Beausoleil, Alpes-Maritimes

Beausoleil (French: [bosɔlɛj]; Occitan: Bèusoleu [ˌbɛwsuˈlew]; lit.'Beautiful Sun') is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. It adjoins the Principality of Monaco to its south. The commune of Beausoleil was established in 1904; it was supposed to be named Monte-Carlo Supérieur (French: [mɔ̃t kaʁlɔ sypeʁjœʁ]; lit.'Upper Monte Carlo') for a time but the idea was abandoned after protests from Monégasque authorities.

Beausoleil
Bèusoleu (Occitan)
Riviera Palace
Riviera Palace
Coat of arms of Beausoleil
Location of Beausoleil
Map
Beausoleil is located in France
Beausoleil
Beausoleil
Beausoleil is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Beausoleil
Beausoleil
Coordinates: 43°44′33″N 7°25′28″E / 43.7425°N 7.4244°E / 43.7425; 7.4244
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentAlpes-Maritimes
ArrondissementNice
CantonBeausoleil
IntercommunalityCA Riviera Française
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Gérard Spinelli[1]
Area
1
5.48 km2 (2.12 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
12,674
 • Density2,300/km2 (6,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
06012 /06240
Elevation40–621 m (131–2,037 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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Place du Marché (Market Square)

Located on a hillside above the city-state of Monaco, Beausoleil is surrounded by the Tête de Chien and Agel mountains. It is urbanistically contiguous with the principality and shares some streets, as the Boulevard de France, the Boulevard du Maréchal Leclerc, and the Avenue du Maréchal Foch. Its municipality borders with the Monégasque wards of Monte Carlo, Saint Roman, Saint Michel, Moneghetti and Les Révoires; and with the French municipalities of La Turbie, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Peille.[3]

Economy

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The commune is intertwined with Monaco. It functions to some extent as a bedroom community as many of its residents are employed in Monaco. The main part of the town consists of Belle Époque houses with ornate entrances. Attractions within Beausoleil include the Gustave Eiffel covered market, St Joseph's Sanctuary (a church with ornate stained-glass windows) and the Fontdivina Fountain and Wash House.

Politics

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The town's border with Monaco was largely fixed during the 18th century. What is now known as Beausoleil was administered from La Turbie prior to 1904, when the town was incorporated. Along with other French communes adjacent to Monaco, the electorate has traditionally had a sizable proportion which is left-leaning: Roger Bennati, mayor of the town 1989–1995, served under Communist affiliation. Monaco's political parties are more right-leaning.

Former mayors

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Date Name Party
1904 Camille Blanc
1929 Jacques Subles
1935 Paul-Joseph Chiabault
1941 François Rochesani
1943 Arthur Audoly
1944 Marius Floret
1944 Auguste Dubar
1953 Paul-Joseph Chiabault
1971 Paul Massa
1986 André Vanco
1989 Roger Bennati PCF
1995 Gérard Spinelli UDF
2001 Robert Vial Divers Gauche
2008 Gérard Spinelli

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 14,144—    
1975 12,208−2.08%
1982 11,664−0.65%
1990 12,326+0.69%
1999 12,775+0.40%
2007 13,879+1.04%
2012 13,272−0.89%
2017 13,607+0.50%
Source: INSEE[4]

Education

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Schools in Beausoleil:[5]

  • Groupe Paul Doumer et Jean Jaurès (preschool/nursery and elementary school in two campuses)
  • Groupe Les Cigales (preschool/nursery and elementary school)
  • Groupe Les Copains (preschool/nursery and elementary school)
  • École du Ténao (preschool/nursery and elementary school)
  • Collège Bellevue (junior high school)

Transport

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The Gare de Monaco-Monte-Carlo is located on the border between Beausoleil and Monaco.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Beausoleil map at OpenStreetMap
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ "Les écoles." Beausoleil. Retrieved on April 13, 2017.
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