Month: July 2026

Monaco’s Handiplage service has opened for its 2026 season at the Larvotto beach, providing people with disabilities the opportunity to swim safely and comfortably throughout the summer. The service was inaugurated on Thursday 2nd July as part of the Princely Government’s ongoing commitment to disability inclusion and accessibility across the Principality.

First introduced in Monaco more than twenty years ago at the initiative of the Soroptimist Club, Handiplage is now organised by the Direction de l’Action et de l’Aide Sociales, which coordinates a team of six trained handiplage assistants. The service is open to people with disabilities whether they are accompanied or independent, and is designed to allow users to enjoy sea bathing in optimal conditions of safety, comfort and support.

What the service offers

The Larvotto site is equipped with four tiralo beach wheelchairs, an accessible shower fitted with a seat for people with reduced mobility, and two adapted sun loungers to improve comfort and independence for users. The service runs from 10am to 6pm on weekdays and from 9am to 7pm at weekends. Visitors who use the service can also request a complimentary three-hour parking voucher.

Open until the end of August

Handiplage at the Larvotto is open until 30 August. The Princely Government said the 2026 season reflects its continuing determination to strengthen accessibility in Monaco and to offer an increasingly inclusive welcome to people with disabilities.

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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Government Communications Department 

Monaco hosted a high-level symposium on Friday bringing together judges, legal experts and government officials to discuss the future role of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as Europe faces growing challenges including climate change, artificial intelligence and armed conflict. (more…)

A new initiative from the Heritage Institute—’Au Cœur de Monaco’—uncovers the history and culture of the Principality. By launching a series of specialised two-hour guided tours running every Wednesday from 1st July to 19th August 2026, between 4pm and 6pm, the authorities are inviting both residents and visitors to slow down and truly engage with the story of the Mediterranean enclave.

For Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of Cultural Affairs, this project is the culmination of a long-held ambition. “It’s a mission that I consider very important, that I have wanted to put in place for a very long time,” she said during a press conference held on Wednesday 1st July at the Castel Roc. The initiative aims to move beyond surface-level tourism, offering deep dives into the architectural and historical fabric of Monaco.

The tours – held in French and English – are a direct response to a clear demand from the public. “I think there was a strong expectation that people, even from the Principality, wanted to discover in detail their environment, as well as their architectural and historical heritage,” Gamerdinger added.

Beyond the glamour: Two unique itineraries

The programme offers two distinct itineraries, available in both French and English. One route focuses on the origins of the Principality within Monaco-Ville, providing an immersive look at the country’s historical heart, while the other traces Monaco’s evolution by connecting the 19th-century adventure of Monte-Carlo to the cutting-edge, sustainable design of the new Mareterra district. 

Regarding the inclusion of this contemporary project, Françoise Gamerdinger said that “what surrounds us currently is also part of our heritage, and it is important to emphasise it and, above all, to become aware of it”.

An authentic perspective 

As Philippe Borsarelli, one of the heritage tour guides said: “We act as ambassadors for the ‘real’ Monaco, aiming to showcase the country’s depth far beyond the ‘bling-bling’ image often associated with the region.” He also highlighted that the Principality has served as a ‘true laboratory’ for innovative techniques, particularly in the construction of Mareterra.

Célia Bernasconi, Director of the Heritage Institute, encourages participants to take their time to explore. “We offer people who are interested the chance to dedicate two hours of their day to visiting a neighbourhood and taking the time to wander, to look up, and to discover the stories hidden there”.

To ensure a quality experience, tours are run by reservation, allowing the team to manage group sizes effectively. With content meticulously written by the Heritage Institute, these walks offer an expert-led journey through 700 years of history, patronage, and strategic development that have shaped the Monaco of today.

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Photo: Philippe Borsarelli during a heritage tour, credit: Virginia D’Umas 

The City of Nice will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Declaration of Independence on Saturday 4th July with a free afternoon of music, dance and cultural activities on the Promenade du Paillon, honouring the longstanding ties between France and the United States.

Running from 2pm to 6pm at Place du Général Leclerc, the festivities will feature a New Orleans brass band, live jazz concerts, country dancing with introductory workshops, and family-friendly arts activities. Nice Mayor Eric Ciotti is expected to attend the celebrations at 3pm.

The event forms the centrepiece of a wider programme organised by the City of Nice throughout 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. Earlier this year, the city welcomed Charles Kushner, the United States Ambassador to France, to launch the commemorations. Nice has also been awarded the official ‘Freedom 250 France’ designation in recognition of its role as a partner in the anniversary celebrations.

The anniversary marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on 4th July 1776, a document founded on the principles of liberty, democracy and equality that gave birth to the United States. According to the City of Nice, the celebrations are intended to honour the historic friendship between France and the United States, forged through shared democratic values and a long history of cooperation.

Nice’s connections with the United States extend beyond history. The city maintains sister-city relationships with Houston, Miami and New Orleans, alongside ongoing partnerships in the economic, cultural, academic and scientific fields.

The Independence Day programme follows a series of American-themed events already held in Nice this year, including the Festival du Film Américain in June and a summer retrospective dedicated to Grace Kelly, organised by the Cinémathèque de Nice.

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Photo source: Ville de Nice