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A sovereign and independent state, the Principality of Monaco has
borders on its landward side with several communes of the French
Department of the Alpes-Maritimes; from west to east these are Cap
d'Ail, la Turbie, Beausoleil and Roquebrune Cap Martin. Seawards,
Monaco faces the Mediterranean.
The population of the Principality consists of 29,972 inhabitants,
5,070 of whom are Monégasques, 12,047 French and 5,000 Italian
(according to the last official census in 1990).
Its surface area is 485 acres, of which nearly 100 were recovered
from the sea during the course of the last twenty years.
It lies in a narrow coastal strip which sometimes rises vertically
upwards with its highest point at 206 feet. Its width varies between
.65 miles and a mere 382 yards. Its coastline is 2.5 miles long.
The Principality has only one commune, Monaco, whose limits are the
same as those of the state.
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Monaco is divided into five areas :
1-Monaco-Ville on the Rock, the old fortified town, with the
Prince's Palace, the ramparts, the gardens, the Cathedral and
the Oceanographic Museum.
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2-The Condamine, the harbor area. |
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3-Monte Carlo, created in 1866, in the reign of Prince Charles
III who gave it its name, with its internationally famous
Casino, its great hotels and leisure facilities, some created
recently : Larvotto beach, the Monte Carlo Sporting Club, the
Boulingrins Gardens. |
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4-Fontvieille, a great technical achievement with the filling-in
with rock of 40 meters of water to produce a platform of 22
hectares supporting an urban, tourist and sports complex
adjoining a yachting harbor and a pollution-free industrial
zone.
5-Moneghetti, the Révoires and the Exotic Gardens (on the
western border with Cap d`Ail). |
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Climate
Situated at the heart of Mediterranean Europe, the Principality of
Monaco enjoys a particularly mild climate, with more than 300 days
of sunshine per year. In winter, temperatures average between 45 to
58 degrees Farenheit with sunny days and cool nights. In the
springtime, "Le Mistral" wind creates crystal clear skies with
temperatures in the 50s-60s. Most summers are in the 80s with hot
spells for a week or so in July and August. Sea breezes cool down
the evenings. One of the loveliest times to be in Monaco is fall.
With temperatures in the 60s to 70s, people are still sun-tanning on
the beach until mid-October.
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The Weather
in the Principality of Monaco |
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
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Minimum |
50 |
50 |
54 |
58 |
64 |
72 |
78 |
78 |
74 |
66 |
58 |
54 |
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Maximum |
58 |
60 |
62 |
66 |
72 |
80 |
86 |
86 |
82 |
74 |
66 |
62 |
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Average |
54 |
55 |
58 |
62 |
68 |
76 |
82 |
82 |
78 |
70 |
62 |
58 |
Monaco Surroundings
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Roquebrune
village: mediaeval castle, 3.7 miles
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La Turbie: Tower
of Augustus, 5 miles
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Eze village: the
Eagle's Nest of the
Côte d'Azur,
5.6 miles
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Menton: the
Cocteau Museum, 6.2 miles
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Beaulieu: the
Greek villa Kerylos, 6.8 miles
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Villefranche sur
Mer: Jean Cocteau Chapel and Citadel, 6.8 miles
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Saint Jean Cap
Ferrat: Ile de France Museum, 7.5 miles
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Saint Paul de
Vence: the Maeght Foundation, 23.6 miles
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Antibes: Picasso
Museum, 25 miles
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Vence: Matisse
Chapel, 26 miles
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Biot: Fernand
Léger Museum, 26 miles.
In winter, skiing is available only a few hours' drive from the
Principality at the French resorts of Peira Cava (35 miles),
Gréolières (42 miles), Andon (61 miles), la Colmiane (55 miles),
Isola 2000 (61.5 miles), Valberg (64 miles), and Auron (72 miles)
and the Italian resorts of Limone (51 miles) and Monesi (76 miles).
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