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Day: 18 November 2024

Prince Albert II installs new Crown Council at the Palace

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/11/2024

Prince Albert II has welcomed the newly appointed Crown Council at the Palace, a seven-member body that advises Monaco’s head of state on key matters and serves three-year terms.

On 15th November, Prince Albert II officially welcomed the newly appointed Crown Council during a ceremony held at the Prince’s Palace. This event followed the Sovereign’s decree issued on 16th October 2024.

According to a statement from the Palace, Prince Albert II spoke during the installation about his hopes for the Council and reaffirmed its essential responsibilities. He highlighted its role in advising on state matters and the importance of its guidance in addressing issues central to Monaco’s governance.

The Crown Council is a constitutionally defined body entrusted with providing the Prince with advice on significant matters. Its scope of duties includes offering counsel on decisions such as treaty agreements, the dissolution of Monaco’s National Council, matters of naturalisation, and the granting of pardons. The Council may also independently present its insights or recommendations to the Prince.

Comprising seven members, the Crown Council includes representatives appointed directly by the Prince, alongside others chosen from candidates proposed by Monaco’s National Council. Members serve for three-year terms, ensuring the continuous evolution of perspectives brought to the advisory body.

Beyond its constitutionally assigned tasks, the Council is expected to provide advice on any matter concerning the state’s interests, either at Prince Albert’s request or through its own initiative.

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 from left to right with Prince Albert II: Jean-Michel Cucchi, Frédéric Sangiorgio, Nathalie Aureglia-Caruso, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Michel Boeri, President of the Crown Council, Patricia Husson, Guy Magnan. Credit: Michael Alesi, Prince’s Palace

Children in Monaco invited to join festive art competition

by: Cassandra Tanti
18/11/2024

With the holiday season approaching, the Mairie de Monaco is once again inviting the Principality’s youngest residents to unleash their creativity in the second edition of the Mon plus beau dessin au Père Noël competition.

Open to children up to the age of eight who reside or attend school in Monaco, this festive initiative promises fun, artistry, and festive cheer.

Children can submit their masterpieces from Friday 15th November to Tuesday 17th December 2024 by placing them in Santa Claus’s very own mailbox, located at the Marché de la Condamine.

A jury will select four winners, one from each age group, to receive prizes in recognition of their artistic talents.

To honour all participants, the event will conclude with a festive gathering under the arcades of the Marché de la Condamine. Families can enjoy an afternoon of treats, featuring hot chocolate, a candy bar, and cotton candy, in an atmosphere brimming with holiday spirit.

The winners will be announced during the celebration on Thursday 19th December at 5pm.

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: Elena Mozhvilo, Unsplash

 

France: New winter tyre rules come into force for the 2024/25 season

by: Elsa Carpenter
18/11/2024
winter tyre

With the start of the Alpes du Sud’s ski season mere weeks away, now is the perfect time to review drivers’ legal obligations when travelling through France’s more mountainous regions, from the correct types of tyres to the rules on snow socks and chains, as well as where exactly the winter road rules apply.

Between 1st November 2024 and 31st March 2025, all passenger vehicles travelling through the mountainous backcountry of the French Riviera must either be fitted with appropriate winter tyres or carry correctly sized snow chains or socks for at least two tyres.

France’s winter road rules cover large parts of the country – 34 departments in total.

In the Alpes-Maritimes, the following communes require drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe for road use: Amirat, Andon, Ascros, Auvare, Bairols, Belvédère, Beuil, Bézaudun-les-Alpes, Bonson, Breil-sur-Roya, Briançonnet, Caille, Caussols, Châteauneuf-d’Entraunes, Clans, Coaraze, Coursegoules, Daluis, Duranus, Entraunes, Escragnolles, Fontan, Gars, Gilette, Gorbio, Gourdon, Gréolières, Guillaumes, Ilonse, Isola, La Bollène-Vésubie, La Brigue, La Croix-sur-Roudoule, La Penne, La Tour, Lantosque, Le Mas, Les Mujouls, Levens, Lieuche, Lucéram, Malaussène, Marie, Massoins, Moulinet, Peille, Péone, Pierlas, Pierrefeu, Puget-Rostang, Puget-Théniers, Revest-les-Roches, Rigaud, Rimplas, Roquebillière, Roubion, Roure, Saint-Antonin, Saint-Auban, Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, Sainte-Agnès, Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, Saint-Léger, Saint-Martin-d’Entraunes, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, Saorge, Sauze, Séranon, Sospel, Tende, Thiéry, Toudon, Touët-sur-Var, Tourette-du-Château, Tournefort, Utelle, Valdeblore, Valderoure, Venanson, Villars-sur-Var and Villeneuve-d’Entraunes.

In the Var, the communes affected include: Aiguines, Ampus, Artignosc, Aups, Baudinard, Bauduen, Bargemon, Bargème, Brenon, Châteaudouble, Chateauvieux, Comps-sur-Artuby, La Bastide, La Martre, La Roque-Esclapon, La Verdière, Le Bourguet, Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Moissac-Bellevue, Montferrat, Montmeyan, Régusse, Seillans, St Julien-le-Montagnier, Tourtour, Trigance and Vérignon.

A complete list of communes across France requiring specific winter equipment can be found here.

Rule change for the 2024/25 season

From 1st November, only tyres with the 3PMSF symbol (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) are legally accepted as winter tyres. Previously, tyres marked M+S, M.S or M&S had been permitted, but these tyres are no longer valid. Additionally, all-season or four-weather tyres are not considered to be true winter tyres under the new regulations.

For further details, click here to access the French government’s official winter road rules page.

Read related:

When are local ski resorts opening for the winter season?

 

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: Irina Sshishkina, Unsplash

 

* Adapted from a Monaco Life article published on 27th February 2024

Ready, steady, go: Princess Charlene kicks off No Finish Line 2024

by: Elsa Carpenter
18/11/2024

The 25th anniversary edition of Monaco’s No Finish Line charity run/walk has officially begun, marking a major milestone for this beloved initiative. Over the weekend, Princess Charlene of Monaco, the patroness of this year’s race, launched the eight-day, round-the-clock event in memorable fashion, firing a confetti-filled starting gun at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille.

On Saturday 16th November, Princess Charlene joined hundreds of No Finish Line supporters at the grand launch of this ever-popular charity event. The Princess had been invited to formally launch the eight-day run/walk, but she didn’t stop there. The former Olympic athlete brought along a pair of trainers and joined her brother Gareth Wittstock, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene Foundation, and Minister of State Didier Guillaume in completing a portion of the 1.3-kilometre circuit.

Princess Charlene is pictured hand-in-hand with a young No Finish Line participant on Saturday 16th November. Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco 

Nearly 11,500 participants and 355 teams have registered for this special 25th-anniversary edition, which will continue until Sunday 24th November.

The annual event has become a fixture on the Principality’s November calendar, growing each year. Its organisers, a team from the local Children & Future association, have set an ambitious goal of collectively reaching 330,000 kilometres, surpassing last year’s total by 15,000.

How it works

The premise of No Finish Line is simple but impactful: for every kilometre completed, €1 is donated to Children & Future. These funds help sick and underprivileged children around the world and support programmes advocating for children’s rights.

Participants can register online or on-site and receive a high-tech chip that tracks their progress around the 1.3-kilometre circuit in Fontvieille. Whether running or walking, they can complete laps at any time, day or night.

More than just a race, No Finish Line fosters a lively, party-like atmosphere, featuring side events such as Zumba sessions, singing competitions, and performances of 1980s hits.

Registration costs €15 for adults and €8 for children over 10 years old. Head to the Chapiteau de Fontvieille to sign up and make a difference.

For more information, click here.

For more pictures of the launch day, click on the images below:

Read related:

No Finish Line: Monaco’s non-stop charity race aims for record-breaking year 

 

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. 

 

Photos credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco 

When are local ski resorts opening for the winter season?

by: Elsa Carpenter
18/11/2024

The first snows of the season have settled on the Alpes du Sud, and more snowfall is expected over the coming days and weeks, but when will local ski resorts officially launch their winter season? Monaco Life has all the key dates.

The winter ski season is just around the corner, with several popular resorts in southern France announcing early December opening dates. Among them are Isola 2000, Auron and La Colmiane-Valdeblore, located about two hours north of Monaco by car.

Valberg, another popular resort in the Mercantour mountain range, has yet to confirm its opening dates, though it is expected to open by mid-December.

The Val d’Allos resort plans a soft launch on 7th and 8th December—weather permitting—for the La Foux d’Allos sector. This higher portion of the resort will fully open the following weekend, 14th December. Further down the valley, Allos-Le Seignus is scheduled to open on 21st December.

The family-friendly Gréolières-les-Neiges, a perennial favourite for day trips and sledging, is set to open on 21st December, just as children in the region break up for Christmas holidays. The drive from Monaco takes around an hour and 45 minutes, the same as for Beuil-les-Launes, which will also open on 21st December. Turini Camp d’Argent, the closest resort to Monaco (a one-hour 20-minute drive), is scheduled to open on the same date.

The earliest opening for the 2024/25 winter season in the Alpes du Sud is Montgenèvre, near the Italian border, with its season starting on 30th November.

Across France, however, Tignes has announced the earliest opening. This high-altitude resort will welcome skiers from 23rd November—just a few days away!

 

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: Val d’Allos Office de Tourimse