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Month: July 2024

Monaco’s Ambassador to Germany celebrates 19th Anniversary of Prince Albert II’s Reign

by: Cassandra Tanti
13/07/2024

The Embassy of the Principality of Monaco in Germany has hosted a grand reception to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the ascension of Prince Albert II. The event took place at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin, attracting over 200 guests, including notable dignitaries and friends of Monaco.

His Excellency Lorenzo Ravano welcomed representatives from the German Federal Foreign Office, numerous ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, and prominent figures from the economic, financial, cultural sectors, and German nobility on Friday 5th July. Also in attendance were the Honorary Consul of Monaco in Potsdam, the co-president of the International German Club of Monaco, and several of its members.

In his speech, Lorenzo Ravano highlighted significant events from recent months. These included the inauguration of the Monaco section at the Miniatur Wunderland museum in Hamburg by the Princely Family in April, and the Prince’s participation in the Arctic Circle Berlin Forum in May, following his scientific cruise in Antarctica.

The Ambassador underscored the strong ties between Monaco and Germany and the vibrant German community within the Principality. He also noted that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of Monaco’s membership in UNESCO and the 20th anniversary of its entry into the Council of Europe.

In a poignant moment, Lorenzo Ravano called for a minute of silence to honour victims of conflicts and terrorism worldwide, reflecting on the current unstable times and the growing calls for an Olympic truce.

Highlighting Monaco’s rich sporting tradition, the Ambassador mentioned the country’s connection to the ongoing Euro 2024 football tournament in Germany. He cited the Olympic flame’s passage, the start of the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France in Monaco, and celebrated local successes such as Monegasque Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc’s recent victory.

Dr. Sven Mossler, Head of the Division for Bilateral Relations with Monaco, represented the German Federal Foreign Office and praised the excellent relations between Monaco and Germany. He spoke about the importance of having Monaco as a partner in international forums to uphold the rule of law, combat climate change, and protect the oceans.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo credit: Manuel Vitali – Direction de la Communication

Bastille Day celebrations on the French Riviera

by: Niki Borisova
12/07/2024

With one of the biggest dates in French culture just around the corner, here’s a guide to the biggest and best Bastille Day celebrations on the Riviera. 

Antibes will be getting the party started early with a pyro-melodic show off the coast between the Siesta nightclub and the Fort Carré from 10pm on 13th July.  

Saint Paul de Vence will also be celebrating a day early. The hilltop village will host its National Day Ball in the Place de la Courtine from 8.30pm until 1am, with live music from DJ Alex and singer Sandra.  

Monaco’s neighbouring commune of Roquebrune Cap Martin will be holding its Promenade en Fête soirée from 9pm on the seaside promenade on 13th July. The event is free and will include a fireworks display. 

Plage de la Petite Afrique in Beaulieu sur Mer will be hosting similar celebrations on the same day from 10pm, while Villefranche sur Mer is set to hold a grand ball and al fresco BBQ in the Jardins de la Citadelle. The event will start at 8pm.  

Just to the north of Monaco, Beausoleil’s celebrations on 13th July will be kicking off a little earlier, at 5pm, with a party featuring games, vintage vehicles and a parade. Later on, a cabaret show and ball will fill the Place de la Liberation from 8pm, with the event set to conclude with a pyro-melodic show at 10.30pm. 

Meanwhile, La Turbie will be honouring local traditions on 13th July, namely its famous soupe au pistou. The public is welcome to join the celebrations from 7.30pm. The ball will start at 8pm and a torchlight procession will travel through the town from 9.30pm. 

National Day celebrations on 14th July

Back in Beaulieu sur Mer, the Bal Musette is set to begin at 8pm in Place Maroni on 14th July. 

Saint Jean Cap Ferrat will host a DJ-led ball from 9pm on Place Clemenceau, followed by a fireworks display that will start at 10.30pm. 

More events are scheduled in Roquebrune Cap Martin, with games and activities for children lined up for the afternoon and a torchlit procession and ball in the Place de la République scheduled for the evening.  

Inland in Mougins, the Place des Patriotes will host a popular ball and fireworks show from 8pm. The event will include performances by Jeffrey Mpondo and DJ Jo D-tracks. Free shuttles will be available between 7pm and 1am. 

Down in Cannes, the city’s annual fireworks festival will host the ‘Love’s Symphony: A Fireworks Extravaganza’ display by HC Pyrotechnics, a group from Belgium, from 10pm. Various balls and traditional events will be held across the city, including in the Allées de la Liberté, Place de l’Étang and Place du Marché de La Bocca.

Nice will not be holding a fireworks show on 14th July, a decision taken to honour the victims of the 2016 Bastille Day terror attack on the Promenade des Anglais, which left 86 dead and more than 400 injured.  

Read related:

Monaco to celebrate Bastille Day with family-friendly ‘apéro’

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photo source: Ville de Cannes, Facebook

La Plage & More at Le Méridien Beach Plaza

by: Niki Borisova
12/07/2024

Now that summer is finally here, Le Méridien Beach Plaza has revealed its exciting plans for the next few months, from family-focused Wednesdays to massages by the pool, a Bali-inspired beach bar and a new offer for day visitors.

This summer, Le Méridien Beach Plaza in Monaco’s Larvotto neighbourhood will be allowing day visitors down on its private stretch of beach. For a flat rate of €65 per person, with an additional €35 for a front-row sun lounger, the pass includes access to the four-star hotel’s salt and freshwater swimming pools as well as the sandy beach. 

See more: Pool days in Monaco: An insider’s guide to the best places 

Under the banner of ‘La Plage & More’, the hotel will also be laying on a range of family-friendly activities, from a special Family Wednesday initiative to Kids’ Nights. All throughout July and August, the Kids’ Club will be holding themed sessions on marine life, nature and art that will not only give little ones a break from the sun, but allow Mum and Dad to indulge in some precious relaxation time by the pool.  

The day rate for non-guests also includes access to the sauna and gym. For an additional fee, visitors can enjoy a massage in the poolside tent and even try out the hotel’s range of watersports activities.  

The resort is open daily from 9.30am to 6pm in June and September, with extended hours until 8pm in July and August.  

On the menu 

A long day at the beach will make anyone hungry – and thirsty – but there are plenty of options at Le Méridien to keep patrons happy. 

The Alang Bar, with its Balinese decor, serves summer dishes like Poke bowls and tropical cocktails, while the al fresco Mediterranean cuisine at Muse focuses on fresh produce and seafood, and serves mouthwatering desserts. 

Monaco Life was invited along to sample the summer menu only recently; our recommendations are the famous Monegasque barbajuans, the beef tataki with chimichurri and the refreshing pavlova.  

See more: New restaurant: Croquettes, vol-au-vents, French fries… get into the Belgian spirit at Smakelijk!

There’s also the Smakelijk! Brasserie, which offers generous Belgian specialties, and Longitude 7°26′ Bar, the ideal spot for an aperitivo at sunset.  

 Watch our reel featuring Le Méridien Beach Plaza to see more:

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads, Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

This article was originally published 22 June 2024.

Photo credit: Le Méridien Beach Plaza Monaco

Régulus: A new architectural sculpture by Guillaume Aubry at Villa Paloma

by: Cassandra Tanti
10/07/2024

Princess Caroline of Hanover has inaugurated ‘Régulus’, an architectural sculpture created by Guillaume Aubry, in the garden of Villa Paloma.

The installation, inspired by the antique garden of Villa Paloma designed by landscape architect Octave Godard, is oriented to follow the sun throughout the day. This heliotropic pavilion captures solar energy to heat and cook refreshments offered on-site.

Régulus is not just a museum café or a cocktail bar but a multifunctional space that integrates elements of all these functions. The structure, built from solid bricks in a geometric pattern, includes a central solar oven and a counter.

Guillaume Aubry, co-founder of the architectural agency Freaks, is an accomplished artist and researcher. A graduate of the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Paris – La Villette, the University of Tokyo, and the Beaux-Arts de Paris, Aubry has extensively studied the theme of the sun. He currently teaches spatial design at the École des arts décoratifs de Paris and has previously conducted a school residency in Monaco.

Inauguration event

The opening event for Régulus on 4th July featured a discussion between Aubry and project curator Benjamin Laugier, food and sunset cocktails from the Valentin truck, and a performed projection of the 1950 film “Sunset Boulevard.”

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo: Around H.S.H. Princess Caroline of Hanover (from left to right): Björn Dahlström, Director of NMNM; Guillaume Aubry, creator of the sculpture Régulus; Andréa Casiraghi; Patrice Cellario, Government Minister of the Interior; Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of Cultural Affairs of Monaco; Benjamin Laugier, Public Relations Officer at NMNM and curator of the project. Photo credit: Manuel Vitali – Direction of Communication

Institut Océanographique de Monaco and FRB join forces for Mediterranean conservation

by: Cassandra Tanti
10/07/2024

The Institut Océanographique de Monaco and the Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité (FRB) are teaming up for a groundbreaking research program to protect the Mediterranean Sea. 

On Friday, July 5th, the Institut Océanographique de Monaco and the Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité (FRB) signed a partnership agreement to launch a joint research program aimed at protecting the Mediterranean Sea. The collaboration, represented by Hélène Soubelet, General Director of the FRB, and Cyril Gomez, Deputy Director General of the Institut Océanographique, marks the beginning of a strategic initiative focused on scientific cooperation and public awareness.

A new focus on the Mediterranean

Following three years dedicated to polar regions, the Institut Océanographique will shift its focus to the Mediterranean starting in 2025. The initiative aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s goals, particularly Target 3, which aims to conserve 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030 through Protected Areas and other conservation measures.

The program will include various tools and initiatives to engage and educate the public. An immersive and interactive exhibition on Mediterranean marine mammals will be unveiled at the Oceanographic Museum in the spring of 2025, attracting the museum’s 650,000 annual visitors. Additionally, the Mediterranean wing of the aquarium will be renovated by 2027. The FRB will lead a knowledge synthesis on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean, guiding these efforts.

Addressing conservation challenges

Despite a consensus on the importance of MPAs, effective protection remains limited. Although 8% of the Mediterranean is designated as protected, only 0.04% of these areas have controlled management plans. The partnership with the FRB will leverage their expertise to assess the current state of MPAs, identify implementation barriers, and propose solutions, with a focus on interactions with fisheries.

Methodology and phases

The research will be conducted in two phases. The first phase involves developing a methodology to review existing literature on MPAs, providing a preliminary framework. The second phase, expected to conclude by the end of 2025, will synthesise this knowledge to support effective conservation policies.

Collaboration with key organisations

The project will build on extensive Mediterranean research conducted by key organisations like the IUCN’s Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation and WWF Mediterranean. A public-friendly version of the findings will be co-published with these partners, whose deep regional knowledge will be crucial to the project’s success.

Promoting and strengthening conservation efforts

The union of scientific and communication expertise from the four institutions aims to enhance understanding of the Mediterranean’s challenges and promote robust conservation tools. This initiative will play an active role in preserving this vital marine environment.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Main photo: Hélène Soubelet, General Director of the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB), and Cyril Gomez, Deputy Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, Albert I Foundation, Prince of Monaco, at the Maison de l’Océan in Paris. Photo provided

Monaco to celebrate Bastille Day with family-friendly ‘apéro’

by: Niki Borisova
08/07/2024

With retro music, pétanque and a range of classic dishes, the Apéro des Frenchy soirée at the Condamine market is hoping to replicate the family-friendly nature of that favourite French tradition, the apéritif, at its Bastille Day celebrations.   

On Saturday 14th July, the Marché de la Condamine will host a huge apéro-style event honouring France’s National Day, a date that marks the famous Storming of the Bastille in Paris during the French Revolution in 1789.  

The party will get going from 6pm, with music from a local band and al fresco games of pétanque on the temporary courts that will be set up in the square.

The entertainment is expected to perform a range of the biggest French hits from the 1950s through to the 1990s, so be sure to bring your dancing shoes and dust off your best French singing voice before coming.

The event will wind down at 10pm.

Tickets to the event cost €8, but the food and beverages served at the party will come at an extra fee. Entrance is free for under 12s.

Click here to purchase your ticket or tickets in advance.  

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photo credit: Mairie de Monaco