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Monaco town hall shares the spirit of Christmas

by: Jessica Tatam
23/12/2022

Children from across the Principality rejoiced last week as the Monaco mairie held its three-day Arbres de Noël gift-giving event with one very special visitor… 

Organised by the Mairie de Monaco and taking place each December, the event themes each of the three evenings around a beautifully decorated tree. Created specifically for the children of the Principality, it has evolved into a much-loved Christmas festivity, and this year’s event from Wednesday 14th to Friday 16th December was particularly special, as it marked the end of a two-year hiatus following the global Covid-19 pandemic.  

Welcomed by an impressive crowd of nearly 800 delighted children in total, Santa Claus made his much-awaited entrance accompanied by his elf helpers and a mountain of gifts with which to shower the awaiting youngsters.  

Following the same process as in previous years, the first day saw the youngest children welcomed by Santa to the Nativity Scene Christmas Tree, followed by the Town Christmas Tree for older children on the second day. Finally, the children of mairie staff enjoyed the closing event.  

The festivities were lovingly and carefully prepared by the Seniors and Social Action Service and the Early Childhood and Family Service of the town hall, with no detail left forgotten.  

The result, as always, was a warm and joyful atmosphere with colourful Christmas decorations and an alley of fir trees as well as the familiar entertainment that families have come to expect and love.  

Every child left with their hands filled with a gift, their bellies filled with popcorn and pancakes, and their hearts filled with the joyful Christmas spirit. 

 

 

Photo source: Mairie de Monaco/Ed Wright

 

Partnered Monaco-Dolceacqua team win Riviera Electric Challenge

by: Luke Entwistle
16/09/2022

Monaco’s deputy mayor, Jacques Pastor, and Dolceacqua mayor Fulvio Gazzola won the eighth edition of the Riviera Electric Challenge after an intense 48 hours of racing on the Riviera.

41 cars, 250km covered, 10 different brands and 48 hours of compelling racing. The Riviera Electric Challenge returned for its eighth edition this week, finishing with a prize-giving ceremony in the Place du Palais Princier in the presence of Prince Albert II.

This year’s ‘Prince’s Cup’ was won by Pastor and Gazzola, representing the Principality of Monaco, as well as the small Italian village of Dolceacqua, on board a KIA Niro EV.

Having begun in the driving rain in Cagnes-Sur-Mer on Wednesday, the teams headed towards the vast hills behind Nice in difficult meteorological conditions, before crossing the border into neighbouring Italy, and finishing the day’s racing in Dolceacqua. The teams then headed to Airole before re-entering France, and ultimately completing the challenge in the Principality of Monaco.

As well as becoming an increasingly competitive sporting event, the Riviera Electric Challenge, which began in 2015, also promotes the use of electric vehicles, and forms part of the wider ‘soft mobility’ campaign, a key part of the Principality’s agenda.

With 10 different brands of cars on display during this year’s edition, it is a clear sign of progress within the field of electric cars, with a more varied and technologically diverse set of vehicles on display.

Monaco earned a one-two with the Principality’s Energy Transition Mission team coming in second on board a Peugeot e-208. The racing series will return for its ninth edition in September 2023.

 

Photo by Riviera Electric Challenge

Summer events calendar

by: Stephanie Horsman
10/07/2022

After two years of pandemic, the Mairie has announced the return of summer fun in the form of festivals, concerts, fireworks shows and other events. Here’s what’s in store for the next few months.

The endless days of worry over Covid have slowly been replaced by a return to hope and fun. In that vein, the Mairie of Monaco has announced its seasonal programme, which is filled with great events for young and old to enjoy.

It all kicks off on 15th June with the return of the Splash Party at the Stade Nautique Rainier III. Kids 12 to 17 take over the pool from 2pm to 6pm, giving them a chance to start of the summer right, as well as beat the heat.

Then, from 17th to 20th June, is the Junior Street Art Challenge, part of the newly renamed UPAINT festival. Three teams of secondary school students from Monaco will take over the Casino Terraces and show what they can do on a 150cm x 150cm panel. The three teams will be competing simultaneously for full effect. There will also be live performances by known street artists and other events surrounding this special brand of art.

On 21st June, to celebrate the longest day of the year, Fête de la Musique is back. Starting at 10am, music will be heard everywhere in the Principality, from the Condamine to Fontvieille to Place des Moulins and the Port, local bands will be playing throughout the day. At 7:30pm the Condamine Market will be the site for a rock concert with Suspicious Minds, and at 8:30pm the Port will be hosting Afroman Radio and Skip the Use. Access is free and open to all.

U Sciaratu, the Summer Carnival, returns to the Rock this year with an African theme. On 8th July from 6pm, parades, music troupes, and fun workshops will animate the streets of Monaco-Ville and a DJ will provide the atmosphere from 10pm to midnight on the Place de la Mairie.

No summer is complete without a fireworks display, and this summer, Monaco will be hosting two nights, on 30th July and 13th August at 10pm on Quai Albert 1er. After the show, a concert will be held so people can boogie into the night.

Finally, from 14th July to 21st August, the Port of Monaco will offer a variety of outdoor activities including basketball courts, an “e-motorcycle” carousel and karting from 18th July. Shaded areas will be set up around the port as a respite from the heat and a kiosk serving food and drinks available.

For a full listing of the summer programme, visit the website on www.mairie.mc

 

 

This article was originally published on 15th June 2022

 

 

 

 

U Sciaratu Summer Carnival on the Rock

by: Stephanie Horsman
04/07/2022
U Sciaratu, the summer carnival, is back on the Rock for its 10th edition, and this year it has an African theme! Get set for parades, musical troupes and other fun attractions, followed by a DJ in the Place de la Mairie.

The Riviera Electric Challenge is underway

by: Stephanie Horsman
15/09/2021

The seventh edition of the Riviera Electric Challenge left Cagnes-sur-Mer Wednesday morning for two days of racing in Italy and France before crossing the finish line in the Principality. 

Monaco has a big presence in this year’s Riviera Electric Challenge, the annual electric car road rally which covers 208.5 kilometres from France to Italy and finally, the Principality, with seven teams in the line-up.

The event is organised by MC2D – who also put on the Ever Monaco show, together with Monaco City Hall, the Automobile Club of Nice and the Automobile Club of Ponente Ligure. It takes place on 15th and 16th September and this year features two teams from the Mairie de Monaco, who are racing to show their commitment to using renewable energy sources and pollution-busting transport.

The first team features Karyn Ardisson Salopek and Mélanie Flachaire,  who are driving a Renault Zoé. The second team is made up of Jacques Pastor and Mayor of Dolceacqua Fulvio Gazzola in a Kia Niro.

Other Monaco-based teams include one from La Poste, the Automobile Club of Monaco, the Mission for the Energy Transition, and two teams from the Department of Tourism and Conventions.

Photo source: Mairie de Monaco

The first day of the rally takes drivers through several French villages and towns including Cagnes-sur-Mer, Antibes, Mougins, Nice, Col d’Eze, Peille and Sainte-Agnès before crossing the border into Italy and winding up the day in Monaco’s recently twinned city of Dolceacqua, where they will pass the night.

On Thursday morning, they continue their Italian adventure passing through Dolceacqua, Isolabona, Apricale, Baiardo, San Romolo, Perinaldo, Soldano, San Biagio, Vallecrosia and finally Ventimiglia with a drive-by through the new port of Cala del Forte. From there, the teams make their way back to Monaco, meeting on the forecourt of the Oceanographic Museum, where they are expected by mid-afternoon. Once the racers are all in situ, there will be an award ceremony.

 
 
Top photo source: Riviera Electric Challenge
 
 

Holiday celebrations in full-swing

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/12/2020

The Monaco Town Hall has organised a number of “Covid safe” events to ensure a merry and bright Christmas for all this festive season. 

Despite the current restrictions due to the health situation, the spirit of Christmas will be on full display this year in the Principality, though not in the usual way.

Since 20th November, residents and visitors have been able to enjoy the seasonal lights that illuminate each district after nightfall, giving a cheerful air to the chilly nights.

In addition, the esplanade of Quai Albert I is set to celebrate the magic of Christmas with nearly 250 fir trees and four attractions. There will be a carousel, duck pond fishing, a ride in the shape of a tree and another named the Caribou Ride-Santa’s Sleigh. The fun fair area will be open from 10am to 7:30pm from Friday 4th December to Sunday 3rd January.

The ice rink – a Monegasque winter staple – will also be open on 4th December at the Rainier III Nautical Stadium. With 1,000m2 of space, the ice rink takes five weeks to set up, but it is always worth the effort. Last year 28,674 skaters enjoyed the rink.

This year, the rules will be a little different, given the need to adapt to the health protocols, but fun can still be had. The rink can accommodate 200 people at a time and traffic must flow in a certain way as established by ground markers. Mask wearing is obligatory, and lockers and public areas will be disinfected regularly.

The rink will also host model-making mornings from 8am to 12pm on Sunday 13th December, 10th January, 24th January, 17th February and 21st February. It will also be the site of the Monaco skating championship on 6th March 2021.

For the smallest skaters, a 60m2 structure is being erected just for them. The ice rink will be open until 7th March 2021.

Princess Antoinette Park is also decked out in the spirit of the season for the first time. Christmas lights will be up until Thursday 3rd January and include a light trail and illuminated scenes, which can be enjoyed every day from 4pm until the park closes at 6pm.

New for this year, the Monaco Media Library is setting up workshops at the Metropole on the first three Wednesdays of December from 2pm to 6pm. The 2nd will feature a Christmas card workshop, the 9th is the Christmas Ball, and Christmas stockings feature on the 16th. The workshops are free, but space is limited so reservations are required. These can be made by emailing contact@metropoleshoppingmontecarlo.com or calling +377 92 16 77 01.

Happy holidays!