Monaco unveils new ‘park and ride’ facility, Parking Salines

15/04/2024

Prince Albert has officially inaugurated the new Parking Salines, a giant parking lot at the entrance of Monaco that is designed to help reduce the number of vehicles on the Principality’s roads by as many as 4,000 every working day.

Prince Albert unveiled the Parking Salines plaque on Monday 15^th April and officially opened the parking lot during a ceremony attended by Minister of State Pierre Dartout, National Council President Thomas Brezzo and Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urbanism Céline Caron-Dagioni, as well as local media.

The impressive site, strategically located at the top of Jardin Exotique neighbourhood and near Monaco’s border with France, took seven years and €208 million to build. With its park and ride facilities, Parking Salines is expected to bring the number of vehicles that enter the Principality each working day down by 4,000.

See more: Monaco addresses its transport issues: More than 5,000 new Park and Ride carparking spaces in the works

The enormous structure comprises 15 levels and has a capacity of 1,790 parking spaces, as well as 100 dedicated Monaco ON electric charging stations. Around 100 places have been specifically reserved for residents.

The Salines complex also features amenities such as two bike stations, 100 spaces for motorcycles, a state-of-the-art car wash area and 20 spaces for coaches.

Park and ride

The parking facility is an important part of Monaco’s Mobility Plan, unveiled in February, which aims to revolutionise the city’s transportation landscape by reducing traffic congestion and promoting eco-friendly modes of travel.

Central to the plan is park and ride facilities such as this, which offers affordable parking and two express bus lines that provide easy connectivity between the parking lot and key districts within the Principality.

The buses will run every 10 minutes between 7am and 7pm, from Monday to Friday, with one bus every five minutes during rush hours.

Prince Albert took a tour of the Galerie des Salines that has been decorated with the works of Roger Capron, which had been removed and restored from an old seaside complex in Larvotto, where they were previously located, before being reinstalled within the new pedestrian gallery of Salines. Photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department

Pedestrian access

The Salines Gallery (Galerie des Salines), decorated with art works by Roger Capron, will be accessible from Level -15 of the car park and provide access to Avenue Pasteur and the new Princess Grace Hospital.

By this summer, the ‘Württemberg’ footbridge will be put into service and provide direct access to Avenue de Fontvieille. In 2025, it will be continued by the ‘Fontvieille’ footbridge, which will expand pedestrian access to the new Ilot Pasteur district.

See more: Monaco addresses its transport issues: A green pedestrian corridor from north to south

The journey time to reach Fontvieille from the Jardin Exotique via the Galerie des Salines and the footbridges will be approximately 10 minutes.

Monabike faclities

There are two bicycle stations located at -1 and -15 of the Parking des Salines, offering secure parking and charging for a total of 63 electric bicycles.

Reduced parking rates

Monthly packages are priced at €51, which is around half the price of other car parks in the Principality and includes free bus travel. Meanwhile, daily rates are available for €11 for a full day of parking.

In addition to cross-border workers, the new parking facility will also prove useful for visitors wishing to enter Monaco during popular events like the Monaco Grand Prix and Monaco Yacht Show.

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Main photo: Prince Albert II of Monaco unveiled the inaugural plaque for the Parking des Salines, alongside Pierre Dartout, Minister of State, Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning, and Thomas Brezzo, President of the National Council. Photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department

A fight for women’s hearts: 250 people turn out for the FLMM’s Soirée du Cœur

by: Stephanie Horsman

15/04/2024

The Femmes Leaders Mondiales Monaco association has hosted its seventh annual Soirée du Cœur, an evening championing the powers of community, philanthropy and science in changing the fates of women around the world who are affected by cardiovascular illnesses and disease.

Did you know that one in two women alive today will, at some point, suffer from or even die as a result of cardiovascular disease?

Heart disease in women, though clearly common around the world, is often overlooked, with other health problems such as cancer receiving considerably more media attention.

The Femmes Leaders Mondiales Monaco (FLMM) association is hoping to change that – at least on a local scale.

Under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco and the Honorary Presidency of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, the association recently held its seventh annual Soirée du Cœur event at the Yacht Club de Monaco.

The evening attracted some 250 guests, each dressed in vibrant shades of red, including a number of high-profile individuals from Monaco’s political sphere, the Cardiothoracic Centre of Monaco and Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG).

The overarching goal of the yearly event is to improve awareness of the prevalence of heart disease in women with the message: Protect your heart, Consult your cardiologist.

The evening featured a healthy gourmet meal, a fashion show by GIU Monte-Carlo and an auction of works of art from creatives linked to the FLMM and its noble cause.

All proceeds of the event were donated directly to the CHPG and the Cardiothoracic Centre of Monaco to support their respective studies and support initiatives for women affected by heart disease and illness.

It was also announced that a date has already been set for next year’s Soirée du Cœur gathering: 3rd April 2025.

For more information about the FLMM and its projects and partners, click here.

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Photo courtesy of FLMM

Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Günther clinches third place at Misano E-Prix

by: Niki Borisova

15/04/2024

Maximilian Günther of the Monaco-based Maserati MSG Racing team claimed a coveted spot on the podium at the Misano E-Prix in Italy over the weekend. It is his 10th podium finish of his Formula E career.

The weekend at the Misano Circuit was double-header challenge for the grid, with successive races on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April.

26-year-old Maximilian Günther, the lead driver for Maserati MSG Racing team, appeared to struggle during the practice sessions, finishing 21st in the Free Practice One due to a technical problem and then 17th in the Free Practice Two because of a time penalty.

But the German driver was undeterred and turned his fortunes around during the qualifying round, where he achieved P7.

Saturday’s race went even better; Günther claimed a spot for himself on the podium, making it his 10th podium finish of his Formula E career.

“Saturday’s race was wild, and I’m happy to finish third. We managed the race well, took Attack Mode at the right time, and made some good strategic moves to be in the fight when it mattered,” Günther reflected post-race.

Sunday brought more challenges, with Günther beginning his Race Two campaign in P12. He had fought his way to seventh by the end of Lap One and appeared to be on course for a Top Five finish, but it wasn’t to be.

“[In Race Two] we didn’t get the outcome we deserved,” shared Günther. “We were able to move into a strong position in the race, despite some issues that challenged us and ran in the Top Five for a long time. At the end, we faced a racing incident with a competitor that put us out of the points. Still many positives to take from this weekend: a podium finish and good race pace. We’ll regroup in the coming days and will come in strong shape to our home race in Monaco.”

The post-race time penalty handed to Günther following the conclusion of Race Two left him in P12 as the weekend of racing came to a close.

His teammate, Jehan Daruvala, recorded a DNF in Race One, but placed ninth the next day.

Günther is now fifth in the overall Drivers’ Standing, with 63 points, while Daruvala sits in 19th thanks to the two points – his first of the season – that he picked up in Misano.

The grid will now be looking to Monaco, where the E-Prix is set to take place on Saturday 27th April.

Read related:

The countdown to the Monaco E-Prix has begun

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Photo credit: Maserati MSG Racing Media Centre

New floating rubbish traps launched in Port Hercule

by: Stephanie Horsman

15/04/2024

Now bobbing in the water off the Quai Jarlan in Port Hercule are 42 innovative new floating traps that have been specially designed to prevent waste materials and rubbish from finding their way into the Mediterranean Sea. Here’s how the new system works.

The Monaco Government, the Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco and the Société Monégasque d’Assainissement have come together to try out a network of aquatic bins and waste interceptors that were designed by a French company called Pollustock, which is based in Mandelieu-La Napoule.

*The floating traps will help prevent waste such as discarded cigarette butts from entering the marine environment. Photo source: Monaco Communications Department*

The 42 waste baskets have been deployed at sites in and around Quai Jarlan’s pre-existing network of rainwater evacuation grids; places where rainwater drains into the port.

The hope is that the traps will prevent rubbish such as cigarette butts and bits of plastic from finding their way into the sea.

The government says that the baskets demonstrate a “proactive response to the growing concerns linked to marine pollution” and reflect the “continued commitment of the Prince’s Government to the protection of marine ecosystems”.

“By joining forces with the Société Monégasque d’Assainissement and Pollustock, the Prince’s Government and the Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco are strengthening their collaborative approach by involving key players specialised in waste management and the design of environmental solutions,” reads an official statement from the government. “This alliance illustrates [a] common commitment to a more sustainable future and the preservation of Monaco’s marine riches.”

A slew of new ashtrays have also been installed in the Port Hercule area in a bid to encourage smokers to sensibly and responsibly dispose of used cigarette butts rather than discard them on the ground.

Read related:

How did Monaco’s Port Hercule get its name?

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Photo by Monaco Life

Monaco in 3D: A project to build the Principality’s digital twin begins

by: Elsa Carpenter

15/04/2024

Over the next few days, the first stage of an ambitious project to capture the streets, buildings and green spaces of Monaco in 3D will be taking place. The goal is to create a digital twin of the Principality, a high definition mirror image of Monaco, that will allow the government to make the best possible plans for the future.

Between Monday 15th and Friday 19th April, a fleet of specialist mapping vehicles, drones and workers equipped with high-tech portable devices will be touring each and every inch of the nation, from its boulevards and avenues to its rooftops and gardens.

All available techniques will be called upon, says the government, which is spearheading the project, from innovative new technologies to the time-tested and hands-on approach of professional surveyors.

Monaco’s Department of Forward Studies, Urban Planning and Mobility will be working in collaboration with the Digital Services Department to ultimately reproduce the landscape – and the cityscape – of the Principality in 3D.

“This virtual representation will allow State services to consider urban development projects and plan the insertion of new buildings [as well as] verify the relevance of renaturalisation projects and possible locations for pedestrian routes among other uses,” confirmed the government via an official communiqué released on Monday 15th April.

This is but the first stage of the project, with a second mapping campaign set to take place in May.

Read related:

Apple sends specialist mapping cars to Monaco

Photo by Monaco Life

Prince Albert II celebrates Monaco’s 75 years of UNESCO membership

by: Stephanie Horsman

15/04/2024

It has been nearly 75 years since the Principality of Monaco officially began its treasured relationship with UNESCO, the United Nations’ branch dedicated to science, education and culture, and this landmark anniversary was celebrated at the end of last week with an exclusive dinner party attended by Prince Albert II.

The Permanent Delegation of Monaco to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, pulled out all the stops to celebrate the Principality’s 75th anniversary of formal membership on Friday 12th April.

In charge of the gourmet elements of the event were the culinary students of the Lycée Rainier III, who, under supervision of their teachers, were invited to prepare the delicious dishes served to the event’s prestigious guests, which included not only Monaco’s Prince Albert but also several important UNESCO ambassadors and high-ranking officials from the Principality.

*Other events celebrating Monaco’s membership to UNESCO will be taking place over the next few months. Photo credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco*

The Principality officially joined UNESCO on 6th July 1949 and this recent event will be among many celebrating this relationship to be held in Monaco over the coming months.

A statement released by the Prince’s Government following the dinner confirmed that several other events spotlighting “the international vocation of the Principality” as well as various Monegasque entities “in UNESCO’s areas of action” are in the works.

Read related:

Prince Albert I’s contributions to seabed mapping recognised by UNESCO

Photo credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco

Day: 15 April 2024