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Monte Carlo

Travoley
Monte Carlo
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Monte Carlo Travel Guide

  • About Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo sits on a salubrious sliver of land along France’s beautiful Mediterranean coastline and has become a haven for the rich and famous thanks to its tax laws and enviable location. It may be part of the pint-sized Principality of Monaco but metre for metre, Monte Carlo has more star power than anywhere else in the world with the likes of Roger Moore, Bono and Lewis Hamilton all residing here. While the strikingly pretty architecture undoubtedly plays a part, what Monte Carlo is really about is money. And for those who have cash to splash, there’s plenty of choice – whether it’s browsing upmarket boutiques, chancing luck in the glitzy casino or partying on the fabulously glamorous yachts crammed into Monte Carlo’s natural harbour. Away from the waterfront, there’s plenty to see, not least in Monte Carlo proper, not least in the winding old alleys and ancient churches that are to be found away from the glitzy gambling clubs. Further along the coast is the Rock of Monaco, home to capital Monaco-Ville, whose borders mingle with those of Monte Carlo. Here, jet set yachts and designer stores give way to romantic old streets, all overseen by the towering Prince’s Palace of Monaco. The palace is home to the Grimaldi rulers of Monaco, latterly Prince Albert II, his wife Charlene and their twin children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabrielle. Compelling though the exploits of the Monegasque royals are it’s the exploits of the Formula 1 drivers who descend each year for the Monaco Grand Prix that really put the principality on the map. Walking around the narrow streets it seems implausible that such a race could be staged here, but organisers annually defy the limitations of this compact city to host one of racing’s most prestigious events. And that sums up Monte Carlo: impractical and unconventional, but hugely entertaining.
  • Monte Carlo History
It might not look like it, but Monte Carlo is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with evidence of occupation dating back to the Stone Age. The first real settlement came during the Iron Age, with the Ligurian Monoikos setting up home and giving Monaco its name. In 122BC, the Romans arrived, defeating local tribes and incorporating the territory into the Maritime Alps. Julius Caesar is even said to have sailed from Monaco to fight in Greece. In 1162, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa granted dominion of Monaco to the Republic of Genoa, sparking street battles between the warring Genoese parties of Ghibelline (who were loyal to the emperor) and Guelph (who sided with the pope). In 1215, the Ghibellines built a fortress on the Rock of Monaco to assert their authority on the region. However, in 1297 Guelph Francesco Grimaldi disguised himself as a monk, entered the castle and captured it, founding the ruling dynasty that continues to hold power to this day. The Grimaldis also acquired nearby Menton and Roquebrune, using them to begin a campaign of pirate-style raids on English towns, helped by the French. But their plundered riches attracted invaders, with the Grimaldis forced to see off attacks from Genoa and Spain, most notably in 1612 when Honore II Lord of Monaco had to enlist the services of French troops to expel marauding Spaniards from the principality. Since then Monaco has been under the protection of France, with the exception of the French Revolution when it was actually annexed by its neighbour. The royal family were arrested, their wealth disappeared and the Prince’s Palace was turned into a prison. Monaco was wiped off the map until the Treaty of Paris in 1814 re-established the principality and returned it to the Grimaldi family. In 1918, the Treaty of Versailles strengthened relations with France, who agreed to defend the principality’s independence, sovereignty and territory. In return, Monaco agreed to exercise its rights in mind of French interests. A new constitution was signed in 1962 and forms the basis of Monaco’s monarchy today.
  • Did you know?
James Bond makes the first of many visits to the glamorous Casino de Monte-Carlo the film Never Say Never Again (1983). The Romans built the surviving Trophy of Augustus in 6 BC to celebrate their victory over the tribes of the Alps. The actress Grace Kelly became Princess of Monaco in 1956 when she married Prince Rainier III.
  • Weather in Monte Carlo
The crowds in Monte Carlo can be suffocating during July and August, although they are worth braving for the glorious weather and annual Summer Festival. If you don’t like jostling for space with tourists then time your visit for spring or autumn when the weather is warm but the streets far quieter. May’s Grand Prix weekend is the exception, when the world and his wife descend on the city.

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