Monaco-Ville
Categories: Monaco stubs | Europe geography stubs | Monaco
Monaco-Ville is the old fortified town of Monaco and the official capital of the country. The Prince's Palace, the Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum are located here. Monaco-Ville is located at 43°44'15" North, 7°24'55" East. It's population is estimated at 1,151 residents (43.7375, 7.415278).
Monaco-Ville, one of the four districts of the principality of Monaco, and also the capital. The other districts in Monaco are La Condamine, Monte Carlo, and Fontvieille. Monaco itself is situated within south-eastern France about 20 km (12 mi) north-east of Nice and 8 km (5 mi) from the border of France and Italy. Monaco-Ville is an old fortified town—some of the ramparts still remain—and is situated on a rocky promontory that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient name for Monaco-Ville is Monoecus.
Monaco has long been a playground of the rich and famous, thanks to its harbour setting, world-class casinos, and lack of income tax. Since 1297, with some interruptions, it has been ruled by the house of Grimaldi, the oldest ruling house in Europe; Prince Rainier III is the current sovereign. The position of the flag on top of his residence, the Palais Princier, indicates whether the prince is at home or away. The colourful changing of the guard occurs every day outside the Palais at 11:55 am. Next door to the Palais is the Cathédrale de Monaco, a Romanesque-Byzantine church that contains the remains of many former princes. United States-born Grace Kelly, Princess Grace of Monaco, is also buried there. Monaco also boasts the world-famous Oceanographic Museum, which was established in 1910 by Prince Albert I, and was once under the direction of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. One of the oldest buildings in the principality, Chapelle de la Misericorde (1639) is famous as the starting point of a torchlit religious procession by local residents that takes place on the eve of Good Friday each year.
Since 1929, Monaco-Ville has been the centre of the Formula One Grand Prix de Monaco. This street-circuit motor-racing event is held annually in late May. Population 30,000 (1990 estimate).
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