Monte Carlo in Monaco is the place for those who like fast cars, flashy boats and exclusive casinos. The Principality of Monaco is also an interesting country from several other aspects. We've picked out ten interesting facts about Monaco that you might not know.
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Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an area located in the centre of the Principality of Monaco. Monaco, in turn, is a microstate with a Mediterranean coastline that is otherwise completely surrounded by France. Around 38,000 people live in the whole of Monaco, and around 15,000 of them live in Monte Carlo, which is divided into four districts:
- Monte Carlo/Spélugues
- La Rousse/ Saint Roman
- Larvotto/Bas Moulins
- Saint Michael
Principality of Monaco
Monaco is governed by Albert II of the Grimaldi family, who has ruled Monaco since 1297. The country has a close relationship with France and uses the euro, but is not a member of the EU.
Economically and socially, the country is very prosperous. Many of its inhabitants, who are largely migrants from other countries, are very wealthy. The country also has a high life expectancy and a low infant mortality rate.
Monte Carlo - for luxury lovers
Monte Carlo is the place to be if you like glitz and glamour. It's full of exclusive hotels and plenty of high-standard restaurants. The most well-known hotel is the five-star Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, which was built in 1864 and has served as a location for a variety of films.
If you like looking at luxury yachts and exclusive cars - you've come to the right place. The heart of Monaco also hosts many different events. For example, you can come here to see an art festival, ballet, opera, symphony orchestras, a display of luxury yachts or Formula 1 in the form of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Monte Carlo - for those who like gambling
The casino in Monte Carlo, Casinos in Monte Carlois one of the most famous casinos in the world. Tourists flock here to try their luck, or perhaps just to experience the iconic setting. The ornate building was designed by architect Charles Garnier and opened in 1878. Outside the casino, you can stroll through the beautiful casino garden, with its manicured flower beds, palm trees, ponds and fountains spraying water.
Do you like to gamble, but find it difficult to organise a trip to Monaco? Then you might want to check out different online casinos. Read more can be read at Casinokollen.
Ten interesting facts about Monaco
We conclude with some interesting facts about Monaco. Feel free to leave a comment if you want to contribute some more exciting information about this small and special country!
- Monaco is the second smallest country in the world. Only Vatican City is smaller.
- Monaco is the most densely populated country in the world. There are just over 15 000 inhabitants per square kilometre.
- The country has the oldest population in the world, based on median age.
- There is no airport in Monaco. You can fly to France and then take a bus or train (or helicopter).
- Citizens of Monaco do not have access to casinos. Casinos are only for tourists in the country.
- Citizens of Monaco do not pay taxes. In order to move there, you have to own a large amount of money.
- Casinos account for only 5 per cent of the country's revenue. When the casino business started, it was to boost the economy.
- Oscar-winning Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco and became a princess. She died in a car accident at the age of 52.
- Several films have been shot in Monaco, including Grace of Monaco, GoldenEye and Never Say Never Again.
- The 1921 Women's Olympics were held in Monte Carlo. This was the first international athletics competition for women.
Have you been to Monte Carlo?
We have passed Monaco several times while driving through France with our motorhome, but never stopped because we were a bit unsure where to park the motorhome. Have you been to Monaco? Please tell us!
All images in the post are borrowed from Pixabay.
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Solan says:
No thought of driving to Monaco now, but there is actually a car park with space for at least three motorhomes.
In the newer part of the city where there are no luxury cars! ?
24 March 2020 - 7:50
Helena says:
No not right now, but hopefully there is a future when you can travel more! What a great tip with the car parks! Thank you 🙂
24 March 2020 - 16:58
bmlarstravellingblog says:
We went on a day trip to Monte Carlo when we stayed in San Remo. There was no casino visit, but it was a bit cool to stroll around among all the luxurious cars and down in the "marina".
When we were there it was the day of Grace's death and there were lots of beautiful flowers on the grave.
24 March 2020 - 8:36
Helena says:
A day trip can be a good way to look around! 🙂
24 March 2020 - 16:58
Ama de casa says:
Have been to Monaco and Monte Carlo a few times, the first time on the train trip in 1979. Don't think we could have stayed there for very long, not really the right price point for a teenage train traveller 😀.
24 March 2020 - 10:19
Helena says:
Haha, maybe not classic train traveller budget mode, but looking around for a while certainly works 😉.
24 March 2020 - 16:59
Emma, sun like sun? says:
I actually don't know if I've been there, I'll have to check with my parents. We travelled around a lot in the summers and camped and it is not unlikely that we at least went through.
I wonder how many of the more than 38,000 people registered in Monaco actually live there as well, spending more than half the year there.
24 March 2020 - 12:14
Helena says:
Maybe it's true that a large number of people just live there sometimes?
24 March 2020 - 17:00
Lena - good for the soul says:
Hehe, well it's probably hard to fit an airport with so many people in such a small area! 😉
Nope, never been there but would love to see it. Fascinated by the place somehow.
Hug Lena
24 March 2020 - 12:35
Helena says:
No, it's not big ... I also find it fascinating, and would love to visit, although I don't necessarily need to stay very long.
24 March 2020 - 17:00
Husis blog says:
My male owner visited Monte Carlo when he was driving a bus. It was an experience to park the bus in the square, see how clean everything was, how well dressed everyone was and also see the red Ferrari go up in the lift to be parked at the owner of the Ferrari's gate in the house. Really nice glass lift.
Then to wander among the boats and cars and just dream. At the big casinos, my owner only got into the first parts, because he didn't have much money (he doesn't have it now either) so he was let into the really nice parts.
He also got to see the part of the casino where it was rumoured that from that balcony some people had thrown themselves onto the rocks below to take their lives after a failed night of gambling. Now these were just rumours, so to this day he doesn't know if they are true.
All in all, it was a nice bus trip to see and experience Monte Carlo for a day.
24 March 2020 - 13:54
Helena says:
I can imagine that it was an experience! Must be a special place to experience! Hope the rumours were not true ...
24 March 2020 - 20:44
Monica says:
I have been to Monaco several times. The first time I was in charge of a major international medical symposium held in the biggest and most luxurious hotel right next to the casino. This was in the happy 80's when there was money so both me and my colleagues were flown by helicopter from Nice and landed on the hotel roof just like doctors and professors of heart valve surgery from all over the world. There were lavish dinners, conferences and casino visits in the evenings where each participant was given a small leather wallet with a company logo with quite a considerable amount of tokens that we happily played until late at night. The casino itself was a completely unreal experience, especially in the company of Las Vegas-savvy Americans!
During the breaks (make no mistake, this type of conference is extremely labour intensive) we had arranged excursions in the small country, including a visit to the beautiful church where Princess Grace is buried and delicious lunches at local restaurants. Boat trip on an incredible yacht, the size of a small Finnish ferry with a champagne dinner on deck and a seafood buffet whose husband I have never seen since. Remember that our company logo was carved into metre-high ice where lobsters and oysters coexisted.
In recent years, while living in Provence, we have travelled through Monaco, usually on our way to Italy, but like everyone else we have found that parking facilities for both cars and motorhomes are limited. However, it is incredibly beautiful there, both along the seashore and a bit up in the mountains. The husband has always watched the Monte Carlo rally since his youth, so it feels a bit funny to drive on that particular stretch of road in a normal car.
For those of you who haven't already been stunned by this "snobbish" story, I can tell you that my French son-in-law, who lives with his family, my daughter and two small grandchildren in Nice, now commutes between his home there and his job as head of the Financial Supervisory Authority in Monaco. It's really not that big a deal - the car journey takes less than half an hour and they live a fairly ordinary family life with young children in the now completely closed Nice. With remote work for both of them plus home schooling for the children and extremely strict quarantine regulations. So things can change!
24 March 2020 - 14:09
Helena says:
What an experience! Thank you for sharing and telling us. Fascinating to hear about! And yes, life can change. Now it has changed for many of us in the world.
24 March 2020 - 20:46
Biggeros says:
Yes, but I have been to Monte Carlo with my mother. We lived in Nice and took the bus there one day. At that particular time they were preparing for Formula 1 and the road was blocked off. But we saw cool cars and luxurious yachts. Definitely worth seeing!
24 March 2020 - 17:25
Helena says:
I can imagine that it is worth seeing! We'll just have to get there sometime, when the world opens up.
24 March 2020 - 20:47
Matts Torebring says:
I've been there and experienced the luxury of seeing seven 'red cars' lined up.
24 March 2020 - 18:32
Helena says:
Glad you were there! Can imagine that it is an experience!
24 March 2020 - 20:47
BP says:
Have also been to Monte Carlo in the 1980s just for a day. But have not bet a penny on gambling;-) Then it was not as lavish as now, but still a little too fancy for my taste. But it is beautiful there without a doubt.
24 March 2020 - 19:47
Helena says:
It might be too fancy for us too, but would still be fun to experience during an excursion or so! 🙂
24 March 2020 - 20:48
gold mixers says:
my best trip!!!
25 March 2020 - 10:41
Maria / MagnoliaMagis says:
Yes, I have been here a few times! But never inside the Casino unfortunately. It would be fun to just look in! Beautiful to walk around!
25 March 2020 - 19:30