Providing proof of identity is a common requirement for various day-to-day operations in France, from opening a bank account to compiling standard documents. But what happens if you don’t have your card or passport on hand? Instead of being turned away, national ID card holders can now generate valid legal proof at the touch of a button using the France Identité app. Here’s how it works.
In the past, people who needed to provide proof of identity at the bank or post office were required to show a legal ID card and sometimes also present photocopies of both sides of the card to whomever requested it.
Now, thanks to the France Identité app, obtaining the necessary proof is at the user’s fingertips.
HOW IT WORKS
The app, which was launched on 14th February, allows users to create an online version of their identity cards, which can then be used to create legally valid proof of identity. While it does not replace physical cards, the French government assures users that the single-use digital version will be accepted by institutions and companies requiring proof of identity.
Creating an account is simple and requires just three things. Users must be 18 or older, have a smartphone compatible with the app and possess the new small-format national ID cards, which have been in circulation since 2021. If you have not yet acquired an ID card, information on the application process can be found here.
If these requirements are met, users simply download the app, which works for both Android devices and iPhone, and save their ID card to the app following the step-by-step instructions or video tutorial offered.
SECURE
Users can generate single-use proofs of identity by selecting the ‘Create a credential’ section. The digital document, which is available in PDF format, is electronically signed by the Interior Ministry and can be saved and shared via email, text message or other methods.
In this episode of our podcast with luxury brand expert Matteo Atti, we talk about the definition of ultra rich, and sort through the facts from fiction.
Click on the play button below to listen to the full podcast…
As Monaco’s Les Printemps des Arts festival continues to unfold, attendees this week can look forward to an eclectic blend of experiences, from masterclasses with musical maestros to dinner concerts and avant-garde performances.
This week’s events kick off on Wednesday 27th March with a piano masterclass led by Maroussia Gentet at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Nice. This event, running from 2pm to 5pm, is an opportunity for aspiring pianists to learn from one of the finest in the field.
That evening, the Hôtel Hermitage’s Salle Belle Époque will host an extravagant dinner concert combining the stellar talents of two Michelin starred Chef Yannick Alléno, of Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, and violinist David Haroutunian. Tickets to the event cost €350 per person and reservations ahead of time are required. Click here for more information.
On Thursday 28th March, the spotlight will shift to the Yacht Club de Monaco, where celebrated pianist Gentet will be performing from 8pm. The programme for the concert includes works by composers such as Wolfgang Rihm and Maurice Ravel, offering a juxtaposition of styles and eras.
The following day, on Friday 29th March, the Théâtre National de Nice will collaborate with TM+ Package to host an event that includes a pre-show meeting with conductor, composer and musical director Laurent Cuniot, moderated by musicologist Tristan Labouret. The concert itself, which will begin at 8pm, will act as the world premiere of Cuniot’s take on ‘Le Chant de la Terre.’
For the full programme of events at Les Printemps des Arts, click here.
Monaco’s gastronomic food festival, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo, will return this year six months earlier than previous editions. But while the start date may have changed, the concept remains the same: SBM’s Michelin-starred culinary maestros will join forces with globally acclaimed chefs to fashion an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime menu for an elite audience.
Since its inception in 2020, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo has become a cherished tradition within the culinary world. Founded by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), a cornerstone of Monaco’s hospitality and entertainment scene, the festival represents a convergence of culinary mastery, creativity and passion.
Each year in autumn, the festival has drawn together a constellation of Michelin-starred chefs, all eager to showcase their talents and tantalise the taste buds of attendees.
New in 2024, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo will be held between April and October, with a “four hands” menu proposed by each of SBM’s starred restaurants: Blue Bay Marcel Ravin at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Le Grill and Le Louis XV Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and the Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, a restaurant by Yannick Alléno at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
The Festival des Étoiles Monte-Carlo offers a platform for participating chefs to present their signature dishes, crafted with the finest ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. From innovative interpretations of classic cuisine to avant-garde culinary experiments, each dish is a testament to the creativity and skill of its creator.
This year, world-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse will open the festival with a history-making partnership with Chef Simon Rogan, of the three Michelin starred restaurant L’Enclume in the Lake District of the United Kingdom.
On 20th April, Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse will welcome Simon Rogan and his team to create a menu that is synonymous with their shared passions: respect for the planet and ingredients that capture the very essence of the local terroir.
Simon Rogan MBE, a globally acclaimed chef and pioneer of the ‘From farm to table’ movement, opened his first L’Enclume restaurant in 2002, championing locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce. Recognised with a green star in 2021 and three Michelin stars in 2022, L’Enclume stands tall among the nine three-starred establishments in England.
The new-look Blue Bay Marcel Ravin. Photo by SBM
A fusion of flavours
On 11th May, Monaco’s two-starred Marcel Ravin is inviting David Toutain into his kitchen, the chef and owner of the two-starred David Toutain restaurant in Paris.
The two chefs share a deep love of nature and a passion for authenticity, as well as a keen interest in sustainable catering, particularly in terms of the quality and provenance of products. They also both have a keen interest in the materials used in their restaurants and in the development of the spaces within them. So, this pairing appears to be a natural step for them both.
Le Grill at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo will be hosting two exceptional evenings on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June. For this fourth edition, Dominique Lory is inviting Yoan Conte, the chef and owner of the two-starred gastronomic restaurant La Table in Annecy. Chef Conte is famous for telling the stories behind his dishes, taking customers on a gastronomic journey to the heart of what inspires him.
Le Grill Chef Dominique Lory during the Festival des Etoilés 2023. Photo by Monaco Life
Come 14th and 15th September, it will be Chef Yannick Alléno’s turn to steer the gastronomic ship his way, with American Chef Richard Lee alongside him at the Pavyllon Monte-Carlo at the Hôtel de Paris.
As Executive Head Chef of two-starred Saison in San Francisco, Lee is known for taking the best local and international ingredients and combining them with open fire cooking.
“It is important to me that the food has soul; that when a guest sees the dish they get excited, and when they taste it, it’s followed by delight,” says the first generation Chinese-American chef.
The Festival des Etoilés will close with a grand gala in October at the iconic Salle Empire of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, featuring all four of SBM’s starred chefs serving up their signature dishes.
A 22-year-old driver who was behind the wheel of an Audi RS4 that crashed into a wall just days before Christmas 2023, killing two and injuring two others, has been charged with manslaughter and causing unintentional injury.
The horrific crash occurred on 17th December at the western exit of the Tunnel du Millenium in Monaco. Two female students – a 19-year-old from Kazakhstan and a 20-year-old from Azerbaijan – were killed, while the 22-year-old driver of Finnish nationality was left seriously injured and fighting for his life in hospital alongside his other two female passengers, one of whom is Italian and another of American citizenship.
The tragic event happened at around 4.30am in the morning. According to reports, the driver, who had been drinking alcohol in the hours before the crash, had been attempting to take his fellow International University of Monaco students home after a night at the Twiga nightclub.
Toxicology reports, the results of which have been published by the Monaco Matin, indicate a blood alcohol concentration of 1.87g/l at the time of the crash. No illegal or illicit drugs were found to be in his system.
Such were his injuries that the driver was only made aware of the crash and its ramifications on 8th February, reports the Monaco Matin. He has spent much of the last three months at the Hôpital Pasteur in Nice and most recently at the Centre Hélio-Marin de Vallauris.
On 21st March, he was reportedly summoned to attend a hearing at the request of the overseeing judge in Monaco. After questioning, he was charged with manslaughter and causing unintentional injury.
Although the Public Prosecutor had requested the 22-year-old be detained pending trial, the Monaco Matin reports that he has instead been placed under judicial supervision “with several obligations, and in particular a bond of €60,000 in installments”.
Comments made by the Attorney General of Monaco, as published by the Monaco-based newspaper, say, “[The driver] regrets the incident, but does not remember it.”
Over the coming weeks, Monaco’s Espace 22 will play host to a unique selection of modern and contemporary artworks from acclaimed French and international artists that are traditionally displayed at Art Gallery 44 in Saint Paul de Vence.
Art Gallery 44, nestled in the artistically rich hilltop village of Saint Paul de Vence, a place that has historically enchanted legends such as Matisse, Picasso and Chagall with its vibrant art scene, has unveiled an exciting new project.
For three weeks beginning 27th March, the gallery will be exporting its legacy to Monaco’s Espace 22, situated at 24 Boulevard d’Italie, through a special exhibition of modern and contemporary art.
Art connoisseurs and admirers in the Principality will be able to enjoy pieces from an eclectic mix of iconic names, including Arman, César, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Basquiat, Jean Miotte, Joan Mirò, Marc Chagall, Soulages and Jeff Koons, among others, but what sets this exhibition apart is its focus not only on established names, but also on fostering emerging talent from various parts of the world. Visitors to the exhibition can expect to discover artworks from a number of new talents from China, Japan and Thailand on top of those by the great names of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The exhibition’s organisers have arranged for a vernissage to take place on 27th March at 5.30pm, inviting art enthusiasts to engage directly with the artworks and perhaps even a collection of the artists themselves. With free admission, the organisers hope to attract a wide audience.
The exhibition will be open daily from 10.30am to 7.30pm until 17th April.
