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Country Guide > Europe > Monaco | |
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Introduction Monaco forms an enclave into the French Département of the Alpes Maritimes. The narrow ribbon of coastline is backed by the mountains, which form a protective barrier. This area creates a natural amphitheatre. From the heights of the Tête de Chien or Mont Agel, or from lower down from the Moyenne-Corniche at the level of the entrance to the Jardin Exotique, there are a number of panoramic viewpoints looking out over exceptional scenery. The ancestral Rocher and the promontory of Spélugues border the harbour where pleasure boats are moored. The Rock of Monaco has a medieval air. It is a city of bright, clean streets which converge on the Prince’s Palace Square, where there are museums, boutiques and restaurants. Monaco is well located for exploring Provence and the French Riviera. For a description of the area of France surrounding Monaco, see Côte d’Azur in the France section. Perched on the famous Rock, the Old Town (Monaco-Ville) juts into the sea on Monaco’s western flank and offers excellent views of the harbour and its usual armada of luxury yachts below. The city’s architectural history, reflected in its medieval houses, palaces and vaulted passageways, is best experienced on foot – either alone or through one of the many organised tours available (which tend to make the city quite crowded during the summer months). The main tourist attraction is the Prince’s Palace and State Apartments (open daily 0930-1830 (June to September), 1000-1700 (October)). Built around 1215, the palace’s focal points are the Throne Room and the Main Courtyard with its horse-shaped marble staircase, adorned with millions of geometric patterns. The Changing of the Palace Guard (admission free) takes place daily, just before noon (1155). For a visit of the palace and apartments, an admission fee is charged. Also worth visiting are the serene and sea-facing Saint-Martin Gardens, which inspired the poet Guillaume Apollinaire between 1887 and 1889. There are a number of museums of varying degrees of interest located in the Old Town, including the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, whose grandiose façade rises spectacularly out of the sea and houses a world-renowned collection of marine fauna and interactive exhibits. Other museums and attractions include the Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs and Collection of the Palace’s Historic Archives, which exhibits thousands of objects relating to the First Empire (Napoleon I) and provides a colourful history of Monaco; the Wax Museum of the Princes of Monaco, Monaco’s answer to London’s Madame Tussaud’s; the Monte Carlo Story, a multivision show about Monaco’s history; and the Azur Express Tourist Train, which carries up to 54 visitors and offers commentaries in French, Italian, German and English. For all tourist attractions and museums (except the Japanese Gardens), an admission fee is charged. Opening hours and prices are seasonal; ask for the relevant brochures from the Direction du Tourisme (see Contact Addresses section). Monaco is perhaps best known for its glittering array of casinos and gaming rooms, the most famous of which is the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo. The casino is located in Monaco’s most famous quartier known as the Golden Square, where all the most luxurious and fashionable hotels, restaurants and boutiques can also be found (including the famous Hôtel de Paris). The casino was originally built in 1863 and demolished in 1878, but was then replaced six months later by a new structure according to the plans of Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris Opera House. The style is distinctively grand and luxurious and the casino is linked to the Salle Garnier Opera House (closed for refurbishment until 2007) by an impressive atrium lined with 28 Ionic columns made of onyx. Public slot machines open daily from 1400, private gambling rooms from 1500. An admission fee is charged. The minimum age for entering any of Monte Carlo’s casinos is 21. Other attractions in Monte Carlo and Monaco include the Japanese Gardens, right next to the sea; the National Museum of Dolls and Clockwork Exhibits of Yesteryear; the Exotic Garden; Observatory Caves and Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology (located in Moneghetti); and the Condamine Market, a covered market next to one of Monaco’s best shopping districts (the pedestrianised Rue Princesse Caroline and the Rue Grimaldi). The creation of this new district was made possible by re-routing railway tracks underground. The development has a beach, restaurants, snack bar and shops. This part of Monaco also has extensive sporting facilities at the prestigious Monte Carlo Beach Hotel where there are restaurants and an olympic-sized swimming pool. The main attractions in this area include the Princess Grace Rose Garden, a large park containing more than 150 varieties of rose. The Museum of Stamps and Coins features rare philatelic items from the postal history of the Principality. The permanent exhibition of Prince Rainier III’s Private Collection of Classic Cars, with over 100 classic cars, is nearby. The Naval Museum and the Zoological Terraces are also located in Fontvieille. |