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Month: May 2024

Prince Albert II inaugurates Václav Havel Bench at the Pavillon Bosio

by: Niki Borisova
30/05/2024

In a touching tribute to the achievements and legacy of Václav Havel, an ardent supporter of democracy, a memorial bench inscribed with the late leader’s personal motto has been erected in the gardens of Monaco’s Pavillon Bosio.  

On Wednesday 29th May, Prince Albert II of Monaco met with Michal Fleischmann, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Principality, in the gardens of the arts school on Avenue des Pins to inaugurate the Václav Havel Bench.

Several other notable figures from the Principality also attended the event, including: Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior; Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urban Planning; and Isabelle Berro-Amadei, Minister of Foreign Relations and Cooperation.

Havel, who died in 2011, is remembered as the last President of Czechoslovakia, the overseer of the peaceful dissolution of the nation and the first President of the Czech Republic. He has become a symbol of democracy worldwide.

Monaco now stands as one nation among more than 50 others, including countries in the Middle East, across Europe and in the Americas, to have erected a tribute in his honour.

The Václav Havel Bench in Monaco was designed by Bořek Šípek and is inscribed with the late leader’s personal motto: “Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred.”

It features two metal garden chairs, representing equality, connected by a round table for unity. From the centre of the table grows a Linden tree, the national tree of the Czech Republic.

 

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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department 

Three innovative start-ups join the MonacoTech community

by: Niki Borisova
30/05/2024

Following an open call for new projects towards the end of 2023, the MonacoTech start-up incubator unveiled the newest members of its diverse pool of innovators and entrepreneurs at its recent Demo Day event.

Held on Monday 27th May, the MonacoTech Demo Day brought together new and existing members of the pioneering business hub for a presentation of three fascinating concepts in the worlds of healthcare, software and cosmetology.

The event heralded the end of a selection process that began with an open call for projects back in October and November 2023. From a pool of promising start-ups, a panel of experts with links to MonacoTech were tasked with choosing just three ventures that the start-up incubator will now support and nurture.   

See more: New innovative projects sought for MonacoTech incubation 

The Demo Day provided these three sets of entrepreneurs with an opportunity to present their projects to an audience that included representatives of the Prince’s Government, members of the Principality’s private sector, investors and MonacoTech partners. 

First up was healthcare concept Nursinnov, founded by Angeline Pena Prado, which addresses safety concerns in the sector by developing a medical device to prevent accidents and exposure to blood-borne viruses and infections. 

Moving onto the tech world, Monte Digital by Anatoly Gorlov aims to establish a tech platform that will help private banks, wealth managers and multi-family offices serve their clients more efficiently.  

Representing innovation in the beauty industry, La Purative, founded by Stefan Parkes, presented its ambitions to launch a certified organic cosmetic products line that will be manufactured in the Principality. La Purative’s products are free of harmful ingredients and are fully biodegradable and refillable.  

Finally, a very special new project by NetO, a MonacoTech-backed start-up since 2022, was given its moment in the spotlight, with co-founders Sofia Fominova and Dmitry Aksenov presenting their latest innovation: a smart buoy designed to revolutionise oceanic data collection. 

Read related:

New player in the sustainability market: Discloser

 

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Photo credits: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department

Monaco Auction Week returning in July with exquisite accessories and rare collectors’ items

by: Niki Borisova
30/05/2024
monaco auction week hotel hermitage

From high-end jewellery and luxury timepieces to art and sculptures, this summer’s Monaco Auction Week by Artcurial promises a diverse line-up of lots, including a very special collection of sports memorabilia that was once on display at Stars’N’Bars.

It has been confirmed that Artcurial’s Monaco Auction Week will be taking place at the Hôtel Hermitage between 6th and 10th July.  

The initial two days of the event will be dedicated to viewings of the varied lots, which represent categories as diverse as designer accessories and sporting memorabilia. 

The auctions will begin on 8th July with an event showcasing a collection of exquisite timepieces from brands including Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Harry Winston. One particularly stand-out piece from this section of the sales is a Patek Philippe 5050J perpetual calendar watch, which is expected to fetch between €30,000 and €50,000.  

On the same day, more than 200 pieces of sports memorabilia collected over the years by Stars’N’Bars owners Kate Powers and Didier Rubiolo are due to be auctioned. The highlight of this category is a replica Ayrton Senna racing helmet that has an estimated worth of €4,000 to €6,000.  

The replica of a 1994 helmet worn by Ayrton Senna during his time at Williams is expected to fetch between €4,000 and €6,000. Photo courtesy of Artcurial

On 9th July, there will be a stand-alone sale dedicated to Piaget, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2024. This event will feature items such as a unique 1973 gold and lapis-lazuli pendant anticipated to sell for between €100,000 and €150,000, among many other treasures.  

The main jewellery auction will take place over two days, on 9th and 10th July. Many of the biggest maisons and marques will be represented here, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Bulgari. A notable highlight is the Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra necklace in white gold, which is estimated to be worth between €50,000 and €60,000. 

See more: Stunning results achieved at luxury car auctions by Artcurial Motorcars, RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams

Handbags will get their time in the spotlight on the final day of Artcurial’s Monaco Auction Week, and bidders should anticipate a list of lots heavy in Hermès’ finest creations.  

The Monaco Sculptures auction will also be held on 10th July. It will include contemporary artworks from artists like César, Salvador Dalí and Jean-Michel Othoniel.  

Public viewings of the lots listed by Artcurial will be possible between 12pm and 7pm on 6th and 7th July.  

For more information, click here.  

Read related:

Exclusive all-Ferrari L’AstaRossa auction to coincide with Top Marques

 

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Main photo credit: Monte Carlo SBM

Mare Nostrum Swim Tour’s final leg attracts top athletes to the Stade Louis II

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/05/2024
mare nostrum

As the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour approaches its final leg, all eyes are on Monaco and the Prince Albert II pool at Stade Louis II, which will welcome top swimmers from around the globe, including several Olympic contenders, at the start of June. 

Back in 1992, the Canet 66 Swimming Club of Canet-sur-Roussillon in the Pyrénées-Orientales and the Spanish city of Barcelona joined forces to establish the Mediterranean Grand Prix swimming contest. Two years later, the Principality of Monaco was invited to join, leading to the birth of the Mare Nostrum Swim Tour. 

Today, these three interconnected meets have become a highlight for swimmers worldwide. 

The 2024 edition began in Canet in late May. The Barcelona stages are taking place between 29th and 30th May, with the competition set to conclude in Monaco on 1st and 2nd June. 

Over 60 of the world’s top swimmers are confirmed to be attending this final leg in the Principality, including several athletes who will be appearing at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.  

Among the stellar talents gracing the event are: the UK’s Tom Dean, Freya Anderson and James Wilby; Canada’s rising star Ingrid Wilm; France’s three-time Olympian and world silver medallist Marie Wattel; and Japan’s Tomoru Honda, the reigning 200-metre butterfly world champion and an Olympic silver medallist. 

For spectators eager to witness the excitement first-hand, the full programme of events is available here. The event will also be streamed live.

 

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Photo source: Unsplash

Mr. One Teas among the international street artists set to star at UPAINT Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/05/2024
upaint monaco mr.one tesa

A dozen of the world’s most famous and talented street artists will be heading to the Principality for four days of live creativity and urban artistry at the 2024 UPAINT Monaco event in early June. 

Between 7th and 10th June, the Promenade du Larvotto will be transformed into an open-air street art gallery showcasing the unique works of a dozen of the world’s top urban artists and graffiti maestros, including Monaco’s own Mr. One Teas.

The UPAINT Monaco event is the realisation of a concept dreamt up by Monaco resident Alberto Coleman, who has a long-standing appreciation for urban art. He was inspired to launch an event promoting this playful style of art in Monaco after witnessing a live performance by Mr. One Teas in 2013.

This year’s line-up includes Canadian sensation Alex, graffiti pop artist Andrew Tosh, architect-turned-street artist Piskv from Italy, animal muralist Nina Valkhoff from the Netherlands and a talented French contingent, including Chanoir, Cofee, Sven, Mathieu 1976 and Harry James. Joining them are Spanish artists El Xupet Negre and Juanjo Surace, along with Mr. One Teas. 

Amateurs will also have the chance to participate, with a dedicated canvas for those who want to try their hand at creating a masterpiece available on-site. 

The organisers of UPAINT are enthusiastic about the upcoming eighth edition of the event, saying, “This unique Monegasque street art festival attracts extraordinary people: our artists who breathe life into the event, our sponsors and partners who help bring our ideas to reality, and the amazing public of art lovers and passers-by, who transform the city into an open art gallery each year.” 

As in previous years, several pieces created by the artists will be auctioned off through the Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo for charity following the conclusion of the main event. The beneficiaries in 2024 include the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, a recipient since 2017, and La Société Protectrice des Animaux (Society for the Protection of Animals), which will use the proceeds to help build a new refuge space for abandoned and homeless animals in the region. 

For more information, click here. 

 

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Photo of Mr. One Teas courtesy of UPAINT Monaco 2023

Luxury store in Monaco robbed: millions in jewellery stolen at gunpoint

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/05/2024

The hunt is on for a brazen armed robber who stole more than €3 million worth of jewellery and watches from a Monaco store early Wednesday.

The Monaco Watch Company on Boulevard des Moulins was targeted at around 11am.

The Monaco Prosecutors Office has confirmed to Monaco Matin that an individual, armed with a handgun, stole more than €3 million worth of jewellery before fleeing on a scooter that was being driven by an accomplice nearby. The scooter headed in the direction of Beausoleil. 

A female salesperson was uninjured in the robbery, however she was transported to the Princess Grace Hospital Centre suffering shock.

“He was dressed as an old man”

The manager of a neighbouring store, the Diamant Factory, told Monaco Life, “The employee was putting the display out in the morning as I arrived, then 30 minutes later I saw the police outside and they closed down the store. I didn’t hear anything but it looked very serious.”

Another witness, who wished to remain anonymous, told Monaco Life that the assailant was dressed as an old man and stole everything in the front window before running out of the store and getting on a scooter. 

At the time of writing this article, the assailants were still on the run from police.

By Cassandra Tanti and Niki Borisova. Photo by Niki Borisova.

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