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 Sea. Its surface area is 485 acres, of which nearly 100 were recovered from the sea during the course of the last twenty years. Monaco lies on a narrow coastal strip, which sometimes rises vertically upwards with its highest point at 206 feet. Its width varies between .65 miles and a mere 382 yards. Its coastline is 2.5 miles long. The Principality has only one commune, Monaco, whose limits are the same as those of the state.
Monaco is divided into five areas:
Monaco-Ville on the Rock, the old fortified town, with the Prince's Palace, the ramparts, the gardens, the Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum.
The Condamine is the second oldest area in Monaco. The name comes from the Middle Ages and means the cultivable land at the foot of a village or castle.
Monte-Carlo, created in 1866, named in honor of Prince Charles III, hosts an internationally famous Casino, luxury hotels and leisure facilities, some created recently: Larvotto beach, the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, the Boulingrins Gardens.
Fontvieille is the newest area of the Principality of Monaco and was created from land reclaimed from the sea. This man-made waterfront area features a harbor, stadium and sports complex, heliport, and a pollution-free industrial zone, as well as some shopping areas and the new Columbus Monaco hotel.
Moneghetti, home to the Révoires and the Exotic Gardens (on the western border with Cap d`Ail).
Monte-Carlo, created in 1866, named in honor of Prince Charles III, hosts an internationally famous Casino, luxury hotels and leisure facilities, some created recently: Larvotto beach, the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, the Boulingrins Gardens.
Monte Carlo is a distric of the Principality of Monaco.
The Settings and the Glamorous Lifestyle Monte Carlo, an exquisite emerald in a setting of craggy rocks rising from the azure-blue Mediterranean Sea, basks between enchanting French Medieval villages and the ski trails of the Alps. With over 300 days of sunshine a year and mild temperatures, it celebrates with passion the arts, culture, outstanding cuisine, restoration of mind and body, and high-adrenaline activities like the Formula One Grand Prix, casino gaming, land and water sports and exciting nightlife. The magnificent design, decor and service of its hotels more than meet expectations, while experienced destination management companies specialize in unique events.
The natural and man-made attributes of this fairy-tale land, home and host to royalty and the brightest luminaries of painting, stage, film, dance, music and the business world for nearly 150 years, make it a matchless place to host your attendees at a meeting fit for a king, show your achievers that they are your celebrities, or launch new products where achievement is grandly celebrated. Its style is elegant, often glittering, but never garish and never stiff. It can let its hair down and be ever so simple, just for fun. Its cost is not outrageous—for what you get—and probably less than you imagine. Let us surprise you.
Exciting Arrivals
Nice-Côte d’Azur International Airport is a 30-minute drive, or Heli Air Monte Carlo takes 10 minutes, cutting across the Mediterranean. Non-stop flights to Nice: 7 hours from New York, 10 from Tokyo, 2 from London; excellent connections through European gateways. Trains arrive at the new Monte Carlo station, blasted out of the mountain.
The Charms of the Riviera Monte Carlo is on the Riviera between Provence and Italy, close to the museums of Nice (Matisse, Chagall) and the glamorous shopping boulevards of Cannes. The Picasso Museum and world-famous Maeght Collection are nearby, as well. Trips to the medieval villages of St. Paul de Vence or Eze, the perfume factories of Grasse, Italy’s ski slopes and the boutiques and markets of nearby San Remo are memorable events, as are private parties at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in St. Jean Cap Ferrat or La Villa Kerylos in Beaulieu.
Monaco has a colorful and fascinating history filled with barbarians, kings and even a movie star. It is a story of castles, epic battles and untold riches.
The Grimaldi ascent began one night in 1297, when Francois Grimaldi seized the fortress of Monaco from a rival Italian faction. Disguised as a monk, he successfully led a small army into the fortress reclaiming it in the name of the Pope. The legacy of his daring victory is recorded on Monaco's coat of arms, which bears two monks brandishing swords.
Over the next few centuries, Monaco prospered as an important port in major maritime trading routes and as a strategic naval base for European military powers that were constantly vying for control of The Rock.
In 1604, Lord Honore II came to the throne and launched Monaco into its "Great Century". Reflecting upon his accomplishments, he deigned himself worthy of a new title, Prince Honore II. Grimaldi rules have proudly held the title of Prince ever since.
The French revolution took a heavy toll on European royalty, including the Grimaldis. Monaco was annexed by France and members of the Monegasque royal family were imprisoned. The annexation was cut short with the abdication of Napoleon in 1814, however, and all rights of the Grimadis were restored.
In 1861, Monaco relinquished one-half of its territory to France in exchange for cash and independence. On the throne at this time was Prince Charles III. He realized that most of Monaco's natural resources had been lost with the land and something had to be done to reestablish an economic base in the Principality. He decided that the answer was tourism and gambling.In 1863 , he established the Societe des Bains de Mer. The company consisted of a handful of hotels, a theater, and a casino, which would soon flourish and become the foundation of the magnificent district of Monte-Carlo.
Prince Rainier III ascended to the throne in 1949 and later caught the world's attention with his storybook marriage to actress Grace Kelly. Today, Monaco still stands as a proud monarchy with their son, H.S.H. Prince Albert II as its head of state. In 1997, the Grimaldi family celebrated the 700th anniversary of its reign in Monaco.
In 1997, the Principality of Monaco celebrated the 700 year reign of the Grimaldi dynasty. It all began on January 8, 1297 when the Guelf François Grimaldi dressed as a Franciscan monk, seized the fortress protecting the famous rock of Monaco and the port of Hercules.
Surmounting the trials and tribulations of history and throughout the dark periods of foreign domination, the Principality has managed to affirm its identity and preserve its independence throughout the centuries due to the wise guidance of its Princes.
The Grimaldi dynasty has bequeathed Lords and then Princes to the Principality, illustrious in their many domains, who wrote the most enticing pages in the history of Monaco. To cite but a few:Rainier I, General Admiral of France; Honore II, the first Prince of Monaco at the origins of the most important treaties with France; Louis I, Ambassador to the Holy See under Louis XIV; Antoine I, grand patron of the arts; Charles III, founder of Monte-Carlo; Albert I, renowned as the father of oceanography; Louis II, the soldier Prince.
Religious and civil traditions have been upheld for centuries in the Principality of Monaco. They are sometimes linked; rites and ceremonies being accompanied by popular festivities, but the former are more firmly anchored in the collective memory of Monégasques than the latter. They are an integral and exclusive part of the social, cultural and moral heritage of the Principality.
Situated in the heart of Mediterranean Europe, the Principality of Monaco enjoys a particularly mild climate, with more than 300 days of sunshine per year. In winter, temperatures average between 48 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit with sunny days and cool nights. In the springtime, "Le Mistral" wind creates crystal clear skies with temperatures in the 50s-60s. Most summers are in the 80s with hot spells for a week or so in July and August. Sea breezes cool down the evenings. One of the loveliest times to be in Monaco is Fall. With temperatures in the 60s to 70s, people are still sun tanning on the beach until mid-October.
Passport & Visas
Any person of foreign nationality who wishes to enter Monégasque territory and stay there for a period not exceeding three months must have the document (passport, travel or identity document) required for entry into French territory. Language
French is the official language, however, English and Italian are widely spoken and understood.
Time Zone
Monaco is six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time.
Credit cards
All major credit cards are accepted in Monaco.
Currency
The Euro is the official currency of Monaco. It is based on the decimal system. There are one hundred cents to each Euro. Euro notes come in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins come in denominations of 1, 2 Euro, 50, 10, 5, 2, 1 cents. The Euro sign is €.
Money Exchange
You can change money at the hotel or at the nearest banks. Bank hours are 9:00AM to 12:00PM and 2:00PM to 4:00PM. Banks are closed on weekends and national holidays except for “Credit Foncier de Monaco” near the Casino, which is open daily for 12:00PM to 11:00PM including Sundays and holidays.
Traveler's Cheques
Traveler’s cheques in $USD should be exchanged at banks or exchange offices, as very few businesses will accept them.
Voltage
The electric current in the hotels is 220 volts 50 cycles (in the US it is 110 volts, 50 cycles). A transformer is necessary to convert local power to U.S. standard. An adapter is needed for plugs, as European plugs are different from the ones in the U.S. Please use the bathroom plug only for electric razors. Hair dryers and irons must be used in the bedroom only.
Dress Code
Apart from on the beaches and bathing areas, it is forbidden to walk about in swimsuits, stripped to the waist or bare foot. Appropriate clothing must be worn in all public establishments and in particular in religious buildings. For receptions or the casino, a jacket and tie should be worn. For gala events, black tie (dinner jacket) is required.
Shopping
The main shopping area is near the Place du Casino where one finds luxury fashion boutiques and jewelry stores. On the Boulevard des Moulins, prices are more reasonable. Shopping hours are from 9:00AM to 12:00PM and from 2:00PM to 7:00PM daily, except Sundays.
VAT Refund
To benefit from a VAT (valued added tax) refund, the unitary purchase price inclusive of tax from any single store must be at least 175 €. At the time of purchase the salesman can either refund VAT immediately, either collect the tax directly and wait for the reception of the stamped “export sales invoice” from Customs to be refunded at the departure airport. In both cases, an “export sales invoice” (“Bordereau de Vente” in French) will be given to you. Look for shops with a duty free stickers in their windows.
Telephone
Calling home: all major long-distance phone carriers make it easy to phone using their calling card codes from any pay phone or hotel.
Postal Information
The main post office, la Scala Palace Beaumarchais Square, is located across from the Hôtel Hermitage. It has a full range of services: telephones, telegrams, fax and calling cards and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 12:00PM. For additional postal information, call (+377) 93 25 11 11.
Getting Around Monaco
Walking throughout Monaco is made easy thanks to the numerous elevators –a comfortable way to reach a number of places. The Monégasque Bus Company (Companie des Autobus de Monaco) operates six lines with departures approximately every 11 minutes, Monday through Friday, from 7:00AM to 9:00PM. Your welcome kit should include a bus map. A flat rate is applied whatever the destination. However, cards for 4 to 8 journeys can be purchased at a reduced rate.
We've been to Monte-Carlo....wasn't impressed....overpriced, the people were rude to us, even when DH attempted to use his HS French and couldn't gamble in the Casino unless we wanted to drop a wad of cash....
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