Following the closures of Menton’s private beaches at the end of last August, works soon got underway on the city’s new-look seafront promenade. According to Mayor Yves Juhel, the renovations are “progressing according to schedule” and could be finished as soon as next month.
While it was widely agreed that the beachfront required modernising, the owners of and teams working at the city’s private beaches were in uproar last summer, when it was announced that the establishments would be forced to close much earlier than usual.
The pre-existing decked and paved sections of the promenade have now been replaced with materials reminiscent of those on the Esplanade des Sablettes and soon it will be the turn of the green spaces to get some attention, with tree planting due to start in the coming weeks.
According to the local mayor, Yves Juhel, who recently visited the site to inspect the progress of the works, the €6.7 million project should be complete by April, enabling beach establishments to reclaim their spaces and commence preparations for the planned public reopening in June.
Each year, Monaco’s National Council comes together to choose the laureates of the Women of Commitment awards, which recognise the work and efforts of local women for “their commitment and their exemplary careers in the service of general interest and for the benefit of associative and humanitarian causes”.
This year’s edition, which was held on 4th March at the National Council’s headquarters, saw Annie Olivi, Patricia Husson and Anne Eastwood celebrated for their achievements and contributions to daily life in the Principality.
THREE SPECIAL WOMEN
Annie Olivi, who received her prize from the National Council’s president, Brigitte Boccone-Pagès, was fêted for her three decades of involvement as President of the Monegasque Association of the Physically Handicapped, an association whose mission is to improve the lives of the disabled and their loved ones.
The next award went to Patricia Husson, the chair of Mission Enfance, who has spent the past 15 years helping children from disadvantaged areas around the world get the emotional and educational support they need. Since its inception in 1991, the organisation has offered humanitarian aid to more than 1,700,000 children. Her award was presented by Princess Stéphanie of Monaco’s daughter, Camille Gottlieb, who is also the founder of the anti-drunk driving charity BE Safe Monaco.
The Women of Commitments awards ceremony, which took place at the National Council headquarters on 4th March, was a well-attended affair. Photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger and Romain Fondacaro-Ginepro
Then it was the turn of Princess Stéphanie to congratulate Anne Eastwood on her exceptional career in public service.
The respected ambassador started her career at the National Council as Chargé de Mission for Legal Affairs before transitioning to a Chief of Staff role. Later, she moved to a position as the Director General of the Department of Social Affairs and Health and then headed up the High Commission for the Protection of Rights, Liberties and Mediation. She is now stretching her wings in the diplomatic corps as Ambassador of Monaco to Italy, Slovenia, San Marino and Malta.
At the close of the ceremony, Boccone-Pagès offered some inspiring words of advice to the next generation of young women in Monaco and further afied, saying, “Get involved in whatever field you choose. In your work, in politics, for your country, in your family life, for a cause, for a passion… I invite you to embrace your potential, nurture your passions and follow your convictions. Never underestimate the power of your commitment, because it is through our actions, one step at a time, that we shape our collective destiny.”
Just as the region has started to recover from the intense Mediterranean episode of last weekend, the threat of more rain looms on the horizon.
Following last weekend’s storms, locals and tourists in Monaco and on the French Riviera have enjoyed some respite from the bad weather thanks to the sunshine that arrived on Monday morning.
Many will have been hoping that the bright blue skies promised the imminent arrival of spring, but now the weather looks set to take another turn for the worse, with rain from the Atlantic Coast due to arrive in Southern France and Monaco at the end of the week.
Current predictions suggest that the rain will begin during the early afternoon of Friday 8th March. It is likely to continue unabated throughout the weekend, with localised storms forecast for Monday 11th March. The mountainous parts of the region are also anticipating heavy snowfall.
Once the rain has moved on, Météo France is predicting temperatures slightly above seasonal norms for next week. Then, the countdown until springtime will be well and truly on.
After the 2022 expedition to the Indian Ocean, the next exciting mission for the Monaco Explorations team is set to be announced by Prince Albert II of Monaco at the start of the United Nations’ Ocean Decade Conference.
The big reveal will be taking place at a satellite event of the Ocean Decade Conference on 9th April in Barcelona alongside a talk and screening of a documentary film about Monaco Explorations’ recently completed mission to the Indian Ocean.
Prince Albert himself will be presenting the new plans and he is also due to attend the opening of an exhibition on protected marine areas within the context of the international event.
Monaco Explorations was launched in 2017 and has come to represent a confluence of the environmental concerns shared by the Prince, his eponymous foundation, the Oceanographic Institute – Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and the Yacht Club de Monaco.
In addition to the major Indian Ocean mission, Monaco Explorations has also supported various other projects around the world, including in New Calendonia, Madeira, Cabo Verde, the West Indies, Martinique, Norway, Hawaii, Badu and on the Pacific coast of Colombia, as well as local initiatives on the Riviera.
The geographical location of the next mission is being kept under wraps until the Ocean Decade Conference, but a spokesperson for Monaco Explorations has confirmed that it will be in some way tied to Prince Albert’s desire to ensure that 30% of the world’s seas and oceans are protected by 2030.
In the run-up to three major Grand Prix events and the final stage of the Tour de France, which will be departing from Monaco for the finish line in Nice come summer, the Principality’s Urban Planning Department has announced an extensive road resurfacing programme.
Starting with the Monaco e-Prix on 27th April then moving on to the Grand Prix Historique de Monaco from 10th to 12th May and the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco from 23rd to 26th May, the next few months will be filled with important motorsporting events and the Monaco Government is keen to ensure that the circuits and streets are in pristine condition.
The refurbishment campaign, which will be carried out between the hours of 8pm and 6am in order to minimise disruption, has also been designed with the needs of the Tour de France in mind as, on 21st July, Monaco is set to welcome the peloton for the final stage of the event.
Beginning 11th March, the following roads will be subject to varying levels of closures and parking restrictions: Boulevard Albert Ier from 11th to 13th March, Avenue du Port from 11th to 12th March, Avenue des Spélugues from 12th to 14th March, Avenue J.F. Kennedy and the Louis II tunnel from 14th to 15th March, Avenue Princesse Grace from 18th to 20th March, the Louis II tunnel and Portier sector from 20th to 22nd March, and Avenue Camille Blanc and Boulevard de France from 25th to 27th March.
Alain Baraton, the renowned head gardener of the Trianon and the Versailles Grand Parc, has been invited to speak at the upcoming International Mediterranean Meetings, which will be held later this week at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco.
The 12th edition of the International Mediterranean Meetings event is set to explore the theme of Mediterranean gardens through both an academic and creative lens.
The two-day conference, from 7th to 8th March, is being held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II and will be led by Elisabeth Bréaud, the president and director of the International Meetings Monaco and the Mediterranean (RIMM).
In addition to Alain Baraton, other notable speakers at the event include the likes of Robert Calcagno, Director-General of Monaco’s Oceanographic Institute, and Mounir Bouchenaki, the Honorary President of the RIMM. Prince Albert II of Monaco will make an appearance at the conference too, officially opening the varied discussions on three principal topics: the role of water in creating lush, delightful gardens; gardens as venues for scientific, philosophical, and ethical exploration; and the fusion of art and nature in crafting timeless, vibrant landscapes.
Also on the agenda are talks on Moroccan garden water techniques, Park Güell’s unique design, the philosophical essence of King René’s gardens and the eternal allure of the Villa of Livia’s frescoes, as well as a screening of Sous les Figues by Erige Sehiri.
This year’s event has been organised in partnership with Monaco’s Oceanographic Institute, the Albert I Foundation and the Principality’s Audiovisual Institute. It is open to the public and more information can be found here.
