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 Jardin Animalier de Monaco is a zoo located on the Esplanade Rainer III, in Monaco's Fontvieille ward, on the southern side of the Rock of Monaco. It was established by Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in 1954. 250 animals are held in the zoo, representing some 50 species.

The zoo is a hectare in size, set over four levels on the rock. None of the animals were purchased; all have come from donations, circuses, or abandoned animals and those seized by circuses. Five animals came to the zoo after the 2009 closure of the zoo at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. (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 Oceanographic Museum Odeon Tower St Martin Gardens

Selected pictures

Image 1Formation lap for the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix (from Monaco)
Image 2Monte Carlo Casino (from Monaco)
Image 3La Condamine (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 4
Panoramic view of La Condamine and Monte Carlo
(from Monaco)
Image 5Benjamin Balleret (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 6In 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 7Logo of the princely government of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 8The location of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 9Fontvieille (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 10A 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 11Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 12Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 13Sainte-Dévote Chapel (from Monaco)
Image 14Monte Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 15Port Hercules (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 16
Panoramic view of Monaco City and the port of Fontvieille
(from Monaco)
Image 17Enlargeable, detailed map of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 18Satellite view with border (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 19Wards of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 20Monte Carlo Casino (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 21Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 22The Monaco harbour during the days of the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 23Palace guards in Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 24Prince Albert I of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 25The Mayor of Monaco announcing concessions, ending the absolute monarchy of Prince Albert I in 1910 (from Monaco)
Image 26Oceanographic Museum (from Monaco)
Image 27Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Monaco)
Image 28Jacques I, Prince of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 29
Panoramic view of Monaco from the Tête de Chien (Dog's Head) high rock promontory
(from Monaco)
Image 30Charles Leclerc (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 31Satellite view of Monaco, with the France–Monaco border shown in yellow (from Monaco)
Image 32Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (from Monaco)
Image 33Photochrom of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 34Embassy of Monaco, Paris, France (from Monaco)
Image 35Prince's Palace of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 36Monaco (as part of the Republic of Genoa) in 1494 (from Monaco)
Image 37View of the Rock of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 381978 Monégasque franc coin with an effigy of Rainier III (from Monaco)
Image 39A view of the 2011 Monaco Porsche Supercup. Motor racing is very popular, with one course encompassing almost the whole country. (from Monaco)
Image 40Fontvieille and its new harbour (from Monaco)
Image 41Stade Louis II, home of AS Monaco FC (from Monaco)
Image 42View of Monaco in 2016 (from Monaco)
Image 43
Land reclamation in Monaco since 1861
(from Monaco)
Image 44Monaco's flag and its coat of arms (from Monaco)
Image 45Public art in Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 46The marriage of actress Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III brought media attention to the principality. (from Monaco)
Image 47Monaco-Ville (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 48Hôtel de Paris (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 49Rainier I, victor of the naval battle at Zierikzee and first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 50Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 51Albert II, Prince of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 52The Rock of Monaco in 1890 (from Monaco)

Selected ward

A view of the Mediterranean in La Rousse

La Rousse (French pronunciation: [la ʁus]), 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 Monaco-Ville Les Moneghetti Monte-Carlo Ravin de Sainte-Dévote

Selected environment article

Port Hercules (French: Port Hercule [pɔʁ ɛʁkyl]) is the only deep-water port in Monaco. The port has been in use since ancient times. The modern port was completed in 1926, and underwent substantial improvements in the 1970s. It covers almost 40 acres (160,000 m²), enough to provide anchorage for up to 700 vessels. The port is located in the La Condamine district. Harbour pilots are required for all vessels longer than 30 metres. The depth of water in the harbour ranges from seven metres for standard berths and up to 40 metres for the outer piers and cruise ship docks. (Full article...)

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

Selected arts article

The Eurovision Song Contest 1962 was the 7th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, following the country's victory at the 1961 contest with the song "Nous les amoureux" by Jean-Claude Pascal. The contest was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion (CLT), and was held at the Villa Louvigny on Sunday 18 March 1962 hosted by the Luxembourgish speaker Mireille Delannoy. This remains the last time that the final of the contest was not held on a Saturday, as since 1963 the final of the contest has consistently been held on a Saturday evening.

Sixteen countries participated in the contest – the same that took part the year before. (Full article...)

Selected religion article

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. (Full article...)

Selected sports article

The 1971 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on May 23, 1971. It was race 3 of 11 in both the 1971 World Championship of Drivers and the 1971 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers and the 200th World Championship Grand Prix held since the championship began in 1950. This was the last race on the original Monaco circuit, as a dedicated pit lane was created along the harbor before Tabac in 1972.

Events of the race are captured in the documentary film Weekend of a Champion in which Roman Polanski shadows Jackie Stewart. (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...)