{"id":19608,"date":"2020-01-22T20:54:02","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T19:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/about-monaco\/"},"modified":"2021-01-15T14:37:18","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T13:37:18","slug":"about-monaco","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/about-monaco\/","title":{"rendered":"Monaco: A country unlike the rest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On the shores of the Riviera, half-way between the city of Nice and the Italian border, is the world\u2019s second-smallest country.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Monaco\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

English playwright William Somerset Maugham called it \u201ca sunny place for shady people\u201d. We don\u2019t know about shady people, but Monaco sure is a sunny place: the French Riviera boasts a grand total of 300 days of sun a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an area just over 2 km2<\/sup>, the Principality of Monaco is one of the wealthiest and most expensive countries in the world. Known for its mild climate and dramatic landscape, Monaco has become throughout the years a hub for culture, luxury, sports, and business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come to the Principality and discover a country unlike no other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The story of the Principality starts with fake monks and the capture of a rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 In 1297, Francesco Grimaldi and his men capture the rock of Monaco pretending to be Franciscan friars. The Grimaldi\u2019s authority is recognised by the Kingdom of Genova in 1314. Save a brief French dominion from 1793 to 1814, the Grimaldi family has ruled the Principality ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the history of the Principality starts with that of the Grimaldi family, Monaco\u2019s history dates back to 300,000 BCE, age of the oldest settlement found in the area. To this day, bones, artifacts, and other signs of life are still unearthed during construction works, both on land and sea. Monaco has two prehistoric caves: the cave of the Exotic Garden and the Saint-Martin cave in the old town. Both are open to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"princely
Monaco’s princely family \/ Photo: Prince’s Palace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From settlement to independent country<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Antiquity, Monaco was a Greek settlement. In the Middle Ages, Monaco becomes part of France, before being given to the Kingdom of Genova by emperor Henry VI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What few people know is that Monaco was not always the micro-state that it is today. Until the mid 19th century, Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin were under Monegasque rule. After declaring themselves \u201cfree towns\u201d in 1948, Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin vote in favour of being annexed by France, eventually becoming French in 1861.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also in 1861 that France recognises Monaco\u2019s sovereignty. In 1918, the two countries sign a pact which grants Monaco partial French protection, on condition that in the eventuality of a dynasty fall, the Principality become part of France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Monte-Carlo Casino and the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 de Bains de Mer <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is under the rule of  Charles III, in the second half of the 19th<\/sup> century, that Monaco becomes the economic haven that it is today. In need of money following the loss of Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the sovereign decides to build a casino as well as a spa, both of which have become a favourite pastime of the Riviera\u2019s beau monde<\/em>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charles II bets everything on the casino. \u00a0He enlists Fan\u00e7ois Blanc in the project, a businessman from Provence who made his fortune by running a casino in Bad-Homburg. In 1863, Blanc founds the Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des Bains de Mer (SBM) to manage the Monte-Carlo Casino. As the Casino de Monte-Carlo brings some of the richest and most illustrious Europeans of the time to Monaco, the SBM expands, building several luxury hotels around Monte-Carlo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Place-casino-monte-carlo\"
Monte-Carlo SBM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The SBM made Monaco what it is today.  For a very long time, the SBM\u2019s revenues, and particularly the casino revenue, were Monaco\u2019s biggest guaranteed cash flow. With time, the SBM would also take care of the provision of public services, including the establishment of the Nice-Menton train line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the SBM manages Monaco leading institutions, including the Monte-Carlo Casino, the Hotel de Paris and the Hotel Hermitage. It is Monaco\u2019s biggest employer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Did you know?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Monaco\u2019s flag consists of two stripes of equal width, red above, white below. While the design dates back to 1881, the colours have not changed since the 15th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monaco also has a second flag, known as the State Flag, which can be seen on the Prince\u2019s Palace and the Prince\u2019s yacht, as well as on all governmental buildings. The State Flag is white, with Monaco\u2019s coat of arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Politics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Principality of Monaco is a constitutional and hereditary monarchy. It is currently headed by the reigning sovereign, Prince Albert II of Monaco. Prince Albert II of Monaco has ruled the principality since 2005, following the death of his father Prince Rainier III in 2005. Prince Albert holds executive power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of Monaco\u2019s institutions have to abide by the rule of law and the principality guarantees the separation of powers. Its political and institutional system is dictated by the 1962 constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prince Albert II is assisted by the Minister of State, whom he is in charge of choosing. The current Minister of State is Pierre Dartout. Until 1 December 2005, the Minister of State had to be a French citizen, chosen from among several senior civil servants proposed by the French government. A treaty of friendship and cooperation signed between Monaco and France repealed the obligation. However, until today, no Monegasque has yet been appointed Minister of State by the Prince.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pierre
Pierre Dartout \/ Monaco Info<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Minister of State presides a government council. The council is made up of five ministers from the following ministries : <\/p>\n\n\n\n