Sailing: 120 competitors expected at 45th Régates Royales in Cannes

Régates Royales Cannes

120 competitors are expected to take part in the 45th edition of the Régates Royales, which is set to get underway in Cannes at the weekend. 

The event, organised by the Cannes Yacht Club (CYC), is the biggest meeting of classic sailing boats in the world.

Vessels of up to 55 metres long and capable of navigating in winds above 20 knots, as well as former champions of the America’s Cup, will be in competition in the Bay of Cannes. The famous 12 MIJ from the America’s Cup (1958 to 1987) will compete, whilst mythical vessels such as French Kiss, Kiwi Magic and South Australia will also all be present.

“I must admit that I can’t wait for the first departures and for the show to start in the bay of Cannes,” says CYC president Jean-François Cutugno.

A sailing biopic to be premiered at the event

Fittingly, given that Cannes is a city synonymous with cinema, the film ‘Flo’, a biopic on the navigator Florence Arthaud, will be premiered at the Palais des Festivals. Its director, Géraldine Danon, will make an appearance at the screening on Wednesday 27th September.

Rugby fans needn’t chosen between a great day out enjoying the sailing and the World Cup matches as a dedicated fan zone will be set up at the event, where each meet will be screened.

The Régates Royales will be taking place between Sunday 24th and Saturday 30th September. Click here for the full programme of events.

 

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Photo credit: Sergio Gibellini

Monaco v Nice: Local pride and top spot on the line in Côte d’Azur Derby

AS Monaco's Adi Hütter in a pre-match press conference

Geographically speaking, this is the closest derby in Ligue 1, and rather fittingly, little separates AS Monaco and OGC Nice going into Friday’s Côte d’Azur Derby. 

Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana succinctly previewed Friday night’s fixture at the Stade Louis II, saysing, “It’s the best defence in the league against the best attack in the league. Naturally, it will be a big battle.”

The Principality club, currently atop the Ligue 1 standings, have already scored 15 this season, averaging three goals a game.

Incidentally, it was Nice who prevailed 3-0 at the Stade Louis II last season, but repeating such a feat, given Monaco’s revival and offensive fluidity, will be a difficult task.

“This is our biggest opponent since the start of the league season,” admitted Adi Hütter in Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.

Youssouf Fofana in AS Monaco training by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

The result last season also provides extra motivation for Hütter’s men.

“[That result] was hard and we are looking for revenge. But even if we had won, it’s still a derby,” said Fofana.

Nice won’t be short of motivation themselves. Francesco Farioli’s side have hit their stride in recent weeks, and as well as boasting the best defence in the league, having conceded just four goals, they also beat defending champions Paris Saint-Germain last weekend. A victory over Monaco on Friday would see Nice overtake Les Monégasques and take top spot in Ligue 1.

Monaco “dreaming” of the title?

“It’s a match for which we don’t need any extra motivation, but it being a derby means a lot for everyone. It’s true that playing for first place is a particular motivation, but we need to remain focused on what we do on a daily basis,” said Farioli ahead of the match.

However, Monaco will be highly motivated to retain their position at the top, and given the inconsistent performances of their rivals, could they begin to dream about the title?

“We are allowed to dream aren’t we?” joked Fofana to Monaco Life. “But beating Nice and staying first, that would still be good.”

A fierce and significant battle awaits with local pride and the top spot both on the line.

Monaco predicted XI v Nice

Köhn; Magassa, Maripán, Singo; Henrique, Camara, Fofana, Vanderson; Golovin, Balogun, Minamino

 

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Next phase of Ilot Pasteur building project to impact traffic until December

As the major Ilot Pasteur residency project continues to take shape, lane closures are being applied for the next few months as well as night works from November.

Effective from 18th September until 22nd December 2023, the uphill direction of avenue de Fontvieille will be closed to traffic between 9am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these times, traffic will be restored in both directions.

In addition, non-noisy work requiring the closure of the avenue in both directions of traffic will also be carried out on the nights of 13th November to 22nd December 2023, from 8pm to 6am.

During the work period, access to avenue de Fontvieille for residents will be maintained at all times.

The Ilot Pasteur project will eventually comprise a set of buildings with a surface area of more than 100,000 m². It is one of the largest public projects in the Principality and will accommodate numerous important facilities for locals, including the new Collège Charles III, a new Espace Léo Ferré, a media library and a public car park with 900 spaces.

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Photo credit: Communications Department – Manuel Vitali

 

 

Explore Monaco’s “living heritage” at this weekend’s European Heritage event

From museums to national monuments, more than 50 important sites around the Principality will throw open their doors this weekend to mark the European Heritage Days event.  

Since 1996, the Principality has taken part in European Heritage Days, an event that honours the history, heritage and traditions of establishments and institutions across the continent.  

In Monaco, the Heritage Institute, under the aegis of the Department of Cultural Affairs, organises local events and has this year curated a packed programme under the theme of “living heritage” that features everything from sport to gastronomy and performing arts to science. 

MORE THAN 50 SITES IN MONACO 

In all, 53 sites and attractions around the Principality are listed on the programme. Many are not habitually open to the public, but all will be free to access on 24th September, making for a real cultural treat.  

Monaco-Ville, known more colloquially as The Rock, has several hot spots to hit, including the Grand Apartments of the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum, the Mairie, the Conseil National building, the Minister of State’s residence and the Princess Grace Irish Library. 

Step inside the Grand Apartments of the Prince’s Palace on 24th September. Photo by Monaco Life

The district also will feature entertainment by the U Cantin d’a Roca singers and the Palladienne dance troupe, as well as an entirely student-curated exhibition by the École Supérieure d’Arts Plastiques’ Pavillon Bosio called “Les Réformés du Droit Réservé”. 

In Fontvieille, check out the Jardin Animalier Rainier III, the Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies and the Stade Louis II, before heading over to the Condamine to visit the Automobile Collection of the Prince, the Academie Rainier III, which is running guided tours of its new premises, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and the Sainte-Dévote Chapel.  

Also on your list should be the central district of Monte-Carlo, where the public is invited to spend time wandering through the Casino, the Opera Garnier, the Académie Princesse Grace and even the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco premises.  

Elsewhere in the Principality, visitors can explore the Eglise des Carmes in La Rousse, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco’s (NMNM) Villa Sauber site in Larvotto, and the Jardin Exotique’s Centre Botanique, Musée d’Anthropologie Préhistorique and NMNM’s Villa Paloma.  

Both of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco sites, the Villa Sauber pictured here and the Villa Paloma, will be free to visit. Photo credit: NMNM

There are some outdoors activities too, such as the workshops at the Parc Princesse Antoinette’s A Fabrica with the Terres Méditerranéennes association. 

There are scores more places to visit too, all of which can be found here. Plan well and don’t miss a single one! 

 

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Featured photo credit: Jean Pierre Debernardi

SBM recruitment drive this October

Monaco’s largest employer, SBM, is holding a recruitment day on Tuesday 3rd October with jobs on offer at the resort’s luxury establishments including the flagship Café de Paris and Amazonica restaurant.

The recruitment day will be held from 9.30am to 6.30pm at the One Monte-Carlo Conference Centre, in the salles des arts and salle Cocteau.

Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer will be offering positions in the following sectors: cooking and pastry, rooms and bar, reception, nightlife, plumbing, painting, electrician, housekeeping, and wellbeing including swimming instructer and spa practitioner.

The number of positions available is yet to be defined, however a significant number of jobs will be available given the size of the resort and the openings of the expanded Café de Paris this November, and the new Amazonica restaurant next April.

All establishments will be represented by their respective managers.

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Photo by Monaco Life

 

House prices on the rise in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, but falling elsewhere in France

National property prices in France fell by almost 1% during the second quarter of 2023, building on a downward trajectory observed since the start of the year. Almost every region noted similar figures, except the south of France, which bucked the trend.  

The Institut National de la Statisiques et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), the entity that analyses and disseminates information on the French economy and affiliated statistics, has reported that existing property prices dropped by 0.8% in Q2 of 2023. This comes on the back of a national 0.3% contraction during the first quarter of the year. 

Flats and apartments were hit hardest, falling by a full 1%, while house prices fell 0.6%.  

It is the third quarter in a row that prices have fallen in the Île-de-France region and the capital of France, but a first for “provincial” France, which saw prices decrease for the first time since Q3 2016. Over a year, prices outside the Île-de-France remain up, but growth has decelerated. 

LOCALLY 

In the seemingly bullet-proof south of France, though, the story is a bit different. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region saw a price rise of 0.7% during Q2 2023, roughly on par with the rises observed during the previous two quarters.  

Prices for flats in PACA were up 1.4% in the last quarter, while prices for single family dwellings experienced a less vigorous rise, staying nearly stable at 0.1%.  

The 12-month picture shows a rise of 4.5% over 2022 figures from the same period; a far cry from the negative growth in places such as the capital, which noted a 3.1% decline. PACA is, in fact, at the top of the pile for national and annual property price rises.  

DECREASED TRANSACTIONS 

The nationwide volume of transactions has continued a modest downward turn, falling to 1,002,000 at the end of June 2023, from 1,071,000 in March 2023. No specific figures for the PACA region are currently available. 

Please click here for the full report.

 

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Photo source: Unsplash