Top Marques Monaco 2024 to unveil the future of fast cars

30/04/2024

The countdown is on for the 19th edition of Top Marques Monaco, and this year’s event in June promises an unprecedented number of supercar world debuts, as well as one of the first presentations of the Tesla Cybertruck.

There’s a dazzling lineup of world-premieres, dominated by the sleek profiles and electrifying powertrains of next-generation electric supercars, offering a thrilling glimpse into the future of high-performance motoring.

A press conference on Tuesday in the Casino de Monte-Carlo was led by Emeric Garcia, the new Director of Top Marques Monaco. Watching on from the first row was Salim Zeghdar, the former face of Top Marques Monaco who was appointed Administrator of the Prince’s Assets (l’administrateur des biens) in December 2023.

Confident in his new role, Emeric Garcia proudly showcased the highlights of the 2024 edition of Top Marques Monaco, which is set to take place from 5th to 9th June at the Grimaldi Forum.

The 19th Top Marques Monaco will follow a bumper 2023 edition, which saw 24,000 visitors and over 100 exhibitors.

New sponsors this year include Zondacrypto, NFTouring, and Deco-Flamme.

*The Audi RS6 GT will make its first public debut at Top Marques Monaco 2024*

The stage for world-first debuts

Top Marques Monaco is renowned for hosting world-first unveilings, and this year, a record-breaking nine supercars will be unveiled to the public for the first time. Among them are the Audi RS6 GT, driven by a powerful 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo TFSI engine and limited to just 660 units worldwide. The Porsche Macan, Daydream Targa by Tedson Motors, nanoFlowcell’s The New Quant, and an incredibly unique-looking vehicle by Engler, the world’s first superquad, will also have their debuts.

Making their Monaco public debuts are electric fast cars by Aston Martin and McLaren.

Other top brands to feature at the show include Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Brabus, Scuderia Ferrari and McLaren Monaco.

Classic cars will also play an important part in the show, with a whole section dedicated to these incredible pieces and supported by partners including Boutsen Classic Cars.

In addition to fast cars, motorbikes, boats, art works, and the new Venturi Mars Roverwill all be on show for visitors.

The Tesla Cyber Truck will also be making one of its first appearances this side of the globe.

*The Engler v12 quad will be an eye-catcher at this year’s Top Marques Monaco*

Ferrari Auction returns

Ferrari fans will be pleased to learn that the 100% Ferrari Auction will return this year, after its successful debut in 2023. Organised by Monaco Car Auctions, the event brings together Ferraris of various eras, of various budgets, “so that all fans can find something to their liking”. The organisers are hoping to replicate the success of last year’s auction, which saw, among the highlights, an Enzo Ferrari fetch €5.4 million, and a 246 GTS pull in €448,000.

The Top Marques Monaco schedule

Top Marques Monaco 2024 will begin with a VIP preview evening on Wednesday 5th June, followed by the official opening to the public on Thursday 6th June at 10am.

Saturday 8th June will feature the Carspotter Awards, signing sessions with GMK, a lego stand and the Ferrari Auction. Sunday will see the winners of a drawing competition announced and a raffle at the GMK stand.

Tickets, ranging from €45 to €90 for a standard day pass, are available at the Grimaldi Forum or via the Top Marques website.

See more of Tuesday’s press conference, and what’s coming up at this year’s Top Marques Monaco, in our video below.

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Main photo of Top Marques 2023 by Monaco Life

A Night at the Museum: Monaco’s Centre Botanique to offer twilight tours

by: Niki Borisova

30/04/2024

To mark this year’s European Night of Museums, Monaco’s Jardin Exotique has announced that its team of specialist gardeners will be hosting guided nighttime tours of its Centre Botanique glasshouse.

The upcoming European Night of Museums, which unites thousands of scientific and cultural establishments and institutions across the continent for one special night of visits, tours and exhibitions, will be the 20th edition of the popular event.

This year, it will be held on Saturday 18th May, and Monaco’s Jardin Exotique has decided to join in with the occasion by offering twilight tours of its Centre Botanique between 9pm and 10.30pm.

As dusk falls on the vast glasshouse, which has remained open to the public while the rest of the Jardin Exotique undergoes extensive renovations, the dedicated on-site team of gardeners will lead groups through the 900m2 space that houses some 10,000 different species of cacti and succulents, many of them protected species.

Spaces are limited so prior registration is required if you would like to join one of the tours. To do so, contact jardin-exotique@mairie.mc via email or call +377 93 15 29 80.

Outside of this special event, the Centre Botanique is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, from 8.30am until 3.30pm.

Read related:

School holidays in Monaco: Exploring the Jardin Exotique’s Centre Botanique

Photo credit: Jardin Exotique, Facebook

Monaco Charity Film Festival to host European premiere of ‘Unbroken Ties’

by: Stephanie Horsman

30/04/2024

The 2024 Monaco Charity Film Festival is just around the corner. In honour of this year’s main event, the European premiere of Myanmar-USA film ‘Unbroken Ties’, guests will be invited to give generously to the Mary K. Yap Foundation as well as other worthy causes.

On 13th May, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort will play host to the 19th Monaco Charity Film Festival.

The day will begin with a welcome breakfast at 10am, followed by a day of film screenings that will include the European premiere of the first-ever Myanmar-USA co-production, Unbroken Ties, from 10.30am. The film’s powerful narrative tells the story of a Burmese orphan and his quest to find his place in the USA against a backdrop of “secrets, betrayals and connections that challenge his identity, his friendships and his sense of belonging”.

Directed by American Graham Streeter and Burmese actress Grace Swe Zin Htaik, the emotional drama reflects the plights of many orphaned children in this part of the world. A Q & A session with the filmmakers will be held after the screening.

Guests at the Monaco Charity Film Festival will later regroup at 6pm for an awards ceremony complemented by live entertainment and a gourmet meal.

The proceeds from the event will go towards improving the lives and prospects of orphaned children in Myanmar via the Mary K. Yap Foundation. A portion of the funds will also be donated to the Virlanie Foundation for disadvantaged children in the Philippines and the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel.

To be a part of this special event, click here.

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Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, Facebook

SNCF to close ticket offices at train stations across the Riviera

by: Stephanie Horsman

30/04/2024

The SNCF, France’s state-owned railway operator, has announced that ticket offices at 14 stations across the Alpes-Maritimes and the Var are being phased out. Some will become a thing of the past, while others will be replaced with a part-time service.

As of 1st May, passengers at six of the 14 stations will no longer be able to buy their tickets from manned SNCF ticket offices. Instead, those alighting at Sospel, La Trinité, Cannes-la-Bocca, Mandelieu, Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël’s Boulouris TER station will instead have to use a ticket machine or digital means.

The remaining eight stations – Menton Garavan, Carnoles, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cros-de-Cagnes, Villeneuve-Loubet, Biot, Golfe-Juan and Grasse – will still employ ticket agents, but only on certain days and at peak times. Some of these ticket offices will be closed completely, with the agents posted to the platforms instead of seated behind a desk.

“Their missions will essentially be directed towards helping with the use of regional ticket distributors and digital support, such as navigating the SNCF mobile application,” Tony Tripoul, a representative for the SNCF’s operations branch at the CGT, told the Monaco Matin.

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Coming soon: Unlimited monthly train pass for France’s under 27s that costs just €49

Photo source: Lukas Kurth, Unsplash

Monaco saddles up for this summer’s Longines Global Champions Tour

by: Niki Borisova

30/04/2024

Every year at the height of summer, Monaco’s Port Hercule is transformed into an equestrian arena for the biggest names in showjumping as the Longines Global Champions Tour comes to town. Tickets for this year’s event are now on sale.

The Longines Global Champions Tour will be returning to the Principality of Monaco between 4th and 6th July, following stops in Saint Tropez-Ramatuelle, Cannes, Paris and Stockholm.

The top-level Jumping Monaco event transforms the quays of Port Hercule into one of the most iconic stops on the Longines Global Champions Tour circuit, and is a favourite among fans and riders alike due to its challenging nature and spectacular setting.

It is also always well-attended by members of the Grimaldi family, such as Charlotte Casiraghi and her mother, Princess Caroline of Hanover, who share a deep appreciation and passion for equestrianism.

A provisional programme for the intensive three-day competition is already available online and can be found here.

Ticket sales for each of the days were launched on 24th April and can be purchased via the official Jumping Monaco website. Click here to reserve your seat at this major summer sporting event.

Read related:

From a Princely hobby horse to a renowned international setting: A brief history of equestrianism in Monaco

Photo credit: Longines Global Champions Tour, Monaco 2023

Ambition Bio 2027: France’s plan to encourage more people to buy organic produce

by: Stephanie Horsman

30/04/2024

Only 6% of French households regularly buy and consume organic produce, a statistic that the French government is hoping to change with its new Ambition Bio 2027 plan to stimulate demand and better support domestic producers.

According to a report published in January 2024 by Bio Eco Actual, France’s organic farms and farmers are in crisis. Demand is falling, prices are soaring and though the public say they want to eat more organically produced foods, there is still a real disconnect between want and need.

The French government is looking to reverse the negative trend and encourage the production and consumption of organic with its Ambition Bio 2027 plan.

Officially launched on 24th April by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Marc Fesneau, Ambition Bio 2027 includes 27 different measures aimed at boosting consumer confidence, promoting the benefits of eating organic foods, stimulating demand and strengthening the market by supporting farmers and regional operations between now and 2027.

According to Fesneau, the government is also hoping to achieve the objective of converting 18% of France’s farmland into organic agriculture by that deadline.

The plan will play out in a variety of ways, from national information and communication campaigns to aid packages. In all, the government will be ploughing €90 million into the project in 2024, adding to the €104 million of financial support that the organic farming sector was allocated in 2023.

For more information about the Ambition Bio 2027 plans, click here.

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School vegetable gardens are thriving in Monaco

Photo source: Janko Ferlic, Unsplash

Month: April 2024