Portal:Monaco

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The Monaco Portal
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Monaco (/ˈmɒnəkoʊ/ (listen); French pronunciation: [mɔnako]), officially the Principality of Monaco (French: Principauté de Monaco), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera close to the Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe. It is bordered by France to the north, east and west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The principality is home to 38,682 residents, of whom 9,486 are Monégasque nationals; it is widely recognised for being one of the most expensive and wealthiest places in the world. The official language is French, although Monégasque (a dialect of Ligurian), Italian and English are spoken and understood by a sizeable group.

With an area of 2.1 km² (0.81 sq mi), it is the second-smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City. Its 19,009 inhabitants per square kilometre (49,230/sq mi) make it the most densely-populated sovereign state in the world. Monaco has a land border of 5.47 km (3.40 mi) and the world's shortest coastline of approximately 3.83 km (2.38 mi); it has a width that varies between 1,700 and 349 m (5,577 and 1,145 ft). The highest point in the state is a narrow pathway named Chemin des Révoires on the slopes of Mont Agel, in the Les Révoires ward, which is 161 metres (528 feet) above sea level. The principality is about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the border with Italy. Its most populous ward is Larvotto/Bas Moulins with a population of 5,443 as of 2008. Through land reclamation, Monaco's land mass has expanded by 20 percent. In 2005, it had an area of only 1.974 km² (0.762 sq mi). The principality is governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state. Although Prince Albert II is a constitutional monarch, he wields immense political power; the Minister of State is the head of government. The officeholder can be either a Monégasque or French citizen; the monarch consults with the Government of France before an appointment. 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. However, Monaco does maintain two small military units.

Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with the opening of the state's first casino, the Monte Carlo Casino, as well as a railway connection to Paris. Since then, Monaco's mild climate, scenery and gambling facilities have contributed to the principality's status as a tourist destination and recreation centre for the rich. In more recent years, Monaco has become a major banking centre and has sought to diversify its economy into the services sector and small, high-value-added, non-polluting industries. The state has no income tax, low business taxes and is famous for being a tax haven. Over 30% of the resident population are millionaires, with real estate prices reaching €100,000 ($142,000) per square metre in 2018. Monaco is not formally a part of the European Union (EU), but it participates in certain EU policies, including customs and border controls. Through its relationship with France, Monaco uses the euro as its sole currency; prior to this it used the French franc. Monaco joined the Council of Europe in 2004 and is a member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). It is also the host of the annual street circuit motor race Monaco Grand Prix, one of the original Grands Prix of Formula One. The principality has a club football team, AS Monaco, who compete in the French Ligue 1 and have become French champions on multiple occasions. A centre of research into marine conservation, Monaco is home to one of the world's first protected marine habitats, an Oceanographic Museum and the International Atomic Energy Agency Environment Labs, which is the only marine laboratory in the United Nations structure. (Full article...)

Selected location article

Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology

The Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology is located within the Jardin Exotique de Monaco. It was opened in 1902 and contains a collection of fossils and other excavated artifacts relating to the prehistory of Monaco and areas nearby. (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 New National Museum of Monaco Oceanographic Museum Odeon Tower St Martin Gardens Zoological Garden of Monaco

Selected pictures

Image 11978 Monégasque franc coin with an effigy of Rainier III (from Monaco)
Image 2Palace guards in Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 3Map of the French annexation in 1860 (from Monaco)
Image 4The location of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 5Public art in Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 6
Location of Monaco (green)
in Europe (green & dark grey)
(from Monaco)
Image 7Monoecus in Roman Liguria in Italy, around 1st century BC (from Monaco)
Image 8View of the Rock of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 9Rainier I of Grimaldi, victor of the naval battle at Zierikzee and first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 10Prince Albert I of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 11Albert II, Prince of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 12Monaco's flag and its coat of arms (from Monaco)
Image 13Monaco in 1494 (from Monaco)
Image 14Wards of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 15Hotel de Paris (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 16Oceanographic Museum (from Monaco)
Image 17Satellite view of Monaco, with the France–Monaco border shown in yellow (from Monaco)
Image 18Jacques I, Prince of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 19Monte Carlo Casino (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 20Embassy of Monaco, Paris, France (from Monaco)
Image 21Monte Carlo Casino (from Monaco)
Image 22The Monaco harbour during the days of the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 23Monte Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 24Prince's Palace of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 25Temperature change in Monaco since 1901 in the context of global warming (from Monaco)
Image 26Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (from Monaco)
Image 27View of Monaco in 2016 (from Monaco)
Image 28The Rock of Monaco in 1890 (from Monaco)
Image 29Fontvieille and its new harbour (from Monaco)
Image 30Stade Louis II, home of AS Monaco FC (from Monaco)
Image 31Fontvieille (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 32The marriage of actress Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III brought media attention to the principality. (from Monaco)
Image 33Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Monaco)
Image 34The Mayor of Monaco announcing concessions, ending the absolute monarchy of Prince Albert I in 1910 (from Monaco)
Image 35Enlargeable, detailed map of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 36A view of the 2011 Monaco Porsche Supercup. Motor racing is very popular, with one course encompassing almost the whole country. (from Monaco)
Image 37
Panoramic view of Monaco City and the port of Fontvieille
(from Monaco)
Image 38Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 39Formation lap for the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix (from Monaco)
Image 40In 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 41Satellite view with border (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 42
Land reclamation in Monaco since 1861
(from Monaco)
Image 43
Panoramic view of Monaco from the Tête de Chien (Dog's Head) high rock promontory
(from Monaco)
Image 44Port Hercules (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 45Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 46Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 47Sainte-Dévote Chapel (from Monaco)
Image 48Racing driver Charles Leclerc in 2017 (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 49
Panoramic view of La Condamine and Monte Carlo
(from Monaco)
Image 50Luxury residential areas in Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 51Monaco-Ville (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 52La Condamine (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 53Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 54Professional tennis player Benjamin Balleret in 2014 (from Outline of Monaco)

Selected ward

Port Hercule, La Condamine

La Condamine is the central Ward in the Principality of Monaco. Its landmarks include Port Hercules, the Rainier III Nautical Stadium, and the Princess Antoinette Park. Its farmer's market at the Place d'Armes dates from 1880 and is a great source of local pride for its "authentic Monegasque" essence. (Full article...)

List of articles
Fontvieille, Monaco Larvotto Jardin exotique Monaco-Ville Les Moneghetti Monte-Carlo Ravin de Sainte-Dévote La Rousse

Selected environment article

Fontvieille ward, Monaco

Land reclamation is done in Monaco because land is very scarce, as the country is comparatively tiny, at 2.02 km² (0.78 sq mi). To solve this problem and to continue economic development, for years the country has been adding to its total land area by reclaiming land from the sea. (Full article...)

List of articles
Mont Agel Port Hercules Rock of Monaco Tête de Chien

Selected arts article

The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (French: Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, OPMC) is the main orchestra in the Principality of Monaco. The orchestra gives concerts primarily in the Auditorium Rainier III, but also performs at the Salle des Princes in the Grimaldi Forum. (Full article...)

Selected religion article

Chapel of the Penitents, Monaco

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. (Full article...)

Selected sports article

Koller in 2019

Jan Koller (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjan ˈkolɛr]; born 30 March 1973) is a Czech former professional footballer who played as a striker. He was noted for his height, strong physique, and heading ability.

He began his career at Sparta Prague, then moved to Belgium, where he became the Belgian First Division top scorer with Lokeren. He won the league championship twice with Anderlecht and the Belgian Golden Shoe. In 2001, he joined Borussia Dortmund, where he won the Bundesliga title in his first season and scored 73 goals in 167 official games over five campaigns. He moved frequently in his later career, with stops in France, Germany and Russia. (Full article...)

Selected education article

Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco

The Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (or the Albert 1st of Monaco High School) is a prestigious public secondary school founded in 1910 in the Principality of Monaco. The school offers courses according to the curriculum prescribed by the French Directorate of National Education, Youth and Sports. It is located in Monaco-Ville on the Rock, site of the Visitation. (Full article...)

Selected transportation article

Monaco Heliport (French: Héliport de Monaco, IATA: MCM, ICAO: LNMC), also known as Monte Carlo Heliport, is situated in the district of Fontvieille in the Principality of Monaco. The heliport is the only aviation facility within Monaco. It was opened with the support of Prince Rainier III in 1976, with only one helipad, later expanded. The only scheduled destination is Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in Nice, France. Both arrivals and departures are routed over the water, to minimize noise. (Full article...)

Selected biography

Georges Vigarello (born 16 June 1941) is a French historian and sociologist. He is a Research Director at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS) of Paris. His main research interests include the sociology of the body, the history of hygiene, representations of the body over the centuries, and the social dimensions of sport. (Full article...)