Principality of Monaco
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
The Principality of Monaco has no airport. The nearest and most used airport is Nice Côte d'Azur (NCE), about 32 km away, with a Monaco-Nice helicopter service operated by Héli Air Monaco in 7 minutes; taxis take about 45 minutes. Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) is about 175 km away, accessible via motorway and . From the Italian side, the Principality can be reached by car via the coastal road from Liguria (Ventimiglia-Monaco) or via the Italian motorway to Ventimiglia and then the French unable to parse. The Franco-Monegasque border is open and free of controls in the Schengen area. The railway network is served by the Monaco-Monte-Carlo station on the Ventimiglia-Nice-Marseille line (TER PACA), with frequent regional trains to Ventimiglia (20 minutes) and Nice (25 minutes); TGV trains from Nice reach Paris in about 5 hours and 30 minutes. Internal mobility is provided by public buses (the CAM/Bus Monaco network), taxis and free public lifts that connect the different levels of the territory. Monaco is entirely urbanised and has no remote natural areas; the maximum distance between two points in the principality is less than 4 km.
Introduction
The Principality of Monaco is the second smallest state in the world in terms of surface area (2.08 km²), after the Vatican City, and the country with the world's highest population density among sovereign states with an urban character (over 18,000 inhabitants per km²). It is a hereditary constitutional monarchy ruled by the Grimaldi family - the oldest dynasty in Europe still reigning - since 1297, with an interruption only during the Napoleonic period (1793-1814). The current prince is Albert II, who ascended the throne in 2005 on the death of his father Rainier III. Monaco is completely surrounded by France - except for the Mediterranean coastline - and borders the territories of Beausoleil (Alpes-Maritimes) and Cap d'Ail. The surface area of the Principality expanded in 2024 with the new Mareterra district, built on land gained by the sea. The population as at 31 December 2024 was 38,423 residents, of whom 24% were Monegasque, 22% French, 20% Italian, 7.6% British and the remainder from 135 other countries. The main languages are French (official), Monegasque (local dialect with Ligurian roots) and Italian. Monaco adopts the euro although it is not a member of the European Union, and is part of the Schengen Area.
.Description
The Monegasque territory is entirely urbanised, divided into four historic districts: Monaco-Ville (the Rock, with the Prince's Palace), Monte-Carlo (the most famous district with the casino), La Condamine (the historic Hercule port) and Fontvieille (the industrial and sports area on the west coast). Mareterra, opened in December 2024, adds about 6 hectares of residential and commercial district on reclaimed land. The principality is developed on a rocky promontory that descends steeply to the sea; the difference in altitude between the highest point (163 m, near the French border) and sea level is only 163 m, but the topography is very rugged and vertical, with numerous public lifts and tunnels connecting the different levels. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters (average January 9°C) and warm summers (average August 26°C), shielded from the cold north winds by the Maritime Alps behind.
The history of the Principality of Monaco began in 1297 when Franceschino Grimaldi, disguised as a Franciscan monk, first took possession of the Rock - an episode that explains the monk in arms in the coat of arms. The Grimaldi family gradually consolidated control over the territory, passing under various protectorates - French, Spanish (1524-1641), French again (1641). Honoured II was the first to take the title of Prince in 1612. The French Revolution led to the annexation to France (1793-1814, under the name of Fort-Hercule); the Congress of Vienna (1815) returned the principality to the Grimaldis with the Sardinian protectorate. In 1861, the Treaty of Turin sanctioned full sovereignty; the same year Monaco ceded Menton and Roquebrune to France (which had always claimed them), reducing them to their current size. Prince Charles III - having lost most of his territory - thought of developing the economy through luxury tourism and gambling: in 1863 the Société des Bains de mer (SBM) and the Casino de Monte-Carlo were founded, which would turn Monaco into one of the world's luxury and gambling destinations.
The Principality's economy is among the richest in the world in terms of per capita income (over $180,000). The absence of personal income tax attracts wealthy residents from all over the world; state revenues come mainly from value added tax, customs stamp duties, tourism and SBM activities (Monte-Carlo Casino, Hotel de Paris, Hotel Hermitage). The main sectors are luxury and tourism (over 330,000 visitors per year for 38,000 residents), financial services, real estate (with prices among the highest in the world, around 50,000-100,000 euro/m²), the high-tech industry (chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics) and the media (RTL Monaco). The Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix - on the world calendar since 1950 - is the most famous event and an international symbol of the principality. The Monaco Oceanographic Museum, founded by Prince Albert I in 1910, is one of the most important oceanographic research institutes in the world. Monegasque cuisine reflects Ligurian and Provençal influences: stocafi (stewed stockfish), barbagiuan (vegetable and cheese fritters), socca (chickpea flour pancake) and Mediterranean fish dishes.
There are no protected natural areas in the Principality's entirely urbanised territory. Outdoor life mainly takes place in nearby French territory: the French Alpes-Maritimes, accessible in less than an hour, offer hiking and mountaineering; the Mercantour National Park is about 60 km away.
Hiking in the traditional sense is not feasible in Monaco due to its size. The Rocher de Monaco (the Rock) offers a panoramic walk with views of the harbour and the Mediterranean. The Tête de Chien (555 m), a calculated relief immediately above the French border, can be reached on foot from Monaco in about 2 hours and offers one of the most spectacular views of the Côte d'Azur.
Mountaineering in the traditional sense is not practicable on Monegasque territory. The Alpes-Maritimes in neighbouring France, with peaks above 3,000 m (Cime du Gélas, 3,143 m), are the mountaineering environment of choice for residents of the principality.
Trail running in Monaco is mainly expressed in the Monaco Run, a road race through the four districts of the principality. The Monaco Climbing Trophy is a major international sporting event in the field of climbing. For trail running in the narrower sense, runners take to the trails of the French Maritime Alps.
Information
General Data
Capital: Monaco
Area: 2.08 km²
Minimum elevation: 0m (Mediterranean coast)
Maximum elevation: 163m (Lazaret Hill, French border)
Number of inhabitants: 38,423 (as of 31.12.2024)
Official name: Principauté de Monaco
Name of inhabitants: Monegasques
Districts: 4 (+ Mareterra from 2024)
Border countries: France
Institutional site: https://www.gouv.mc