false identity papers to its Jewish residents to protect them from Nazi deportation. Prince Louis II refused to dismiss Jewish civil servants and protected Édouard de Rothschild from deportation. However, Monaco's police arrested and turned over 42 Central European Jewish refugees to the Nazis. Sixty Jews were arrested 27–28 August 1942, and ninety in total, according to The Algemeiner.

In 1948, the Association Cultuelle Israelite de Monaco was founded as the official organization of Monaco's Jewish community, and it provides the community with a synagogue, Hebrew school and kosher food store. Today's Jewish community in Monaco consists primarily of retirees from France and the United Kingdom, and there is also a small population of North African and Turkish Jews. (Full article...)

Selected sports article

The 1980 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on 18 May 1980. It was the sixth round of the 1980 Formula One season. The race was the 38th Monaco Grand Prix. The race was held over 76 laps of the 3.34-kilometre circuit for a total race distance of 254 kilometres.

It was won by Carlos Reutemann driving a Williams FW07B. The win was the Argentine Reutemann's tenth Formula One victory and his first since the 1978 United States Grand Prix. He also became the fifth winner in six races of the 1980 season. Reutemann won by 1 minute and 13 seconds over French driver Jacques Laffite driving Ligier JS11/15. Third was Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet driving a Brabham BT49. Piquet's third place moved him past René Arnoux and Alan Jones into the lead of the world championship for the first time. (Full article...)

Selected education article

Founded in 1986, the International University of Monaco (IUM) (French: Université internationale de Monaco) is located in the Principality of Monaco. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business specialized in finance, marketing, sport business management and international management, taught in English. Bachelor program at this university consists of 3 academic years. Masters program consists of 1 academic year. Prior to 2002, it was known as the University of Southern Europe. (Full article...)

Selected transportation article

Monacair is a Monegasque helicopter company based at Monaco Heliport, Monaco. The airline provides various services, including regular helicopter transfers between Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and Monaco, private flights and luxury experiences, helicopter tours, as well as helicopter maintenance, management, and handling services.

By appointment of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, the company has also provides transport for the Princely Family of Monaco, the Government of Monaco, and several Heads of State visiting the Principality. (Full article...)

Selected biography

Laetitia Aida Mikail (born mid-1980s) is a Monégasque lawyer and Director at the Junior Chamber of Economics of Monaco where she is responsible for business network events. As a result of her success, in the autumn of 2017, she was appointed to serve for the next three years on Monaco's Conseil Strategique pour l’Attractivité (Strategic Council for Attractiveness) which is involved in planning the country's future economic development. (Full article...)