Sign up for Forest Day Hike in the hills above Monaco

18/03/2023

To celebrate International Day of the Forests, a special hike is being organised on 18th March departing Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and reaching Mont-Gros, taking in the breathtaking view of Monaco and the Mediterranean.

The Office National des Forêts (ONF), in partnership with the Principality of Monaco and the municipality of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, is organising the free event a few days ahead of the official International Day of the Forests on 21st March.

The hike on Saturday 18th March will be based on the theme: ‘Good health and well-being’, with the aim of raising awareness among the public on the importance of the forest.

Departing from Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, participants will be able to discover the area’s rich natural and cultural heritage, from the seaside town to its village perched at an altitude of 225 metres, before reaching Mont-Gros via a hiking trail to admire a breathtaking view of the Principality and the Mediterranean.

During this one-and-a-half hour walk, ONF agents will introduce participants to the forest and biodiversity protection actions implemented by its teams, the municipality of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and the Principality of Monaco following the devastating fires in 1986. They can be experienced through interpretive trails, connected walks, panoramic viewpoints and even the installation of an insect hotel.

Activities surrounding food and and health in the forest will also be offered to participants.

To register, please click here.

Podcast: This Week in Monaco 17th March

by: Cassandra Tanti

18/03/2023

The Monaco Life journalists behind the headlines this week talk about Prince Albert’s 65th birthday, the controversial Esplanade des Pecheurs project, the rumours flying around Ferrari, shock suspension at AS Monaco basketball and Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters line-up confirmed.

Featuring Editor in Chief: Cassandra Tanti, Editor and Journalist Elsa Carpenter, News and Lifestyle Journalist Stephanie Horsman, and Sports Journalist Luke Entwistle.

To listen to the podcast, simply click play in the box below…

www.monacolife.net · This Week in Monaco 17th March

Photos: Prince Albert II unveils statue of Princess Grace in Ireland

by: Stephanie Horsman

18/03/2023

Prince Albert II was on site in County Mayo as a new statute of his late mother, Princess Grace, was unveiled to a large and excited crowd.

Grace Kelly’s grandfather emigrated to the United States in 1860, but the family’s Irish connections were always held dear. This connection was so apparent that after her death in 1982, Prince Rainier III championed the creation of the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco, whose purpose is to share Ireland’s literary culture and legacy with the wider population.

Now the Princess has been honoured in her ancestral nation with a statue crafted by artist Mark Rode, whose previous work depicting her caught the attention of Prince Albert, who was “significantly involved” in the creation of the final piece.

The statue, which is located near the Seven-Arch Viaduct in Newport, County Mayo, shows the Princess elegantly perched on a bench in a rather glamourous gown.

Prince Albert travelled to Ireland to officially unveil the statue in a visit organised by the Newport Business Association as part of The Two Graces project. It turns out that two legendary women with the same name hail from this part of the world, the other being notorious pirate queen, Grace O’Malley. A statue of O’Malley will be completed in 2024, also by Rode.

Other notable works from the sculptor include the Barack and Michelle Obama statue in Moneygall, County Offaly, the Quiet Man Statue in Cong, County Mayo, and the Titanic Memorial in Addergoole in Lahardane, also in County Mayo.

As for the Prince’s visit, the townspeople were decidedly thrilled. Darragh McGee, one of the organisers, told RTE News, “We’re delighted to have Prince Albert unveil the statue.”

Click on the gallery below to see more images, courtesy of the Palais Princier…