Monaco — map and facts

About Monaco

Monaco is a city-state on the French Riviera, covering just 2.02 square kilometres — making it the second smallest country in the world after Vatican City — with a population of approximately 39,000. It is the most densely populated sovereign state on earth. Monaco is a constitutional monarchy, ruled by Prince Albert II of the House of Grimaldi, which has governed the principality since 1297. It is not an EU member but uses the euro and operates within the French customs area. Monaco has no income tax, making it a famous destination for wealthy residents. Tourism, financial services, and a well-developed events calendar — including the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monte-Carlo Rally — are the pillars of the economy. The official language is French, though Monégasque, Italian, and English are also spoken.

Geography and Landscape

Monaco's famously tiny territory clings to the Mediterranean coast, squeezed between the maritime Alps and the sea, surrounded on three sides by France and on the south by the Mediterranean. The country is almost entirely urban, with the rocky Monaco promontory forming the historical town of Monaco-Ville (Le Rocher) and the harbour of La Condamine at its base. Port Hercules is one of the finest yacht harbours in the Mediterranean. Monte Carlo, in the eastern part, contains the famous casino, luxury hotels, and the principal business district. Monaco has reclaimed land from the sea to expand its territory; Fontvieille, an industrial and residential district, is built on reclaimed land. The climate is Mediterranean, with warm, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters.

History

Monaco's history begins with Phoenician, Greek, and Roman presence on the strategic rocky promontory. The Grimaldi family took control of the rock in 1297 when François Grimaldi disguised himself as a monk to gain entry. Monaco subsequently passed under the protection of various powers — Genoa, Spain, France — while the Grimaldis maintained their rule through diplomacy and dynastic marriages. The 1861 Treaty of Franco-Monégasque Relations confirmed Monaco's independence and ceded Menton and Roquebrune to France. Monaco was briefly occupied by Italy during the Second World War and then by Germany. The 1962 constitution transformed Monaco into a constitutional monarchy. Prince Rainier III's marriage to American actress Grace Kelly in 1956 brought global fame to the principality.