Monaco
The
Principality of Monaco (;
Monégasque:
Principatu de Múnegu;
Occitan:
Principat de Mónegue), more commonly known as
Monaco, is a
constitutional monarchy and
city-state in
Western Europe located along the
French Riviera between the
Mediterranean Sea and
France . Affluent Monaco is one of the five
European microstates.
Monaco is the
most densely populated country in the world and the world's second-smallest independent country with a
population of just 32,409 and an area of 1.95 square kilometers (481.9
acres). It has more millionaires per capita than any other country in the world.
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Map of Monaco |
The Principality of Monaco is the second-smallest independent state in the world, after
Vatican City. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, 18 kilometres (11
mi) east of
Nice and near the
Italian border. It is surrounded on three sides by the
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Région of France. It consists of a narrow strip along the coast at the bottom of the foothills of the
Alps and its highest point is "Le Rocher" at 140 metres (459
ft).
Monaco is divided into four quarters (
quartiers):
Monaco-Ville, the old city on a rocky promontory extending into the Mediterranean, known as the
Rock of Monaco;
La Condamine, the northwest section including the port area;
Monte Carlo, the principal residential and resort area with the casino in the east; and
Fontvieille, a newly constructed area reclaimed from the sea. La Condamine quartier is further subdivided into La Condamine proper (the port area);
Moneghetti; Les Revoires, containing the
Jardin Exotique; and La Colle, on the western border with
Cap d`Ail. Monte Carlo quartier is also subdivided into several neighborhoods: Monte Carlo proper (the casino and resort area);
Larvotto, a beach area to the east of the principality;
Saint Roman/
Tenao on the northeast corner; and the central residential area of Saint Michel.
The principality is noted for its natural scenery and mild, sunny
climate. The average minimum temperature in January and February is 8 °
C (47 °
F); in July and August the average maximum temperature is 26 °C (78 °F).
Monaco is a narrow coastal strip. Its physical geography includes a long beach which accounts for a vast part of Monaco's border, and steep cliffs that rise vertically upwards to heights of 63 metres (206 ft) above sea level.
Monaco derives its name from the nearby
Greek colony of
Phoceans in the 6th century BC, which referred to the Ligurians as Monoikos, from the Greek Μόνοικος â€" μόνος + οίκος, "single house", which bears the sense of a people either settled in a "single habitation" or of "living apart" from others. According to an ancient myth,
Hercules passed through the Monaco area. A temple was constructed there by Phoceans, the temple of Hercules Monoikos.
Following a land grant from Emperor
Henry VI in
1191, Monaco was re-founded in
1228 as a colony of
Genoa. Monaco has been ruled by the House of
Grimaldi since
1297, when
François Grimaldi (Malizia) seized the fortress protecting the famous
Rock of Monaco while dressed as a
Franciscan monk (
monaco in Italian);
From
1793 to
1814, Monaco was under French control. The
Congress of Vienna designated Monaco as a protectorate of the Kingdom of
Sardinia from
1815 until
1860 when the
Treaty of Turin ceded to France the surrounding countship of
Nizza and
Savoy. During this time there was unrest in the towns of
Menton and
Roquebrune, which declared independence, hoping for annexation by
Sardinia. The unrest continued until the ruling prince gave up his claim to the two towns (some 95% of the country) to France in return for 4 million francs. This transfer and Monaco's sovereignty was recognised by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of
1861.
Until the
1911 constitution, the
princes of Monaco ruled absolutely. In July
1918, a treaty was signed providing for limited French protection over Monaco. The treaty, part of the
Treaty of Versailles, established that Monegasque policy would be aligned with French political, military, and economic interests.
Rainier III acceded to the throne following the death of his grandfather, Prince
Louis II, in
1949. A new constitution, proclaimed in
1962, abolished
capital punishment, provided for
women's suffrage, and established a
Supreme Court to guarantee fundamental liberties. In
1993, Monaco became a member of the
United Nations, with full voting rights.
In
2002, a new treaty between France and Monaco clarifies that if there are no heirs to carry on the dynasty, the Principality will remain an independent nation rather than revert to France. Monaco's military defence, however, is still the responsibility of France.
Prince Albert, Marquis of Baux took over the royal duties on
31 March 2005, because his father Prince Rainier III was too ill to exercise his royal functions. On
6 April 2005, Prince Rainier died and his son succeeded him as Albert II of Monaco. Prince Albert II of Monaco formally became the ruler of Monaco on
12 July 2005, in a celebration that began with a solemn
Mass at the cathedral where his father was buried three months before, after a reign of 56 years. His accession to the throne was a two-step event with another ceremony drawing heads of state for an elaborate ceremony held on
19 November 2005.
Monaco has been governed as a
constitutional monarchy since
1911, with the
Sovereign Prince of Monaco as
head of state. The
executive branch consists of a
Minister of State (the
head of government), who presides over a four-member Council of Government (the
Cabinet). The minister of state is a French citizen appointed by the prince from among candidates proposed by the French government. Under the
1962 constitution, the prince shares his power with the
unicameral National Council (parliament). The 24 members of this
legislative body are elected from lists by
universal suffrage for five-year terms.
The principality's local affairs are directed by the Communal Council, which consists of 15 elected members and is presided over by the mayor.
Monaco received its first ambassador from abroad on the
16 February 2006, from France. This is despite having had representation abroad and in the United Nations for many years.
Monaco has the largest police force and police presence in the world, both per capita and per area.
The
Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince's Company of Carabiniers) is the military force of
Monaco. Although Monaco's defence is the responsibility of
France, it maintains a small force for the protection of the
Sovereign Prince of Monaco. It was formed by
Prince Honoré IV in
1817 for the protection of the Principality. The company numbers approximately 100 officers and men - while the
NCOs and soldiers are local, the officers have generally served in the
French Army. Together with the local fire service, the Caribineers form Monaco's total public forces. In addition to their guard duties, the company patrols the Principality's beaches and coastal waters, as well as other duties around the Palace in
Monaco-Ville.
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Monaco city and harbour view. |
One of Monaco's main sources of income is
tourism; each year many are attracted to its casino and pleasant climate. In
2001, a major new construction project extended the pier used by cruise ships in the main harbour. The principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, non-polluting industries such as cosmetics and biothermics.
As befits a world leader in glamour and money, Monaco is one of the most expensive places on Earth. The principality is often regarded as a tax haven, and most of its inhabitants are millionaires from other countries. The glamour and prestige associated with Monaco and its style-conscious people can be seen in the number of high class cars, designer fashion boutiques such as
Chanel, trendy restaurants, and its royal family, especially since the marriage of Prince Rainier to
Grace Kelly, later HSH Princess Grace of Monaco.
The state has no
income tax for individuals. The state retains
monopolies in numerous sectors, including
tobacco and the postal service. The
telephone network used to be owned by the state; now,
Monaco Telecom is 49% owned by
Cable and Wireless, 45% by the state and 6% by Compagnie Monégasque de Banque, but it is still a monopoly. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas.
The lack of personal income tax has led to a considerable number of wealthy "tax refugee" residents from European countries, who earn the majority of their income from activity outside Monaco;
celebrities like
Formula One drivers attract most of the attention, but the majority of them are business people.
In
2000, a
report by French
parliamentarians Arnaud Montebourg and
Vincent Peillon alleged that Monaco has lax policies with respect to money laundering, including within its famed casino, and that the government of Monaco puts political pressure on the judiciary so that alleged crimes are not properly investigated. In response, the
Government of Monaco ordered reports to
OECD and the
Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering. These reports revealed most of these allegations to be untrue.
Monaco is not a member of the
European Union but is very closely linked to it via a customs union with France, and as such its
currency is the same as France's: the
euro. Prior to 2002, Monaco minted their own franc coins, the
Monegasque franc. Monaco has acquired the right to mint
euro coins with Monegasque designs on their national side.
Monaco's major exports are ceramics, metal works, textiles, plastics, and instruments.
Monaco has ten state-operated schools, including seven nursery and primary schools, one secondary school, one lycée that provides general and technological training, and one lycée that provides vocational and hotel training. [
1]
There are also two grant-aided denominational private schools (including
Institution François d'Assise Nicolas Barré and
Ecole des SÅ"urs Dominicaines) and one international school (
International School of Monaco).
State schools include:
*
Lycée Albert IerColleges and universities
*
International University of Monaco |
View on Monacoville |
Monaco's population is unusual in that the native Monegasques are a minority in their own country. The largest proportion of residents are French nationals (47%), while Monegasque and Italian nationals represent 16% each, and the remaining 21% belong to one of the other 125 nationalities that make up Monaco's international population.
French is the only official language, but
Italian,
English, and the two local languages,
Monégasque (a descendant of
Genoese) and
Occitan, are also spoken. The literacy rate is 99%.
Religion
Roman Catholicism is the official
religion, with freedom of other religions guaranteed by the constitution.
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Transport in Monaco*
Communications in Monaco*
Foreign relations of Monaco*
International University of Monaco*
Military of Monaco*
Music of Monaco*
AS Monaco FC and
Stade Louis II, the team's home stadium
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Monaco Grand Prix*
Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo*
EVER Monaco Ecologic vehicles * renewable energies
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Oceanographic Museum*
List of Monegasque people*
Association des Guides et Scouts de Monaco*
Monaco Guide for Monaco
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Official website*
History of Monaco: Primary documents*
Official website of the Prince's Palace of Monaco*
Official website for Tourism*
In the House of Grimaldi, a reprint of a 1993 article from the author's personal website
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Monaco Eye: Unofficial Guide for Visitors to Monaco*
Satellite Map of Monaco with Grand Prix track*
Order of the doctors of Monaco*
European Business article*
Monaco photo gallery*
Street map of Monaconds-nl:Monacofiu-vro:Monaco
