Monaco Information
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 Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:50 am Post subject: MONACO TOURISM GUIDE |
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MONACO TOURISM GUIDE
GENERAL
The second-smallest state in Europe (Vatican City is the tiniest), Monaco consists of four parts. The old town, Monaco-Ville, on a promontory, "The Rock," 60m (200 ft.) high, is the seat of the royal palace and the government building, as well as the Oceanographic Museum. To the west of the bay, La Condamine, the home of the Monégasques, is at the foot of the old town, forming its harbour and port sector. Up from the port (walking is steep in Monaco) is Monte Carlo, once the playground of European royalty and still the center for the wintering wealthy, the setting for the casino and its gardens and the deluxe hotels. The fourth part, Fontvieille, is a neat industrial suburb.
Ironically, Monte-Carlo Beach, at the far frontier, is on French soil. It attracts a chic crowd, including movie stars in scanty bikinis and thongs. The resort has a freshwater pool, an artificial beach, and a sea-bathing establishment.
No one used to go to Monaco in summer, but now that has totally changed -- in fact, July and August tend to be so crowded that it's hard to get a room. Furthermore, with the decline of royalty and multimillionaires, Monaco is developing a broader base of tourism (you can stay here moderately -- but it's misleading to suggest that you can stay cheaply). The Monégasques very frankly court the affluent visitor. And at the casinos here, you can also lose your shirt. "Suicide Terrace" at the casino, though not used as frequently as in the old days, is still a real temptation to many who have foolishly gambled away family fortunes.
Life still focuses on the Monte Carlo Casino, which has been the subject of countless legends and the setting for many films (remember poor Lucy Ricardo and the chip she found lying on the casino floor?). High drama is played to the fullest here. Depending on the era, you might have seen Mata Hari shooting a tsarist colonel with a jewel-encrusted revolver when he tried to slip his hand inside her bra to discover her secrets -- military, not mammary. The late King Farouk, known as "The Swine," used to devour as many as eight roast guinea hens and 50 oysters before losing thousands at the table. Richard Burton presented Elizabeth Taylor with the obscenely huge Koh-i-noor diamond here. Surrounded by cultivated gardens, the casino stands on a panoramic terrace, offering one of the grandest views along the entire Riviera.
INTERESTING PLACES
Collection des Voitures Anciennes de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco
The late Prince Rainier III opened a showcase of his private collection of more than 100 vintage autos, including the 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud that carried the prince and princess on their wedding day. Monaco shopkeepers gave it to the royal couple as a wedding present. A 1952 Austin Taxi on display was once used as the royal "family car." Other exhibits are a "woodie" (a 1937 Ford station wagon Prince Louis II used on hunting trips); a 1925 Bugatti 35B, winner of the Monaco Grand Prix in 1929; a 1903 De Dion Bouton; and a 1986 Lamborghini Countach.
Jardin Exotique
Built on the side of a rock, the gardens are known for their cactus collection. They were begun by Prince Albert I, who was a naturalist and scientist. He spotted some succulents growing in the palace gardens and created this garden from them. You can also explore the grottoes here, as well as the Musée d'Anthropologie Préhistorique (tel. 93-15-80-06). The view of the principality is splendid.
Les Grands Appartements du Palais
Most summer day-trippers from Nice want to see the home of Monaco's royal family, the Palais du Prince, which dominates the principality from "the Rock." Prince Albert governs Monaco from these premises. A tour of the Grands Appartements allows you a glimpse of the Throne Room and some of the art (including works by Brueghel and Holbein) as well as Princess Grace's state portrait. The palace was built in the 13th century, and part dates from the Renaissance. The ideal time to arrive is 11:55am, to watch the 10-minute Relève de la Garde (changing of the guard).
In a wing of the palace, the Musée du Palais du Prince (Souvenirs Napoléoniens et Collection d'Archives) holds a collection of mementos of Napoleon and Monaco. When the royal residence is closed, this museum is the only part of the palace the public can visit.
Musée National de Monaco
In a villa designed in a style that might have been by Charles Garnier (architect of Paris's Opéra Garnier), this museum houses a magnificent collection of antique mechanical toys and dolls. See the 18th-century Neapolitan crib, which contains some 200 figures. This collection, assembled by Mme de Galea, was presented to the principality in 1972; it originated with the 18th- and 19th-century practice of displaying new fashions on doll models.
Musee de l'Oceanographie
Albert I, great-grandfather of the late prince Rainier, founded this museum in 1910. In the main rotunda is a statue of Albert in his favourite costume: that of a sea captain. Displayed are specimens he collected during 30 years of expeditions. The aquarium, one of the finest in Europe, contains more than 90 tanks.
The collection is exhibited in the zoology room. Some of the exotic creatures were unknown before he captured them. You'll see models of the ships aboard which he directed his scientific cruises from 1885 to 1914. The most important part of the laboratory has been preserved and re-created as closely as possible. Skeletons of specimens, including a whale that drifted ashore at Pietra Ligure in 1896, are on the main floor. The whale skeleton is remarkable for its healed fractures sustained when a vessel struck the animal as it was drifting on the surface. An exhibition devoted to the discovery of the ocean is in the physical-oceanography room on the first floor. Underwater movies are shown in the lecture room. The shark lagoon is a perennial favourite.
Monte-Carlo Casino
Charles Garnier, the architect of the opera house in Paris, built the Casino in 1878.
The “atrium”, paved in marble, is surrounded by 28 Ionic columns in onyx. It leads into the auditorium of the opera, called the “Salle Garnier”, which is decorated in red and gold, with a profusion of bas-reliefs, frescoes and sculptures. Here, for more than a century, outstanding international performances of opera, ballet and concerts have been staged.
The “gaming rooms” comprise a succession of numerous rooms featuring stained glass windows, admirable decorations and sculptures, allegorical paintings and bronze lamps.
Fort Antoine Theatre
This early XVIII century fortress, built on the northeastern tip of the Rock, is now used as a marvelous outdoor theater with a capacity of some 350 spectators in tiered seating built in a semi-circle. In this enchanting setting, high quality performances are given during the summer season.
Louis II Stadium
A huge sports complex built on the Fontvieille esplanade, inaugurated on January 25, 1985, harmonizing perfectly with the architecture of this rapidly expanding district.
Its multipurpose installations, the setting for high-level international contests, make it one of the world’s finest sports complexes.
Casino Gardens and Terraces
Opposite the casino are magnificent flowerbeds and carefully tended lawns interspersed with ponds in which reeds and water lilies grow. The gardens slope gently upwards in the direction of the shopping street of the town, forming a perspective admired by visitors from all over the world.
The back of the Casino, facing the sea, is bordered by sunny terraces. A striking multicolored geometrical work by Vasarely decorates the roof of the Convention Centre and Auditorium.
Fontvieille Park
This magnificent park covers an area of nearly 4 hectares and contains a multitude of green plants and shrubs from all over the world, planted around a charming little fresh-water pond inhabited by ducks and swans.
Princess Grace Rose Garden
On a nearby slope to the Fontvieille Park is the Princess Grace Rose Garden, inaugurated on June 18, 1984 by the Sovereign Prince and His family. It is a quiet spot fragrant with the scent of some 4,000 rose trees, more than 150 varieties, some of which are the work of leading European and American specialists.
Japanese Garden
This enchanting garden, designed by the landscape-architect Yasuo Beppu, covers 23,000 square feet right next to the Mediterranean Sea and has been blessed by a Shinto High Priest. The site is an authentic work of art that unites stone, water and vegetation in the most marvelous harmony.
The pine and olive trees are pruned in the pure tradition of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Waterfalls and ponds, decorated with symbolically-shaped islands, add to the serenity of the surroundings and are admired by visitors as they walk through the garden.
The natural stones were carefully chosen according to their shape, colour and size.
The bamboo fences, Tea House, stone lanterns, tiles and wooden gates were all made in Japan. This exceptional garden situated at the foot of the sea-front high-rise buildings has a very special atmosphere, which is accentuated by the use of water sprays on the azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias.
Zoological Terraces
Opened in 1954 by H.S.H Prince Rainier III and built on the south face of the Rock of Monaco overlooking the Port of Fontvieille, some 250 animals from fifty different species (exotic birds, black panther, white tiger, hippopotamus, lemurs…) are housed there in exemplary conditions.
Museum of Chapel of the Visitation
This museum, housed in a baroque style chapel dating from the VII century, is home to part of the remarkable collection of sacred works of art belonging to Mrs. Piasecka Johnson, with masterpieces from Rubens, Zurbaran, Ribera and masters of the Italian Baroque period.
Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs and Collection of the Palace's Historic Archives
Housed in the south wing of the Prince’s Palace, the ground floor of this museum contains a rich collection of more than a thousand objects and documents relating to the First Empire: objects belonging to the Emperor Napoleon I, garments which belonged to the King of Rome, religious souvenirs from Saint Helena, etc.
The first floor is entirely dedicated to the history of the Principality. Exhibits include the Charter of independence of Monaco, signed by King Louis XII of France; a letter written by Louis XIV to Prince Antoine I; the Prince’s Guards’ uniforms.
Official Monégasque medals (Ordre des Grimaldi and Ordre de Saint-Charles) and foreign medals awarded to the Sovereign prince are also exhibited.
Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology
Containing a series of priceless burial places originating from localities in the Principality’s vicinity, notably Grimaldi, in Italian Liguria, this museum was founded in 1902 by Prince Albert I.
Its exhibits retrace the most important stages in the history of the human race, from the Australanthropus and Homo Sapiens, including Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon and Grimaldi remains.
In addition, there are vestiges of animals which are now extinct or which migrated in the course of glaciary and interglaciary periods, as well as reminders of successive civilizations: the Paleolithic (nearly a million year ago), the Neolithic, and the Bronze Age (5000 to 500 BC).
Museum of Stamps and Coins
This museum opened its doors in 1996 to show off H.S.H. Prince Rainier III's magnificent private collection of Stamps and Coins. Of modern design, it contains, in two specially laid-out rooms, rare philatelic items from the postal history of the Principality as well as the documents (models, hallmark proofs, color tests…), which have been used to print the stamps since the first “Charles III” in 1885 up to the present day.
Also on display, a copperplate rotary press used for printing Monégasque stamps for 60 years that was offered by the French postal Administration; a video presents the history of Monégasque philately and all stages involved in creating a stamp up to the point of marketing. The space reserved for coins, bank notes and commemorative medals demonstrates to visitors the numismatic quality of the Principality since 1640.
Resolutely turned towards the future, the Museum also has a multimedia area where all Monégasque coins and stamps can be examined.
Wax Museum of the Princes of Monaco
Situated on the Rue Basse, one of the most picturesque streets on the old town, this museum depicts historical episodes in the Grimaldi dynasty from the late XIII century to the present day. The wax figures are life-size, and many of them wear authentic period costumes.
Condamine Market and Rue Princess Caroline Pedestrian Mall
Although the Market first opened its doors in 1880, the present-day covered market on the Place d’Armes is a modern and functional building, which is directly connected by lifts and moving pavements to the Condamine car-park.
An attractive and lively esplanade borders the new Market Hall. The rue Princesse-Caroline pedestrian mall is just a few steps away; the visitor will discover pleasant landscaped areas.
Old Town
The narrow streets of the Old Town, interconnected by vaulted passageways, are lined with centuries-old houses, and the area has retained its medieval character. A visit to this picturesque district includes:
- The Chapelle de la Paix (in the gardens near the Place de la Visitation).
- The Placette Bosio (rue Comte-Félix-Gastaldi) named after the famous Monégasque sculptor.
- The Façade of the Law Courts, in the Italian Gothic Style.
- The Place Saint-Nicolas (behind the Law Courts) and its fountain surmounted by a statue.
- The Rampe Major, paved with red bricks, runs between two XVIth century gateways, connecting La Condamine and the Place du Palais.
- The Saint-Martin Gardens, facing the sea, inspired the poet Guillaume Apollinaire between 1887 and 1889. Today, amid the Aleppo pines, agaves, and aloes, are fountains, a pergola and bronze statues including a 1951 monument of Albert I.
Monaco Cathedral
Built in 1875 using white stone from La Turbie, the present-day Cathedral stands on the site of a 13th century church dedicated to Saint Nicolas and houses the tombs of the former Princes of Monaco. It is also the final resting place of Monaco's much loved Princess Grace. Of particular interest are the retable (circa 1500) to the right of the transept painted by the Louis Bréa from neighbouring Nice, the Great Altar and the Episcopal throne in white Carrara marble.
Pontifical services take place on the major religious festivals such as the Feast of Sainte Dévote (27th January) and the National holiday (19th November). On feast days and during religious music concerts, one can hear the magnificent four-keyboard organ, which was inaugurated in 1976.
From September through June, “Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco” and the singers of the Cathedral Choir School sing during the mass every Sunday at 10:00AM.
Church of Sainte Dévote
This votive chapel dedicated to the Patron Saint of the Principality and to the Prince and his family was built in the XI century in the Vallon des Gaumates, at the entrance to which the frail skiff carrying the Saint sank in the IV century. On January 26 every year, at dusk, a boat is burnt on the square in front of the chapel as part of the ceremonies of a traditional religious festival that still has its fervent devotees.
Church of Saint-Charles
This elegant building is in the French Renaissance style, with a bell-tower rising to a height of 108 feet. It was inaugurated in 1883. Nineteen stained glass windows light the nave. The gilded chandeliers come from the former armory of the Prince’s Palace (now the Throne Room).
Church of Mercy
Located on the Place de la Mairie (in the Old Town) and built in 1639, this chapel was the seat of the Brotherhood of Black Penitents, whose first Prior was Prince Honoré II. Its treasures of religious art include a Christ carved out of wood by the Monégasque François-Joseph Bosio, official sculptor to the Emperor Napoleon I. Above the entrance to the chapel is a magnificent nineteenth-century ceramic scene.
Aquavision: Boat Trips with Underwater Vision
Discover Monaco from the sea during this 55-minute boat trip that includes a stop to observe the seabed. “Aquavision” is a catamaran-type boat equipped with two windows in the hull for underwater vision, thus allowing the passengers to explore the natural seabed of the coast in an unusual way. The boat can take up to 120 people per journey.
Marlborough Gallery
Marlborough Fine Art was founded in London in 1946 by Frank Lloyd and Harry Fischer, and the gallery conducted its first exhbibition in 1947. During the1950's, Marlborough developed an international client base and embraced a new generation of post-World War II artists including Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Graham Sutherland and Ben Nicholson. In 1960, a second gallery was opened in Rome, in 1963 the New York and in 2000 the Monaco galleries were founded.
Marlborough Gallery represents such seminal artists as Fernando Botero, Claudio Bravo, Dale Chihuly, Chen Yifei, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Manolo Valdés as well as the Estates of Jacques Lipchitz, Oskar Kokoschka and Antonio Saura.
Café de Paris
No trip to Monaco is complete without at least a drink at the café just next to the casino and across the street from the Hôtel de Paris. This is the premiere “see and be seen” spot, whether sitting outside or dining inside. There is a lively mix of locals and visitors in a French brasserie atmosphere. The menu has an international flavour. Daily specials are always recommended. Favourites are steak tartar and fresh oysters in season. |
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