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 Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is a palace style Belle Époque in the heart of Monaco on the French Riviera . It belongs to the Société des bains de mer de Monaco. It was built in 1890 and 1896 the architect Nicolas Marquet with the participation of Gustave Eiffel. (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 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 1Stade Louis II, home of AS Monaco FC (from Monaco)
Image 2Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 3Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (from Monaco)
Image 4A 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 5Embassy of Monaco, Paris, France (from Monaco)
Image 6Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 7
Panoramic view of La Condamine and Monte Carlo
(from Monaco)
Image 8View of the Rock of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 9Hôtel de Paris (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 10Monaco's flag and its coat of arms (from Monaco)
Image 11Albert II, Prince of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 121978 Monégasque franc coin with an effigy of Rainier III (from Monaco)
Image 13Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Monaco)
Image 14Prince Albert I of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 15A view of the 2011 Monaco Porsche Supercup. Motor racing is very popular, with one course encompassing almost the whole country. (from Monaco)
Image 16Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 17The location of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 18Satellite view with border (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 19In 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 20Monte Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 21Rainier I, victor of the naval battle at Zierikzee and first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 22View of Monaco in 2016 (from Monaco)
Image 23Wards of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 24Fontvieille and its new harbour (from Monaco)
Image 25Monte Carlo Casino (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 26Logo of the princely government of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 27Monte Carlo Casino (from Monaco)
Image 28Monaco (as part of the Republic of Genoa) in 1494 (from Monaco)
Image 29Prince's Palace of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 30Jacques I, Prince of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 31Monaco-Ville (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 32Charles Leclerc (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 33
Panoramic view of Monaco City and the port of Fontvieille
(from Monaco)
Image 34
Land reclamation in Monaco since 1861
(from Monaco)
Image 35Public art in Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 36The Rock of Monaco in 1890 (from Monaco)
Image 37The Mayor of Monaco announcing concessions, ending the absolute monarchy of Prince Albert I in 1910 (from Monaco)
Image 38Palace guards in Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 39Benjamin Balleret (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 40Sainte-Dévote Chapel (from Monaco)
Image 41The marriage of actress Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III brought media attention to the principality. (from Monaco)
Image 42The Monaco harbour during the days of the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 43Formation lap for the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix (from Monaco)
Image 44Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 45Enlargeable, detailed map of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 46Satellite view of Monaco, with the France–Monaco border shown in yellow (from Monaco)
Image 47Port Hercules (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 48La Condamine (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 49
Panoramic view of Monaco from the Tête de Chien (Dog's Head) high rock promontory
(from Monaco)
Image 50Oceanographic Museum (from Monaco)
Image 51Fontvieille (from Outline of Monaco)

Selected ward

Sainte-Dévote Chapel

Ravin de Sainte-Dévote (French pronunciation: [ʁavɛ̃ də sɛ̃t devɔt]; Monégasque: Valu̍n de Santa Devota, English: Ravine of Saint Devota) is a ward in the Principality of Monaco. (Full article...)

List of articles
La Condamine Fontvieille, Monaco Larvotto Jardin exotique Monaco-Ville Les Moneghetti Monte-Carlo La Rousse

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

Monaco is a sovereign city-state, country, and microstate on the French Riviera, along the Mediterranean coast. The country has long been under the control of the Grimaldi family, who have encouraged musical development. Prince Rainier III introduced the Prince Rainier III Prize for Musical Composition to reward Monegasque musicians. (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

Herculis in 2005

The Herculis is an annual track and field meet at Stade Louis II in Fontvieille, Monaco. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the Diamond League. (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

Romeo Acquarone (1895 – 1980) was a professional tennis player born in Monaco. He became a French citizen in 1937. Acquarone won the Bristol Cup in France in 1920 (beating Joseph Negro in the final). The Bristol Cup was the top professional tournament in the world in the 1920s. (Full article...)