Prince Albert II inaugurated the new premises of the Direction des Archives nationales in Fontvieille on 16th June, ushering in a new era of heritage preservation.
The inauguration followed the publication of a sovereign ordinance on 16th May establishing the Direction des Archives nationales as a dedicated public institution. This transformation integrates the former Central Archives and Administrative Documentation Office, which will now operate as the Government Archives Service within the new structure. The change marks the culmination of four years of work by the Mission de préfiguration, a project aimed at aligning Monaco’s archival standards with international best practices.
Clarifying the lines of history
Before the promulgation of Monaco’s Constitution in 1911, the archives of the State and the Sovereign were indistinct. As such, numerous historical government documents remain within the Palace Archives, founded in 1881 and retained as property of the Crown. In contrast, the National Archives are now under the authority of the Minister of State and serve the public, providing access to selected materials for administrators, researchers, residents, and the wider academic community.
New facilities and broader access
Located in Fontvieille, the newly refurbished premises add 500 square metres of secure archival space, designed as a central hub for public bodies wishing to deposit historically significant materials. Two reading rooms—one in Fontvieille and the other at the Ministry of State—are now open by appointment, providing professional access points for consulting collections under controlled conditions.
Launch of a national digital portal
Coinciding with the inauguration, the Direction des Archives nationales launched its official website, archives-nationales.gouv.mc, offering a centralised digital platform for the dissemination of standardised inventories, digitised documents, virtual exhibitions, and editorial content.
The site is also open to contributions from other entities preserving archives of public interest, including the Médiathèque communale’s Fonds patrimonial and municipal archives, thereby broadening the reach of Monaco’s heritage resources.
Supporting legislative and institutional development
The new archive service is tasked not only with the collection and conservation of both public and private archives, but also with supporting the creation of legislation and offering guidance to institutions on archival practices.
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Main photo credit: Ed Wright