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 widely recognised as one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the world. The official language of the principality is French. In addition, Monégasque (a variety of Ligurian), English and Italian are spoken and understood by many residents.

With an area of 2.02 km² (0.78 sq mi), it is the second-smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City. Its 19,009 inhabitants /km² (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 m (528 ft) above sea level. The principality is about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the border with Italy. Since 2013, it consists of nine administrative wards, the largest of which is Monte Carlo (Monte Carlo/Spélugues, 0.44 km² (0.17 sq mi)), and the most populous of which is Larvotto (Larvotto/Bas Moulins, 5,443 residents as of 2008). Through ongoing land reclamation, started in 1861 and accelerating in the 1960s, Monaco's small land mass has expanded by 20 per cent.

The principality is governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state, who wields immense political power despite his constitutional status. The prime minister, who is the head of government, can be either a Monégasque or a French citizen; the monarch consults with the Government of France before an appointment. Key members of the judiciary in Monaco 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

Exterior of the Museum

The Oceanographic Museum (Musée océanographique) is a museum of marine sciences in Monaco-Ville, Monaco.

This building is part of the Institut océanographique, which is committed to sharing its knowledge of the oceans. (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 Odeon Tower St Martin Gardens Zoological Garden of Monaco

Selected pictures

Image 1
Panoramic view of Monaco City and the port of Fontvieille
(from Monaco)
Image 2Satellite view with border (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 3View of Monaco in 2016 (from Monaco)
Image 4
Panoramic view of Monaco from the Tête de Chien (Dog's Head) high rock promontory
(from Monaco)
Image 5Hôtel de Paris (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 7A 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 8Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 9Fontvieille and its new harbour (from Monaco)
Image 10Formation lap for the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix (from Monaco)
Image 11The location of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 12Sainte-Dévote Chapel (from Monaco)
Image 13Monaco-Ville (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 14Charles Leclerc (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 15Rainier I, victor of the naval battle at Zierikzee and first sovereign Grimaldi ruler of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 16
Land reclamation in Monaco since 1861
(from Monaco)
Image 17Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 18Port Hercules (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 19Oceanographic Museum (from Monaco)
Image 20Monte Carlo Casino (from Monaco)
Image 21Seaside façade of the Salle Garnier, home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (from Monaco)
Image 22Jacques I, Prince of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 23Albert II, Prince of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 24A view of the 2011 Monaco Porsche Supercup. Motor racing is very popular, with one course encompassing almost the whole country. (from Monaco)
Image 25Prince Albert I of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 26Monte Carlo (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 27The Rock of Monaco in 1890 (from Monaco)
Image 28Palace guards in Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 29Logo of the princely government of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 30
Panoramic view of La Condamine and Monte Carlo
(from Monaco)
Image 31The Monaco harbour during the days of the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 32Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (from Monaco)
Image 33Monte Carlo Casino (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 34Benjamin Balleret (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 35Public art in Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 36Fontvieille (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 37Satellite view of Monaco, with the France–Monaco border shown in yellow (from Monaco)
Image 38The Mayor of Monaco announcing concessions, ending the absolute monarchy of Prince Albert I in 1910 (from Monaco)
Image 39The marriage of actress Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III brought media attention to the principality. (from Monaco)
Image 40View of the Rock of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 41Monaco's flag and its coat of arms (from Monaco)
Image 42Monaco (as part of the Republic of Genoa) in 1494 (from Monaco)
Image 43Enlargeable, detailed map of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 44Wards of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 451978 Monégasque franc coin with an effigy of Rainier III (from Monaco)
Image 46Prince's Palace of Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 47Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco (from Outline of Monaco)
Image 48Embassy of Monaco, Paris, France (from Monaco)
Image 49Stade Louis II, home of AS Monaco FC (from Monaco)
Image 50Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco (from Monaco)
Image 51La Condamine (from Outline of Monaco)

Selected ward

Fontvieille (French pronunciation: [fɔ̃vjɛj]; Monégasque: Funtanaveya [fuŋtanaˈvɛja]) is the southernmost ward in the Principality of Monaco. It was developed by Italian engineer Gianfranco Gilardini and designed by architect Manfredi Nicoletti, between the 1970s and the 1990s. (Full article...)

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

Selected environment article

View of Monaco with Mont Agel in the background

Mont Agel is a mountain in the Maritime Alps on the border between France and Monaco. The summit of this mount, at 1,148 metres (3,766 ft) above sea level, is on the French side, but the highest point of Monaco, lying on a pathway named Chemin des Révoires, is on its slopes, at an altitude of 161 metres (528 feet). (Full article...)

List of articles
Land reclamation in Monaco Port Hercules Rock of Monaco Tête de Chien

Selected arts article

The Eurovision Song Contest 1961 was the 6th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. Once again, the contest was held in the French seaside city of Cannes, having also hosted the 1959 edition. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF), the contest was again held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on Saturday 18 March 1961, becoming the first contest to take place on a Saturday evening, a tradition that has continued ever since (with the exception of 1962). The show was directed by Marcel Cravenne [fr] and again hosted by Jacqueline Joubert, who had also hosted in 1959.

Sixteen countries participated in the contest - three more than in the previous edition; Finland, Spain and Yugoslavia all competed for the first time this year. (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

Ettori in 1977

Jean-Luc Ettori (born 29 July 1955) is a French former professional footballer who played as goalkeeper. He spent his entire career with AS Monaco, and had held the record for the most appearances by any player in Ligue 1 or Division 1 with 602 appearances until 4 December 2013 when Mickaël Landreau surpassed his record. He earned nine caps for France in the early 1980s, including starting six out of seven matches in the 1982 World Cup. (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

The Chemin des Révoires is a pathway within Les Révoires district of the Principality of Monaco. It is the highest point in Monaco. (Full article...)

Selected biography

Beretta in 2012

Olivier Henri Aldo Léopold Beretta (born 23 November 1969) is a professional racing driver from Monaco who raced in Formula One in 1994 for the Larrousse team, partnering Érik Comas. He participated in 10 Grands Prix, debuting on 27 March 1994. He scored no championship points, and was replaced when his sponsorship money ran out. During 2003 and 2004, he tested for the Williams team. (Full article...)