As the record dry spell continues and fears mount of what a drought in France this summer will bring, local authorities in the French Riviera are taking anticipatory measures concerning water usage.
As France approaches 40 days with little appreciable rainfall, meaning less than one millimetre a day, the French government and local authorities are taking matters to hand.
Christophe Béchu, the Minister of Ecological Transition, will meet on Monday with the prefects who coordinate the seven biggest water basins in France so they can begin to plan for the “problems of water scarcity” that most regions will be confronted with this summer. A follow-up with all prefects will be held on 6th March.
His early advice is to take water-saving actions now to anticipate the future shortages. Four departments, including the Var, are already under water restriction conditions and the situation is expected to intensify.
“The situation is more serious than this time last year and we are two months late in recharging groundwater,” said Béchu, adding that France “will have between 10% and 40% less water available” in the years to come.
In Fayence, in the Var, the authorities have pre-empted trouble to an extent by halting all new building permit applications for four years, noting that they already do not have sufficient groundwater supplies to take care of the current population.
Winter is usually when France’s water table is stocked up, so this lack of rainfall, following by what many expect to be a particularly hot and dry summer, is cause for alarm.
Last year, the World Weather Attribution Service said that drought in the Northern Hemisphere was at least 20 times more likely now due to climate change. They went on to warn that such extreme dry periods would become increasingly common with global warming.
AS Monaco and Catawiki, the leading online auction platform, have signed a partnership that will allow supporters to regularly participate in auctions to purchase unique Monaco memorabilia.
The partnership will allow increased fan engagement by facilitating regular online auctions of unique pieces, often worn during Monaco matches and later signed by the players.
PSG-Monaco auction
To mark the beginning of Monaco’s collaboration with Catawiki, a special auction has been launched. All 11 players that started in Les Monégasques’ 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain earlier in February will sign a shirt, which will then be auctioned. Also included in the lot is an exclusive private visit to the club’s performance centre in La Turbie. The money raised will then go towards supporting the Flavien Foundation, a Monegasque organisation committed to fighting against pediatric cancers and supported by the two clubs during their Ligue 1 encounter.
In collaborating with Amsterdam-based Catawiki, Monaco have joined a group of partners that also includes cycling team Jumbo Visma, who auctioned their Tour de France 2022 bicycles last year, as well as record-breaking marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge.
“We are happy to welcome Catawiki to the family of AS Monaco partners. Thanks to this collaboration, we will be able to give all of our supporters the opportunity to treat themselves to unique collector’s items and exclusive products related to the club,” said Monaco’s director of sponsorships, Adrien Zannettacci, in a press release.
The demand for sports memorabilia is growing, making Monaco’s partnership with Catawiki a mutually beneficial one, and one which will give Les Monégasques’ millions of fans worldwide the chance to interact further with their club.
The pine processionary caterpillar has returned to the region, pre-empting spring by several weeks and leading authorities to warn people of the dangers these potentially fatal creatures can have to pets and themselves.
There has been a recent inundation of pine processionary caterpillars in Monaco, as well as across southern France, and their return has made taking a stroll in the woods or parks rather a dangerous enterprise.
The pine processionary caterpillar is hard to miss. They can reach 40mm in length and have a distinctive orange-brown pattern on their bodies that is interspersed with black bands. They are also covered in fine, light-coloured quills that are highly irritating to mammals. Contact with them is uncomfortable at best and fatal at worst.
Their most distinguishing feature is their mode of travel. Once they’ve left their nest, they “walk” in single file and, since last Thursday, there have been numerous sightings of these processions in Monaco, notably near the pine trees in Port Hercule, in the UNESCO gardens, and near Monte-Carlo Beach Club.
“You have to be careful when walking the dog during this period,” Doctor Isabelle Basson-Blanchi from the Fontvieille Veterinary Clinic told Monaco Matin. “Dogs, especially puppies and large dogs, tend to pick up these caterpillars with their mouths. The stinging hairs, which are especially poisonous for the animal, cause oedema of the tongue. If it is not treated in time or in the right way, then the tongue becomes necrotic. Necrosis is irreversible. If it is a small piece of tongue missing, it is not very serious, but if the necrosis takes up all the organ, the animal is unable to feed itself.”
The caterpillars can provoke similar reactions in cats and other mammals. Reactions in humans who come into contact with the caterpillar’s hairs include severe and aggressive rashes and eye irritation.
In Monaco, treatments to kill off these caterpillars were implemented in November and December by the Urban Planning Department using a Bacillus thuringiensis spray. This spray is a pesticide that is considered safe for humans and doesn’t cause harm to ancillary insects like bees and ladybugs. Unfortunately, the parent moths were exceptionally prolific this winter season and the spread of the caterpillars has been substantial.
Cap d’Ail is also seeing an infestation and the local authorities have enacted a series of emergency treatments, which include placing large sand-filled bags around the bases of trees, which trap the caterpillars before they can reach the ground. They have also resorted to cutting down and burning tree branches with large populations of the insects. Spraying near the Tête de Chien is taking place and spaces near schools have also been treated to avoid any unnecessary contact with curious children.
“We were surprised by their sudden profusion this week,” Marc Traphagen, the deputy mayor of Cap d’Ail and the official in charge of green spaces, public parks and leisure facilities, told Monaco Matin. “Usually, they arrive in April. The mild temperatures, abnormally high for the period, may explain the phenomenon.”
Though avoidance is the best way to stop pets from being affected, if they are, go directly to the vet. The signs to look for are excessive drooling and swelling of the tongue. They can be successfully treated, but only with fast action. If help is far away, ice or peppermint drops can be given to limit swelling until help is reached. People should seek advise from a doctor.
Various experts will come together during Monaco Ocean Week for the first ever forum on the Pelagos sanctuary, a Marine Protected Area in the Mediterranean.
The full day of round tables will take place on 21st March. It will give professionals in the area of marine mammal protection the chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges of the sanctuary and to reflect on common projects to contribute to its knowledge and protection.
The Sanctuary is a marine area of 87,500 square kilometres subject to an agreement between Italy, Monaco and France for the protection of marine mammals, which live in it.
Monaco Ocean Week, under the leadership of Prince Albert II of Monaco and his Foundation, provides a unique forum for discussions, meeetings, experimentation and opportunity.
People who are interested in taking part in the forum are encouraged to register before 5th March. Places are limited. Click here for more information: https://bit.ly/41qYRW4
AS Monaco’s miserable week got worse on Sunday, with local rivals OGC Nice beating Philippe Clement’s side (0-3) at the Stade Louis II.
Monaco were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen. Les Monégasques needed to quickly overcome that disappointment to ensure a rebound against Nice, who remain unbeaten since the appointment of Didier Digard at the start of the year.
However, Monaco seemed mentally absent and physically overrun in the early stages against Les Aiglons, who despite having little of the ball, were ruthlessly efficient in possession.
Terem Moffi opened his Nice account and the scoring on a blustery, damp day at the Louis II, profiting from Axel Disasi’s poor reading of the trajectory of a long ball to finish smartly past Alexander Nübel.
Jim Ratcliffe, Prince Albert II and Arthur Leclerc in attendance
Nice then scored the second in almost identical fashion. Khéphren Thuram’s long ball once again found Moffi, who once again had the beating of Nübel one-on-one. Things would get worse for Monaco before the break. The instrumental Thuram was once again at the heart of the action, breaking through the lines before being fed by Moffi on the edge of the box and finishing emphatically on the half-volley.
Photo by Monaco Life
The former Monaco academy product had no qualms in celebrating the goal against his formative club. In the stands, Nice and Ineos owner Jim Ratcliffe, who recently lodged a bid to buy Premier League side Manchester United, savoured the moment. Arthur Leclerc and Prince Albert II looked much less euphoric as Monaco tumbled to a first Ligue 1 defeat of 2023.
Diop v Diop
Clement wrung the changes at half-time. The Belgian manager, clearly unhappy at what his side displayed substituted four players at the break. Off came Chrislain Matsima, Ismail Jakobs, Myron Boadu and Breel Embolo, and on came Edan Diop, Caio Henrique, Aleksandr Golovin and Wissam Ben Yedder came on.
However, the changes were ineffective. Monaco continued to look completely devoid of ideas, and only created their first chance of the match in the 80th minute. Diop faced up against his brother Sofiane, who left Les Monégasques to join Nice in the summer, and had some joy down the right flank, but not enough to change the direction of the match.
Records tumble
Not only did Monaco suffer their first league defeat of 2023, it was also the first Ligue 1 game during which they failed to score in 350 days. The last time Les Monégasques didn’t score was against Strasbourg on 13th March 2022.
Speaking post-match, Clement attributed the defeat to a physical drain on his team. “We’ve had a heavy schedule in recent weeks. We’re missing two right-backs (Ruben Aguilar and Vanderson). We have to play with an academy player at right-back (Diop). It damages the machine that we were in past weeks. We also lacked lucidity in the attacking and defensive phases,” he said.
He added, “It’s not like, in Nice, we were playing against a team worse than us at the moment. They beat Marseille, Lille and Lens.”
Regardless of Monaco’s recent form, the club are still on course for a podium finish, and will be looking to reassert their European credentials when they travel to face Ligue 1 strugglers ESTAC Troyes next Sunday.
New buildings with private residences are cropping up all over the Principality, boasting fantastic architecture, eco-friendly building practices and interesting extra features. Monaco Life takes a closer look at what’s on offer in the realm of new build real estate.
For a country only 2.1km2 in size, Monaco packs a big punch when it comes to housing. A number of high-end building sites are dotting the landscape, with the promise of giving residents old and new some pretty spectacular offerings to both buy and rent.
Here is a listing of the ones that are under construction, with off-plan apartments and villas already on the market.
MARETERRA
Arguably the most talked about of the new developments is the land reclamation project Mareterra (pictured above). This environmentally-minded neighbourhood in the Larvotto quarter features 110 impeccably finished apartments, penthouses and townhouses along with 10 villas, six of which are waterfront. A marina will have space for about 15 boats and will be encircled by cute and chic shops and eateries. The spaces will be move-in ready by 2025.
Special touches include swimming pools, a concierge, private parking and a gym at this Renzo Piano Building Workshop and Valode & Pistre Architects collaboration.
Beautifully landscaped with green spaces galore, the development was created to bring nature to residents’ front door with mature trees, native plants and flowers, insect hives, bird’s nests and plenty of shade to beat the heat on summer days.
The Portier Cove section is a pedestrian only zone and connects the area to the Grimaldi Forum and Larvotto Beach, while 600 metres of cycling lanes will make for ease in getting around.
The development’s eco-cred is off the charts, with 4,500m2 of solar panels, rainwater recovery systems that ensure half the collected water will be recycled, and 80% of the cooling and heating will be supplied by renewable energy. Strict building codes have kept marine flora and fauna safe, and man-made reefs have been built so that any wildlife disrupted by the construction can find a new home.
The final design of Testimonio II, with Bay House in the foreground, by DBOX for Groupe Marzocco
BAY HOUSE
Tied in with the Testimonio II project, the Bay House development has been built on the last large-scale plot in the country. Running from Boulevard d’Italie to Avenue Princesse Grace, the striking complex overlooks Larvotto Beach and is due for delivery in 2024.
Comprised of 54 apartments and five villas ranging from three to six bedrooms, this place was created for luxury living. Floor-to-ceiling windows and south-facing terraces offer stunning sea view vistas and the villas have their own roof terraces and pools to sweeten the pot.
Developed by Groupe Marzocco and VINCI Immobilier alongside Architect Alexandre Giraldi, everything is incredibly well thought out.
High quality finishings are coupled with high-tech automatic environment management systems, allowing owners and tenants to remotely control light, sunshades and air con, and the concierge benefits include housekeeping, dry-cleaning, valet and shuttle services. On-site parking is also included.
The spa is super-luxe and features massage rooms, steam rooms and saunas, a hair and beauty salon as well as state-of-the-art Technogym gym equipment.
L’Exotique in the upper western reaches of the Principality
L’EXOTIQUE
L’Exotique is one that is due to be completed this year. Tucked away in the upper reaches of the Principality near the Jardin Exotique, this quiet oasis has 66 apartments over eight floors all with panoramic sea and Palace views.
Built into the mountainside with plentiful wood and stone features, the apartments enjoy lots of natural light, and were designed by award-winning French architect and engineer Rudy Ricciotti, the principal architect behind the MUCEM in Marseille, together with well-known local architect Fabrice Notari.
The building forms part of the dramatic new western approach to the Principality, inspired by the colossal entryways used by the ancient Greeks, and will also house a 1,800-space parking garage as well as commercial units.
Additionally, there are on-site indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a wellness centre and a gym to unwind in.
The piece-de-resistance, though, is L’Exotique’s penthouse apartment: a two-storey, three-bedroom space offering tranquillity and luxurious comforts. The 420m2 terrace has a 360° view over the sea and terrain, and is elegantly draped in greenery.
Villa Ninetta, another design by local architect Fabrice Notari
VILLA NINETTA
This Fabrice Notari building will feature a stunning curved façade that follows the bend in the road on the quiet Rue Malbousquet in the Jarden Exotique quarter. It will have 42 dwellings, including 33 studios, seven two-room apartments, one three-room apartment and one four-room apartment as well as 207.60 m² of offices and 74 private parking spaces set over nine-floors.
There will be high-end finishings and amenities such as a 24-hour concierge service and fitness room.
The first apartments at Villa Ninetta are set to be completed in 2024.
GRAND IDA
Primarily state housing, the Grand Ida’s Building A does have 55 private apartments designed by Frédéric Genin, which will be up for grabs upon completion, set for this year.
The massive complex near the Jardin Exotique and Boulevard Rainier II will also include commercial premises, a crèche and a vast parking garage of more than 400 spaces for residents’ convenience. A residence for the disabled has also been incorporated into the complex’s design.
The construction has been certified Bronze Label under the environmental certifications of the Mediterranean sustainable buildings of Monaco, due to the vast 2,200m2 green spaces, solar panels on the tops of the roof terraces, and a direct link to the heating and cooling systems based at the waste recovery plant in Fontvieille. Thermal insulation and double paned glass will also feature.
Heritage against the contemporary at Ecrin de Malachite
ECRIN DE MALACHITE
Located both in the Moneghetti district and in the reserved sector of the Vallon Ste-Dévote, the Ecrin de Malachite project will be made up of three stand-alone villas with swimming pools and private gardens, and an apartment building with luxury homes all connected by glass covered walkways and an escalator.
Some features of architect Christian Curau’s designed spaces will include thermally heated swimming pools and automated systems for residents to control heat, lights and the like remotely. The project is set to be move-in ready in 2025.
VILLA LUCIA
Villa Lucia, on Pont Sainte-Dévote, is conveniently located adjacent to the entry to the train station in the heart of Monaco. The project was designed by the architect Alexandre Giraldi and will consist of 14 floors with nine apartments, including one apartment per floor for the first nine, then a quadruplex with a private swimming pool on the top floors of the building.
Tertiary premises will also be set up on the ground floor of the residence. Villa Lucia is set to be delivered in 2026.
Villa Lucia towers above the entrance to the Monte-Carlo train station, making it perfect for frequent travellers and commuters
LES MELEZES
Not a new build per se, but partially so with the addition of two new floors that will house 14 apartments.
The many improvements to the building and integrated into the new apartments include some serious environmental works. They are looking to make it a Mediterranean Sustainable Building of Monaco by reducing energy consumption via thermal expenditure and acoustic protection.
Polluting oil heating will be replaced by a connection to the thalasso-thermic loop to save on heating and cooling costs for tenants, and modified elevators will provide access to new floors and consume less energy.
