LOVE DISCOVER DREAM FEEL MONACO SEN SA TIONS HISTORY A SPECIAL ROLE IN THE WORLD DYNAMISM AND INNOVATION 2015 EDITION AT THE HEART OF THE LEGEND A DREAM STAY WELCOME TO MONACO! Linked to the Grimaldi family for seven hundred years, the Principality has progressively found its place at the centre of the world stage, particularly since the reign of Prince Rainier III and that of his son H.S.H. Prince Albert II. Member of the United Nations and the Council of Europe, Monaco is a prosperous and conveniently located state, with a flourishing economy and undoubted international influence. Above all, the Principality is an outstanding tourist destination. As well as its superb natural location, it has a large number of luxury hotels, gastronomic restaurants, top-of-the-range well-being centres, sports facilities and a lively night-life. | 01 CONTENTS CONTENTS SENSATIONS | | SENSATIONS THROUGH AT THE HEART 02 THE AGES 11 OF THE LEGEND HISTORY THINGS TO SEE • Key dates 3 • Curiosities and main 12/14 tourist attractions MONACO’S 04 UNIQUE ROLE THRILLS & EMOTIONS ON THE WORLD STAGE 15 LEISURE ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE • Casinos, shopping… 16 • Diplomacy 5 • Wellbeing, nightlife… 17 • Organisations and institutions 5 • Events in the Principality 17/18 • International cooperation 5 • Environment protection 5 A DREAM STAY 19 HOTELS DYNAMISM • 5-star hotels 20 06 AND INNOVATION • 4-star hotels 22 ECONOMY • 3-star hotels 24 • Retail 6 • Services 6 GOURMET DINING • Industry 6 26 STAR-RATED RESTAURANTS • Tourism 6 • 3-star restaurants 27 • Congress Centres 7 • 2-star restaurants 27 • 1-star restaurants 27/28 TRAVELLING 08 TO THE PRINCIPALITY MODES OF TRANSPORT • Car 9 • Bus 9 • Train 9 • Boat 9 • Air 10 The information in this brochure is subject • Transfers from the airport 10 to change. THROUGH THE AGES HISTORY Although the name “Monaco” appeared back in Antiquity, it was in 1297, with the arrival of the Grimaldi dynasty, that the history of the Principality began. Over seven hundred years later, Prince Albert II continues the efforts of his illustrious ancestors. Here are a few dates to remember. | 02/03 HISTORY SENSATIONS | | SENSATIONS 8 JANUARY 1297 1911 1993 François Grimaldi, a Guelph Monaco’s first constitution. On 28 May, Monaco became the disguised as a monk, is said to The Monte-Carlo Car Rally was 183rd Member-State of the United have used trickery to seize the launched and Sergei Diaghilev’s Nations. fortress. The memory of this Russian ballet company gave its episode lives on with the Grimaldi first performances. 2005 coat of arms: it features two monks After the death of his father brandishing swords. 1923 Rainier III on 6 April, Birth of Prince Rainier III, H.S.H. Prince Albert II became 1863 son of Princess Charlotte sovereign of the Principality. A new Société des Bains de Mer and Prince Pierre de Polignac. was created by François Blanc. 2011 A casino opened in the Spélugues 1929 Prince Albert II married neighbourhood. First Monaco Grand Prix. Charlene Wittstock. 1906 1949 10 DECEMBER 2014 Prince Albert I, famous for his Prince Rainier III succeeded his Birth of HSH Crown Prince Jacques scientific expeditions on seas all grandfather Prince Louis II. and HSH Princess Gabriella. over the world, founded the Oceanographic Institute. 1956 Prince Rainier III married American actress Grace Kelly. From left to right: The Guelph, François Grimaldi, in 1297. Sculpture by Kees Verkade. Prince Rainier III (1923-2005) in full regalia. H.S.H. Prince Albert II, official photo. | 04/05 MONACO’S UNIQUE ROLE ON THE WORLD STAGE INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE PRESENCE INTERNATIONAL Monaco’s international reputation INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS undoubtedly starts here, AND INSTITUTIONS on 195 hectares of land whose The Principality joined the UN in 1993. 37,800 residents represent one It is also a member of thirteen specialist hundred and twenty-five nationalities. organisations within the United Nations. | SENSATIONS The Monegasque population totals 8,951. The official language is French, INTERNATIONAL but Italian and English are also spoken COOPERATION well and are widely used in various In line with the eight Millennium business fields. With its embassies and Development Goals adopted by the consulates abroad, its role in many United Nations in 2000, Prince Albert II international and intergovernmental has, on several occasions, ensured that organisations and institutions, plus Monaco remains exemplary in matters cooperative projects, the Principality of international solidarity. is present all over the world. INFORMATION DIPLOMACY www.gouv.mc Sixteen ambassadors are accredited ENVIRONMENT to twenty-seven countries (figures on PROTECTION 15 June 2015). Four of these sixteen In 2006, Prince Albert II created his ambassadors are permanent Foundation with the goal of working representatives of the Principality to protect the environment and at the UN in New York, at the Council to promote sustainable development of Europe in Strasbourg, at UNESCO on a planetary scale. in Paris, and at the Order of Malta in Rome. Eighty-five foreign INFORMATION ambassadors are accredited to the www.fpa2.com Principality, but only three of them (France, Italy and the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta) reside in Monaco. The others are accredited via Paris, Berlin, Andorra la Vella, San Marino, Malta, Geneva and Brussels. DYNAMISM AND INNOVATION ECONOMY With its many shops, its varied, efficient and constantly evolving service sector, its diversified and innovative industrial sector and its tourism, Monaco offers a dynamic business environment. RETAIL INDUSTRY Monaco’s 732 shops and Industry in Monaco is clean and 400 wholesale outlets generate almost extremely varied. Over one hundred 51% of the Principality’s businesses grouped in the Fontvieille turnover. neighbourhood employ almost 3,087 people in the fields of SERVICES chemistry, cosmetology, plastics Information, telecommunications, processing and cardboard packaging transport, maritime activities, banking, to name but a few. insurance, health… the service sector is extremely varied and constantly TOURISM growing. For example the health Tourism has been spearheading sector now employs almost Monaco’s economy since 1866. 3,727 people. In terms of banking, It takes three different forms: leisure all of the main foreign financial tourism, business tourism, and cruising establishments are represented in and luxury yachting, with the latter the Principality. experiencing particularly strong growth. | 06/07 ECONOMY SENSATIONS | | SENSATIONS CONGRESS CENTRES ESPACE LÉO FERRÉ Many of Monaco’s hotels also GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO A multipurpose hall of 1,500 m² have conference facilities to offer, A total surface area of almost located in Fontvieille, with a such as: 35,000 m² right on the sea front modular stage measuring 250 m². the Port Palace, has been cleverly designed to be 25-29 avenue Albert II the Fairmont Monte Carlo, modular and thus offer a wide T. +377 93 10 12 10 the Métropole Monte-Carlo, range of solutions that are very www.espaceleoferre.mc the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, much appreciated by event the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, organisers. The 3 auditoria of SPORTING MONTE-CARLO the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & 405, 800 and 1,800 seats, Located on the Larvotto peninsula, Resort, exhibition space totalling this venue can accommodate over the Méridien Beach Plaza, 10,000 m², 22 meeting rooms 1,500 people on a surface area the Novotel Monte-Carlo and 2 restaurants mean that totalling 1,600 m² divided into two and the Columbus Monte-Carlo. several events can easily be held completely separate rooms: at the same. the Salle des Etoiles and 10 avenue Princesse Grace the Salle des Palmiers. T. +377 99 99 20 00 26 avenue Princesse Grace www.grimaldiforum.com T. +377 98 06 17 17 www.montecarlomeeting.com ESPACE FONTVIEILLE A huge marquee measuring SEA CLUB 49 metres in diameter can CONGRESS CENTRE accommodate up to 200 stands and A 3,000 m² congress centre facing several thousand visitors per day. the Mediterranean, with five storeys The floor area undercover totals offering a total of 14 lounges (with 2,000 m², and there is an outdoor up to 2,000 seats) and 4 private exhibition area of 2,000 m². terraces. 5 avenue des Ligures 22 avenue Princesse Grace T. +377 92 05 26 00 T. +377 93 30 98 80 www.chapiteau-monaco.com www.lemeridienmontecarlo.com From top down: The Grimaldi Forum The Sporting Monte-Carlo’s Salle des Etoiles The Méridien Beach Plaza’s Sea Club TRAVELLING TO THE PRINCIPALITY MODES OF TRANSPORT Be it by land, sea, air or rail, all roads lead to Monaco! | 08/09 CAR TRAIN From Italy All trains stop at Monaco/Monte-Carlo Motorway A8/E74/E8, exit 58 Station. One high-speed train (TGV) TRANSPORT OF MEANS «Roquebrune – Monaco – La Turbie», per day links Paris to Monaco in six or along the coast road from Menton. hours. Regional express trains (TER) serve towns located on the coast From Nice, Cannes or Saint-Tropez between Ventimiglia and Menton Motorway A8/E74/E80, to the east and Cannes, Grasse and two possible exits: Les Arcs to the west. | SENSATIONS 56 «Monaco – Cap d’Ail – Beausoleil» 57 «La Turbie - Roquebrune-Cap- Martin». There are also three cliff-side INFORMATION roads between Nice and Monaco: AND RESERVATIONS the Basse Corniche (D6098), SNCF : 36 35 the Moyenne Corniche (D6007) www.voyages-sncf.fr and the Grande Corniche (D2564). BOAT Access to the Rock Monaco is easily accessible by boat Only Monegasque vehicles and vehicles thanks to two deep-water marinas with an Alpes-Maritimes licence plate located on either side of the Rock - (and proof of the driver’s home address) Port Hercule and Port de Fontvieille. are authorised to drive on the Rock. Cap d’Ail marina at the gateway to the Other vehicles must be parked in the Principality can also accommodate Parking des Pêcheurs.