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Monaco territory and population. Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. supreme legislative body

Geography of Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is one of the smallest states in the world in terms of area, and it is located on the Mediterranean coast, not far from the borders of Italy. The country borders with France.

Monaco is located on the sea coast, which was formed by limestone mountains, which are part of the Alpes-Maritimes in the South of Europe. The highest point of the Principality is Mount Agel, its height is 140 m.

The relief of Monaco is a hilly, heavily indented area with rocks. Cape Monaco is a rocky plateau protruding far into the sea. La Condamine is an open, small sea bay.

The merged city-districts of Monte Carlo, Fontvieille, Monaco and the resort of La Condamine make up the territory of a dwarf state.

State structure of Monaco

The form of government in Monaco is a constitutional monarchy. In the world community, the prince is recognized as the head of state, and the rights to govern the state are inherited in the principality. The head of government is the minister of state, while all legislative power is vested in the monarch and the National Council, which is a unicameral parliament. The Communal Council functions as the lower house.

Weather in Monaco

The climate in the state of Monaco is Mediterranean: enough warm winter, average temperature in January it does not fall below +8°С.

Summer in the Principality is sunny, without rain, and the average temperature is +24°C. There are a lot of sunny, clear days in Monaco - about 300, there is little precipitation, mainly in late autumn, their average amount is 1300 mm, and the Alpes-Maritimes protect the Principality from cold winds blowing from the north with their rocks. On the coast in summer they have their cooling effect sea ​​breezes. Thanks to its human-friendly climatic conditions Monaco is considered to be a popular resort all over the world.

Language of Monaco

The official language in Monaco is French. But, since the country is home to many people of different nationalities, the inhabitants of Monaco speak different languages, English, Italian and Monegasque are well-spread in the country.

Religion

90% of the population of Monaco are people of the Catholic faith, and only 6% are Protestants.

Currency in Monaco

The international name of Monaco's currency is EUR.

1 Euro, as you know, is equal to 100 cents. The banknotes that are in circulation in Monaco are monetary units and coins that are in circulation in European countries.

It is possible to exchange money at points intended for the exchange of monetary units, which are located in banks, hotels and railway stations. It is advantageous to carry out currency exchange using ATM machines. Credit cards belonging to the world's leading systems and traveler's checks are freely used in this country.

Customs restrictions

Exported and imported cash means of payment are not limited in their quantity, but securities, as well as cash in excess of 9 thousand euros, are subject to declaration. In the amount of 6-7%, the duty is charged on the cost of exported goods if their amount exceeds 7.5 thousand euros or in another currency equal to this amount. In order to subsequently freely export expensive jewelry owned by the traveler, they must be declared upon entry into the country.

Duty is not imposed on the following goods imported from European countries that are not members of the European Union: items and things intended for personal use, cigarettes up to 200 pcs. (cigars up to 50 pieces; cigarillos up to 100 pieces; tobacco - up to 250 grams), wine - up to 2 liters; alcoholic beverages containing more than 30% alcohol - up to 1 liter; perfumes up to 50 gr. and toilet water up to 0.25 liters.

It is forbidden to import into and export from the country objects of historical value, animals and plants listed in the Red Book, as well as drugs, weapons and different classification ammunition.

If a tourist has a prescription certified by the signature and seal of a doctor, then medicines intended for personal consumption do not require permission to transport medicines. Products of plant and animal origin, plants of any kind and animals must be presented for inspection by quarantine service employees.

Importation of animals

To import animals, their owner must have a certificate of vaccinations made to the animal and a medical certificate issued no later than five days ago on the condition of the animal in French.

Russian representations of Monaco:

The Consular Section is located in the city of Monte Carlo.

The Consulate General is located in France, in the city of Marseille. Phone:

Tips

In restaurants and hotels, 15% is included in the bill for service, but if the service charge was not included in the provided bill, then in this case it is customary for the waiter to leave 10% of the total bill, it is enough for the guide or maid to leave 50 cents or 1 EUR. The taxi driver is usually tipped 10-15% of the amount shown on the meter.

Office Hours

From Monday to Friday, banks are open to the public from 9.00 am and banks close at 16.30 pm. Lunch break in public institutions Monaco starts at 12.00 and lasts until 14.00.

Purchases

The opening hours of shops in Monaco are usually as follows: opening at 9.00, closing at 19.00. Break from 12.00 to 15.00.

18.6% is VAT (VAT), but for medical equipment, medicines, soft drinks and foodstuffs, the country has a lower tax rate than the standard figures. The amount of tax, of course, is included in the market value of goods. Foreigners have the opportunity to receive a cash tax refund when buying goods in one store for an amount exceeding 185 euros - the money is returned to buyers at customs, in case of presentation of the goods and a check for it to the customs service. In some cases, the check is sent to the address specified by the buyer and cashed in the bank.

POPULATION: About 31.9 thousand people. Most of the country's inhabitants are foreigners (French, Italians, British, Belgians, etc.). The indigenous inhabitants of Monaco (1/5 of the population), Monegasques, by origin - French, partially mixed with Italians.

LANGUAGE: The official language is French, spoken - the so-called "Monegasque" dialect ("mixture" of French and Italian), many people also speak English and Italian. The traditional Monegasque dialect is currently taught in the Principality's secondary schools, but it is generally spoken by older people.

RELIGION: Majority local population professes Catholicism (90%), Monaco even has its own Catholic bishop), the Protestant (Anglican) church is also common.

GEOGRAPHY: The Principality of Monaco is located in Southern Europe, on the Mediterranean coast about 10 km. from the Franco-Italian border. From the land, the country is surrounded by the territory of France, from the north, the French city of Beausoleil closely adjoins the borders of the principality. The total area of ​​the country is 1.95 sq. km. (about 200 hectares, of which 40 are reclaimed from the sea).

CLIMATE: Mediterranean, with dry summers and warm, rainy winters. Sunny weather stands here over 300 days a year. The average temperature in July is 22-23 C, in January - +10-11 C. The rainy season falls on January-February (there are about 60 rainy days in a year). Frosts in winter are extremely rare and do not exceed -3 C.

POLITICAL STATE: Constitutional monarchy (principality). The head of state is the prince, who transfers the rights of government in a legitimate manner directly to his heir, and the eldest male child takes precedence. The head of government is the Minister of State, who directs the activities of the Government Council, which consists of three members. The Minister of State is appointed by the monarch from a list of candidates proposed by the President of France. Legislative power is vested in the monarch and the 18-member National Council (unicameral parliament). The functions of the lower house are performed by the Communal Council, which consists of 15 members and decides issues of a communal nature.

CURRENCY: French franc, but other major currencies are also freely circulated. In circulation are banknotes of 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 francs, coins of 10, 5, 2, 1 francs, 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes. Monaco issues its own "French Franc of Monaco" - outwardly, it differs only in that the profile of the monarch is depicted on the coins on one side. Such a franc is accepted on the territory of the principality along with the French, however, this currency does not have circulation outside the borders of Monaco. Currency exchange points can be found everywhere at banks, on railway station, hotels and at the international airport Côte d'Azur in Nice (the country does not have its own airport). Freely used credit cards the world's leading systems and traveler's checks. Banks are open from 9.00 to 16.30 (lunch break - from 12.00 to 14.00). Shops are open from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 19.00. It is customary to tip the waiter up to 10% of the bill, the taxi driver - about 10% of the meter, the porter, maid or guide - 100-200 francs.

TIME: 1 hour behind Moscow.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS: Monaco is one of the world's centers of tourism and the best resorts on the Cote d'Azur (Riviera). Monte Carlo is like Magic world, as if specially created by the imagination of an idle person who dreams only of entertainment, spectacles and festivities. From a height, Monaco appears as a group of high-rise buildings near the sea, surrounded by villas immersed in greenery. The Principality is officially divided into three districts (or quarters): Monaco-Ville ("old town"), which is often also called "Le Rocher" ("rock"), La Condamine (port area), Monte Carlo (" new town") and Fontvieille. The first settlements on the site of the principality belong to the Phoenicians (about 900 BC), the area got its name from the temple built by the Greeks in honor of Hercules - "Heracles Monoikos", which roughly translates as "Hercules is the only one." And since then, all historical epochs have left their imprint on the architecture and life of this tiny state, turning it into one large museum district. Vegas, which lights up the lights of its many gambling houses every evening.The oldest of them is the Casino, which gave its name to the very concept of a "gambling house", around which all life in Monte Carlo revolves.It can be said that the whole city owes its second birth to this institution. The casino is a complex of buildings, the oldest of which dates back to 1878, and the newest of which dates back to 1910. The gambling hall gallery begins with a Renaissance style salon, then European Salon, white hall, American Games Hall, Salon of Graces and many others. In the depths of the palace there are closed halls for the privileged public - two halls of Touzet and the huge salon of Francois-Medsen. At the casino, Le Cabaret is open, which is also one of the first establishments of its kind in the world, where you can spend a wonderful evening. One of famous buildings in the principality - the Café de Paris casino, which first opened its doors to visitors in 1856. Since then, the English King Edward VII and Sir Winston Churchill, the Egyptian king and hundreds of other celebrities have been here. Nightlife in the city also revolves around numerous discos and nightclubs, in each of which you can easily meet some European or overseas celebrity. Disco Paradise is dancing under the starry sky from 23.00 to dawn, the La Folie Ruce nightclub is famous for its wonderful show program with the participation of "Russian beauties". Monaco is famous and the highest quality services in restaurants, which are a unique combination of French and Italian cuisine, which makes the city a kind of Mediterranean capital of gourmets. True lovers of "haute cuisine" (high cuisine) are expected in the most expensive restaurants of the Principality: La Belle Epoque - the treasure of the Hermitage Hotel, the oldest of the luxurious restaurants of Monaco, Charles III, Ulpia, Chao, etc. Bars are usually open until two hours night. American-style Stars and Bars is perhaps the only place in Monte Carlo where beer prices are reasonable. The balneological complex Monte-Carlo Sporting Club is a completely unique institution of its kind both in terms of the quality of service and the state-of-the-art equipment for diagnosing and treating a wide variety of diseases. Artificial beaches and swimming pools, gardens and palaces stretch along the entire coast line, linking the Monte Carlo Sporting Club with the fashionable Monte Carlo Beach Hotel and residential complex des Speluges. The "Old Town" of Monaco-Ville, the ancient capital of the Principality, is built on top of a cliff at an altitude of 60 meters above sea level. The flat top of the cliff is densely built up - here is the cathedral, the prince's palace, the Oceanographic Museum, the Wax Museum, the famous Gardens exotic plants. The neo-Romanesque cathedral was built on the ruins of the church of St. Nicholas. The princes of Monaco were traditionally buried here. The pediment of the cathedral overlooks the palace square, surrounded by ancient cannons and pyramids of cannonballs. Exactly at 11.55 every day you can watch the changing of the guard of honor in front of the entrance to the princely palace. The palace itself was built on the site of an ancient Genoese fortress of 1215. Fragment ancient wall the fortress, fused with the rock, has survived to this day. Next to the palace is the more modern building of the Oceanographic Museum, founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I, who was fond of oceanography. In the underground part of the museum there is one of the largest aquariums in Europe, on the first floor there is scientific equipment (the museum is also a research center), on the second floor there are exhibits telling about the expeditions undertaken under the leadership of Prince Albert I. Currently, the museum is one of the largest centers for the study of the oceans. The complex of buildings of the "Old Town" is surrounded by the Garden of Exotic Plants, numbering over 6000 various kinds desert, semi-desert, African and South American flora. The Condamine area arose on the site of the old port in the Hercules Bay, almost on the site of the ancient Greek "Heraclos Monoikos" - many buildings here are located on the territory reclaimed from the sea. In September, the annual yacht show takes place in the port of Monaco. The area is also known for the cheapest market in the country and the very ancient (the foundation dates back to the 11th century, rebuilt in the 19th century) church of St. Devote, the heavenly patroness of Monaco. Every year on January 27, a colorful Feast of St. Devota is held in her honor. Fontvieille is the youngest of the districts of the principality, almost entirely reclaimed from the sea. Usually it is called an "industrial" area, but compared to the industrial quarters of any of the major European cities, Fontvieille will seem like a quiet suburban suburb. The people of Fontvieille are proud to have the Prince Louis II Stadium, the largest in the Principality, a gigantic sports complex with an Olympic-class underground swimming pool. Another attraction is the Commercial Center, where you can find everything from a McDonald's restaurant to a collection of chic antique cars owned by the prince. Rainier III. Monaco is famous for the abundance of various exhibitions, competitions and festivals of European and world level held here. Starting with the International Circus Festival and the Monte-Carlo Rally in January, the whole year is filled with the most grandiose events - the Magic Awards Festival in March, the Monte-Carlo Spring Arts Festival, the Open International Tennis Championship, the Annual Festival of Contemporary Sculpture and the International Dog Show rare breeds in April, Formula 1 Grand Prix racing, World Music Festival and International Floriculture Competition in May, International Fireworks Festival in July, September Rendezvous Regatta and Monaco Athletic Federation Grand Prix in September, International Fair to Monaco and the European Championship radio controlled models ships in October, and many other shows.

ENTRY RULES: Entry of Russian citizens to Monaco is carried out on a visa basis (visa is not required for citizens of most European countries, citizens of the USA, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Turkey and Israel, arriving for a period not exceeding 30 days). You must have a visa obtained on the basis of an invitation at the French embassy, ​​a passport, insurance for at least $ 30,000. Children traveling with one of the parents must have a copy of the birth certificate and a power of attorney from the other parent to leave the child (in Russian and French) certified by a notary. The passport must be valid for 4 months from the date of arrival in the Principality. Consular fee - $28.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: The number of imported and exported means of payment is not limited. Cash and securities in the amount of 50 thousand francs and more are subject to declaration. From a European country - not a member of the EU, cigarettes can be imported duty-free - up to 200 pcs. (or cigarillos - 100 pcs., or cigars - 50 pcs., or tobacco - 250 gr.), coffee beans - 0.5 kg., strong spirits - up to 1 liter, wine - up to 2 liters, spirits - up to 50 gr., toilet water - 0.25 l. The import of drugs, weapons and a number of medicines is prohibited (prescription confirmation from the attending physician is required). It is forbidden to export without special permission antiquities, weapons, as well as items that are national treasures.






short info

The Grimaldi family has ruled the Principality of Monaco since 1297. During this time, Monaco experienced many historical events, eventually becoming one of the most popular tourist centers in Europe. Hundreds of millions of euros are invested in the local tourism industry every year, and this brings noticeable results. Now Monaco is famous for its casinos in Monte Carlo, the holding of the Forum 1 races, as well as its beaches.

Geography of Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is located in Western Europe on the Mediterranean coast. On three sides, Monaco borders on France (13 km to Nice). The territory of this country is only 2.02 square meters. km. Land border - 4.4 km. The authorities of Monaco plan to slightly expand their territory in the future by draining sections of the Mediterranean Sea.

Capital

The capital of the Principality of Monaco is the city of Monaco, which is now home to more than 1.3 thousand people. The city of Monaco was founded in 1215 by Italians from the Republic of Genoa.

Official language

The official language in Monaco is French. Traditional Monegasque (a dialect of Ligurian spoken in Genoa) is now spoken by a minority of Monegasques. The Italian language is also widely spoken in this Principality.

Religion

 More than 83% of the population of Monaco are Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church.

State structure of Monaco

Since 1911, the Principality of Monaco has been a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the Prince of Monaco.

Legislative power belongs to the unicameral parliament - the National Council, consisting of 24 deputies elected for 5 years.

Under the Constitution of 1911, the Principality of Monaco was divided into three municipalities:

Monaco-Ville - the old city;
- Monte-Carlo in the east and northeast;
- Condamine in the southwest, including the port of Hercules.

Now the Principality already has 5 municipalities (for example, the Fontvieille region is an area drained by the Mediterranean Sea).

Climate and weather

The climate in Monaco is Mediterranean with elements of oceanic and subtropical climate. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are mild and rainy. Medium annual temperature air in Monaco - +16.4C.

Sea in Monaco

The coastline in Monaco is 4.1 km. Due to the rapidly growing population, the authorities of Monaco are draining part of the Mediterranean Sea, then building houses and resorts in these places.

Average Mediterranean temperature near Monte Carlo:

January - +13C
- February - +13C
- March - +13C
- April - +14C
- May - +17C
- June - +20С
- July - +23С
- August - +23C
- September - +22C
- October - +20С
- November - +17C
- December - +15С

History

The first settlements on the territory of the modern Principality of Monaco were founded by the Phoenicians around the 10th century BC. The name "Monaco" comes from ancient Greek word"monoikos" (people living separately from their fellow tribesmen).

According to ancient Greek myth, the legendary Hercules (Hercules) once visited the territory of modern Monaco. That is why the temple of Hercules Monoikos was formed there, around which several settlements were formed. The city of Monaco itself was founded in 1215 by immigrants from the Republic of Genoa.

Since 1297, Monaco has been under the control of the Grimaldi family (the current Prince of Monaco is also from this family).

In the 17th century, the princes of Monaco fall under French influence - they live in Paris, and not in their ancestral patrimony.

In 1797, the troops of revolutionary France captured Monaco, and the Grimaldi family temporarily lost power over this principality. However, in 1814, after the defeat of the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte, Grimaldi regain control of Monaco, but are under the protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

In 1860, Monaco again fell under the protectorate of France. In the mid-1860s, the first casino appeared in Monaco.

In 1911, the first Constitution was adopted in Monaco, which somewhat limited the power of the Grimaldi princes. In 1918, the Monaco-French Treaty was concluded, according to which the interests of the Principality of Monaco in the international arena are represented by France.

In 1962, the Constitution of Monaco was amended to give women the right to vote.

In 1993, the Principality of Monaco was admitted to the UN. In 2002 was signed new treaty between France and Monaco. According to this treaty, if the Grimaldi dynasty had no heirs, the Principality would still remain an independent state.

culture

In the Principality of Monaco, religious and cultural traditions have been successfully maintained for many centuries, which are often already intertwined.

Every year the inhabitants of Monaco celebrate the feast of Saint Devota, who is considered the patroness of this Principality. Every year on January 27, street festivities, religious ceremonies and torchlight processions take place throughout the Principality. In the evening, a grandiose fireworks flashes in the sky over the harbor of Monaco.

On June 23-24 Monaco celebrates Saint Jean's Day. On this day, many young people dressed in the national costumes of the Monegasques take to the streets. In Monte Carlo on June 24 under open sky festivities take place until late in the evening.

Monaco hosts numerous carnivals every year. The tradition of carnivals in the Principality began in the 15th century.

Cuisine of Monaco

The cuisine of Monaco has been shaped by Italian and French influences. This alone guarantees that the food in Monaco is delicious. Tourists in Monaco, we advise you to definitely try:

- "Barbagiuan" - pies with rice, pumpkin, spinach and cheese;
- "Fougasse" - bread cake with cheese and onions;
- "Stocafi" - dried cod in a thick tomato sauce;
- "Socca" - pancakes made from pea flour with chicken.

Sights of Monaco

Tourists come to Monaco in order to relax in the beautiful local resorts. However, sunbathing on the beach is also sometimes annoying, and therefore we recommend that tourists in Monaco see the following attractions:

  1. Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Monaco
  2. Palace of the Prince of Monaco
  3. Oceanographic Museum in Monaco
  4. Fort Antoine on the rock of La Rocher
  5. Grotto of the Observatory

Cities and resorts

The largest cities in Monaco are Monaco-Ville (the city of Monaco proper), Monte Carlo, La Condamine and Fontvieille. True, they are “large” only by local standards. Thus, more than 1.3 thousand people now live in the city of Monaco.

Monaco is a wonderful, though expensive, place for a beach holiday. Monaco's main beach is Larvotto in Monte Carlo.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Office Hours

Monaco is the only state in the world where the military band is larger than the army.

And it's not a joke. The army in Monaco has 82 people, while the strength of the military band is 85 people. Smaller than Monaco, only the Vatican. But the Vatican special state, its sovereignty is not independent, but stems from the sovereignty of the Holy See.
But, despite this, Monaco is one of the most densely populated countries and is widely known for its casinos in Monte Carlo. However, there are plenty of other attractions as well. Monaco is a significant cultural center. In 1879, according to the project of the architect Charles Garnier (author of the Paris Opera), the building of the Monte Carlo Opera was built. Here, in different years sang Enrico Caruso, Fedor Chaliapin, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti.

In 1911 Sergei Diaghilev founded here Russian ballet under the auspices of Prince Pierre of Monaco. Dancing on the stage of the Opera Anna Pavlova, Vatslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karsavina, George Balanchine, Serge Lifar, and later - Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Academy in Monte Carlo classical dance named after Princess Grace. The Prince Pierre Foundation, founded by Rainier III in honor of his father, annually presents the Grand Prize for Literature, the Prince Rainier III Music Prize and the International Prize for Contemporary Art.
The famous Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is located in the city, the director of which was the legendary explorer.

Every year Monaco hosts the International Circus Festival and TV Festival.
But first - about the history of Monaco, located in southern Europe on the coast of the Ligurian Sea; on land, the country shares a border with France.

History

First settled in Monaco Phoenicians, it was in the X century BC. e. Later the Greeks joined them.
In 1215, the Republic of Genoa founded its colonies and built a fortress on the territory of the principality. The Republic of Genoa was an independent state in Liguria, on the northwestern coast of the Apennine Peninsula.
January 8, 1297 during civil war in Genoa Monaco was busy Francois Grimaldi and his supporters. This date is considered to be the beginning of the reign of the Grimaldi dynasty and the existence independent state Monaco. Since then, for more than 700 years, the principality has been ruled by representatives of this family. In 1789 the country was annexed by France.
The Treaty of Paris (first) on May 30, 1814 restored the principality within the borders that existed before January 1, 1792, under a French protectorate.
After the final collapse of the Empire, according to the Treaty of Paris (second) on November 20, 1815, Monaco was transferred under the protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia (a state that existed in Italy from 1720 to 1861)
On July 18, 1860, Sardinia withdrew its troops from Monaco, ending the protectorate.
In 1865, a casino was opened in Monte Carlo and created Customs Union with France. These events accelerated economic development country.

A well-known billionaire made a very large contribution to the economy of Monaco Aristotle Onassis: thanks to his investments, it was possible not only to expand the territory of the principality, to build a port, but also to create an entertainment industry that made Monaco rich country, which gathers the entire world elite.
The Prince was also active in construction in Monaco. Rainier III. In 2005, being very ill, he transferred his powers to his son and heir, Prince Albert II who currently rules the country.

Brief information about the country

Form of government- constitutional dualistic monarchy.
Capital
Largest cities- Monaco, Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo, Fontvieille, La Candamine. In essence, they all merged into one city of Monaco.
head of state- prince.
Chapter executive power - Minister of State.
Territory- 2, 02 sq. km. Recently, the territory has been expanding due to the drainage of marine territories.
Population– 35 986 people 47% of the population are French.
State religion- Catholicism. The state guarantees freedom of religion.
Currency- Euro.
Administrative division- three communes, which are divided into 10 districts.
Economy- develops mainly due to tourism, gambling, construction of new residences, as well as through the media covering the life of the princely family.
Climate- subtropical, Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and mild rainy winters.

State symbols of Monaco

Flag- is a panel with two equal stripes placed horizontally. Top - stripe red colors, bottom white.
The flag was adopted in 1881 during the reign of Prince Charles III. The colors of the flag are associated with the colors of the Grimaldi princely family, whose representatives have ruled the principality since the Middle Ages. At the end of the 18th century, Monaco was annexed to France, but in 1814, after the fall of Napoleon, the rule of the Grimaldi dynasty in Monaco was restored, at the same time the current Monegasque flag appeared, although it was officially approved only in 1881.
In 1945, the Indonesian government adopted exactly the same flag. This became a reason for a diplomatic conflict: Monaco expressed an official protest, which was rejected due to the fact that the Indonesian flag is older than the flag of Monaco.


Coat of arms Monaco - coat of arms of Prince Albert II of Monaco. The shield is divided diamond-shaped into silver and scarlet. The shield is framed by the chain of the Order of St. Charles, entwined with green oak leaves. The shield is held by monks armed with swords. The mantle is scarlet, trimmed with a gold ribbon and lined with ermine fur. The shield is crowned with a princely crown. On the bottom of the ribbon is the motto "Deo Juvante" (lat. "With God's help"). Armed monks symbolize the real historical event- in 1297, Monaco was conquered by the soldiers of Francesco Grimaldi, dressed in monastic cassocks. The motto belongs to the Grimaldi dynasty.

Sights of Monaco


In Monaco - the official residence of the rulers of Monaco from the Grimaldi family. Initially, the palace was founded as a Genoese fortress in 1191, then it was expanded and rebuilt many times. Since the end of the XIII century. The palace belongs to the Genoese family of Grimaldi.
Since the 17th century, when the Grimaldis began to rule as sovereign rulers of Monaco, they had to constantly be in very unstable diplomatic agreements with their more powerful neighbors. Therefore, instead of luxurious palaces in the Baroque style, as in other European countries, they were built in the form of a fortress. However, this did not stop at the end of the XVIII century. to occupy the palace for the French for 20 years.
The uniqueness of the palace also lies in the fact that it was the only residence of the princes of Monaco for more than seven centuries, in connection with which the financial and political position Grimaldi's houses are directly reflected in the architecture.
In 1997, Grimaldi was celebrated in the palace 700 years his reign in Monaco. At present, the palace is still the princely residence.

Built in 1875, the Cathedral in Monaco is completely different from the traditional churches of that time, where gilding, brown-green stucco and pink hues predominate. This cathedral was made from white stone which shattered stereotypes.
The Cathedral is located in the Old Town, on the site of an old church destroyed during the French Revolution. It is located on one of the highest and most beautiful points in the Principality of Monaco. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with paintings famous artist Louis Brea.

On National Day and Days religious holidays Monaco in the Cathedral, services are held during which you can hear the sounds of the organ. This "divine" musical instrument was installed in the Cathedral in 1976. The Cathedral is also the tomb for the princes of Monaco, their wives and daughters. Representatives of thirty-five generations of the Grimaldi family are buried here. The popularly beloved Princess Grace, who died in a car accident, is also buried in the Cathedral. The altar and pulpit of the cathedral are made of white Carrara marble.

Napoleon Museum

The Napoleon Museum, located in Monaco-Ville, stores things that once belonged to Napoleon I or in any way connected with his life. The Napoleon family was distantly related to the princely dynasty of Monaco. This museum is also called Museum of Napoleonic memories and collections from the historical archives of the palace.

Louis II, an admirer of imperial France and the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, began to collect the collection. The collection was significantly enlarged during the reign of the grandson of Louis II and his successor Prince Rainier III, under which the museum moved to the south wing of the princely palace. The museum has been open to visitors since 1970.

The museum collection contains documents that date back to the times of the First Empire: letters and documents dating back to the reign of Napoleon, the period of his conquests and exile. The personal belongings of Napoleon Bonaparte are stored here, as well as his religious articles brought from St. Helena. Here is the hat that was on the emperor during the battle of Marengo; Napoleon's red leather blotter for the table; the watch he used during the war with Russia; letters signed by Napoleon, etc. The museum has cannonballs left over from the Battle of Austerlitz; a rich collection of weapons.

Among the snuffboxes, watches and clothes are paintings and sculptures dedicated to the French emperor, including busts of Napoleon by the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova And Jean Antoine Houdon, as well as a bust of Josephine by the court sculptor of Napoleon I, Francois-Joseph Bosio.

The museum also contains exhibits that tell about the history of Monaco: Patent of Independence of Monaco from 1512, granted by the French King Louis XII, letter french king Louis XIV to His Serene Highness Prince Antoine of Monaco, uniforms of soldiers of Monaco from different times, a collection of rare coins, seals and several historical postage stamps. The museum also has a room with the clothes of Roman emperors.

18th century fortress Fort Antoine

It was erected by Prince Antoine I, a great lover of music. Today this fortress is an open theater.

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

The Oceanographic Museum with an underground aquarium is a masterpiece of modern architecture. The structure is located almost on a sheer cliff. Founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I. A unique aquarium has been created here, in which waters from a hundred seas splash. This is one of the few aquariums in the world where corals grow (they do not take root in captivity).

Palace Square

This is the favorite place for walks of citizens and guests of the city. It is here that you can watch how every day at the same time at the main entrance to the Prince's Palace there is a solemn changing of the guard - a ritual that has not changed throughout the history of the city. During this ceremony, a brass band plays.

In tiny Monaco, there are amazing places where you can hide from the city and tourist bustle for a while. One of them is the gardens of St. Martin. The air here is saturated with the aroma of Mediterranean plants, the crowns of old trees provide a pleasant shade in summer. Complementing the picture is a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea.
In these gardens fabulous view on the sea, in addition to various trees and flowers, statues, fountains, etc. are placed. The gardens are located on the steep slopes of the mountain just behind the building of the Institute of Oceanography. Monaco is probably the only city in Europe where you can move around with an elevator. From the foot of the mountain you can take the lift to the Saint Martin's Gardens park.
This is the first public garden that appeared in the principality during the reign of Prince Honore V in the first half of the 19th century. Small winding paths, a small pond and numerous bronze sculptures, including a monument to Prince Albert I, founder of the Oceanographic Institute.

Wax Museum of the Princes of Monaco

The museum reflects episodes in the history of the Grimaldi dynasty from the end of the 13th century. until now. Wax figures life-size, many of them are dressed in authentic costumes from different eras. There are 40 characters on 4 stages, costumes were donated by the family of the dynasty. Here are the figures of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace with their children: Princess Caroline, crown prince Albert and Princess Stephanie.

Known for its wide harbor and is the main port and business center country. Harbor of Hercules, or Port of Monaco, is the largest marina in the Principality of Monaco.

Church of Saint Devota

Saint Devota Virgin, martyr of Corsican. She was born in the city of Mariana in Corsica, about 283. The young maiden decided to devote herself to God. By order of a prefect named Barbarian, she was thrown into prison and suffered torment for her faith. Her mouth was crushed, her body was dragged over stones and thorny brambles. Saint Devota was martyred in Mariana - she was quartered or stoned to death.

After her death, the holy governor ordered that her body be burned so that it would not become an object of veneration. However, it was saved from the flames by the Christians. The body of the saint was placed on a ship bound for Africa. But the storm overtook the ship, and the dove, flying out of the saint's mouth, led him to the place where Le Gomat, part of the Principality of Monaco, is now located, where the chapel of St. George already stood then.
Her tormented body was found by fishermen. In honor of the saint, a chapel was built in Monaco, which exists to this day. To the day of remembrance of the saint, January 27 flowers bloom around her. The chapel of Saint Devota is first mentioned around 1070 as belonging to the monastery of Saint-Pont.

Maritime Museum

The museum's collection contains more than two hundred and fifty exhibits, which in one way or another are related to the sea. Here you can see models of famous ships, among which you can find exhibits from private collection Prince Rainier III.
The surgeon-dentist also took an active part in the creation of the Monegasque Maritime Museum Pallanza. He was in love with the sea and during his service and sailing the seas with my own hands created more than one and a half hundred magnificent models of ships. In 1990, there was a solemn transfer of models made by Pallanza to the administration of Monaco. This event was the beginning of the museum. Prince Rainier III began to create it, he allocated a room where the collection of models of Pallanza was located, and later the prince enlarged it with exhibits from his own collection.
In the fate and history of the principality, the sea played important role. The Grimaldi clan fought the Saracen pirates for many centuries. In the middle of the XIV century. Grimaldi's ships took part in the Battle of Crécy on the side of Philip VI against the British. During World War II, the Monaco fleet defended the borders of France from the attacks of Nazi Germany. The models of ships presented in the Maritime Museum are a perfect copy of natural ships in a reduced size.

Museum of Old Cars of Prince Rainier III

This is one of the most visited museums in Monaco after the Oceanographic Museum. Prince Rainier III was a passionate car lover. For 30 years he collected a collection of vintage car brands. It is represented in his personal museum.
The unusual collection of Prince Rainier III contains about 100 models that represent different eras. There are also six carriages with the coat of arms of the princely family.
The first purchase of Prince Rainier was the De Dion Bouton car, which was assembled in 1903. Then he bought the Renault Torpedo, released in 1911. There are exhibits from Peugeot, Citroen, Lincoln in the collection , "Packard", as well as the American brands "Cadillac" in 1953, "Kreisler-Imperial" in 1956.
Several cars represent prestigious models from Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes and Jaguar. There is also an old London taxi that Princess Grace once drove.
Cars are placed in a large, specially equipped hall, which overlooks the port of Fontvieille.

Jardin-Exotic Park

Park "Jardin-Exotic" is located on a mountain slope, it grows more than 7 thousand species of cacti and many others tropical plants. At the base of the slope there is a grotto with artificial lighting, inside you can observe stalactites and stalagmites.

Rally "Monte Carlo"

The rally race is organized by the Automobile Club of Monaco. The stage runs along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and southeast France. Since its creation in 1911 by Prince Albert I, this difficult stage considered a testing ground for improvements and innovations in the automotive industry. The victory in this rally brings fame and honor to the automaker. From 1973 to 2008 The Monte Carlo Rally was a stage of the World Rally Championship, and since 2009 it has been included in the Internacional Rally Challenge (IRC) calendar. The road surface varies by section (dry asphalt, wet asphalt, snow and ice), so the right choice of tires plays an important role in the race. This rally features beautiful and varied sections. The track is full of steep and narrow mountain roads with many hairpin turns. The Rally Monte Carlo has 2 night stages.

Grand Prix "Formula 1"

The Monaco Grand Prix is ​​a Formula 1 race on the Monte Carlo city circuit in the Principality of Monaco. Held from the first World Cup in 1950 to the present (was not included in the championship 1951-1954). From 1929 to 1948, before the advent of Formula 1, the Monaco Grand Prix of motor racing was held as an independent sport. The Monaco Grand Prix is ​​considered one of the most prestigious races in the Formula 1 championship.

The state is located in the south of the European continent, in the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea, near the Cote d'Azur, 40 km northeast of French Nice. The total area of ​​the Principality is 1.974 km 2 , the length along the coast is 4.1 km. IN last years Monaco's geography is expanding geographically as a result of the drying up of the sea.

Geography of Monaco

The country of Monaco is small, it is located in the southern part of Europe on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. Geography of Monaco is such that the state does not have minerals, there is no their development, as well as heavy industry, which contributes to the ecological balance. but Monaco culture- this is a “sample of love of life” ... It is worth noting that the neighborhood with France had a huge impact on the country. Also geography state allows you to make an informed choice - so many tourist destinations open up in the future that your eyes run wide ...

Monaco Time

Monaco is in the Central European time zone. Monaco Time two hours behind Moscow. The entire territory of the country has one time zone. The country switches to summer time on March 25, winter time on October 25.


Climate of Monaco

Moderately warm winters (January average temperature + 8-10 ° C), dry and warm sunny summers (August temperature 26 ° C) characterize. The country receives up to three hundred sunny days a year. The Alpes-Maritimes serve as a reliable protection for Monaco from cold winds from the north to winter time and in summer pleasant sea breezes cool the coast of the Principality.


Monaco weather

The high season in the Principality is the period from May to the end of October, when beach holiday, and the ubiquitous life of the state is replete with daily holidays and interesting events. The fabulous weather here is fragrant and during the velvet season, in September and October, Monaco is popular among lovers of a quiet and balanced holiday. Rainy weather in the principality comes closer to winter and late autumn.


Nature of Monaco

The location of the principality on the mountain slopes largely determines the component of the description nature Monaco. The slopes are rich in forests and shrubs (maquis). The most represented trees are cedar and pine, as well as different types oak. The types of maquis include: cistus, myrtle, evergreen viburnum and pistachios, juniper.

Fifth of the area Monaco replete with parks and gardens. There are plantations of figs, olives, pomegranates, pistachios, almonds and persimmons. Grow bananas, lemons, oranges, tangerines. Japanese medlar and camphor laurel from the Land of the Rising Sun, cacti, aloe and agave from North and South America, eucalyptus from Australia also took root.