In a symbolic gesture that blends history with modern governance, National Council President Thomas Brezzo led a high-level delegation to the newly inaugurated National Archives in Fontvieille on 16th July, where he formalised a landmark agreement to preserve Monaco’s institutional memory. The occasion marked the second major transfer of parliamentary records — and a deepening commitment to long-term archival innovation.
The visit culminated in the signing of three official conventions between the National Council and Michaël Bloche, Director of the Archives nationales. Among them was a pivotal heritage deposit agreement, expanding on the first delivery of parliamentary archives signed last autumn. This latest transfer includes an array of political treasures: registers signed by Council Presidents from 1918 to 1973, century-old budget records, and curated press clippings from the Journal de Monaco chronicling political activity between 1911 and 1930.
“These documents are not only pieces of administrative history, they are reflections of Monaco’s evolving democracy,” said one official at the event, highlighting the enduring value of institutional memory.
building Monaco’s archival future
A third deposit is already scheduled for autumn 2025, the next step in a joint effort launched in 2021 with the creation of the Archives nationales’ preparatory mission. Since then, the National Council has led a quiet revolution in its archival policy, moving toward a structured, accessible, and future-facing framework for managing official records. This long-term strategy ensures that today’s political milestones are preserved with the same care as those of a century ago.
inside Fontvieille’s new archival home
After the signing ceremony, Brezzo and members of the delegation — including Marie‑Noëlle Gibelli, Vice‑President of the Culture and Heritage Commission — toured the state-of-the-art Fontvieille site. They were shown a curated selection of original documents from Monaco’s political past, offering a rare window into the principality’s legislative history and the meticulous work that now safeguards it.
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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Government Communications Department