The pearl of the French Riviera - Monaco

While wandering among the dozens of attractions of the Côte d'Azur, you cannot, you simply cannot but visit Monaco. It is a tiny state, or rather a city-state, which is the second smallest independent country in the world in terms of area (right after the Vatican). It is one of the richest countries in Europe, and also one of the most prestigious resorts. It lives mainly from tourism, the production of luxury items and… postage stamps. It is located approx. 18 km from Nice, while the journey from Poland to this charming country will take us all day.

Monaco is divided into 4 districts: the capital of the country, i.e. Monaco-Ville, Fontvieille (industrial center), Monte Carlo (economic center) and La Condamine, which performs commercial functions. Although it is actually a miniature of the country proper, it is a world tourist and leisure center. There are plenty of luxurious boutiques located on clean, well-kept streets, and the eyes of tourists are drawn to 19th-century palaces and magnificent, lush gardens.

A garden full of succulents

For such an inconspicuous size, Monaco delights tourists with its beauty and richness of attractions. Being a city-state, it has a very urbanized architecture, so there is little wild and natural green in it. However, it boasts a beautiful botanical garden located in the western part of the principality. Jardin exotique de Monaco is a place created for lovers of succulents - the collection includes plants from Mexico, Africa, Central and South America, as well as the USA and the Middle East. The richness of species provides visitors with a year-round opportunity to admire flowering plants.

The garden is situated on a cliff, at the foot of which there is a natural cave carved in limestone. It is open to visitors - you can go down with a guide. At an altitude of 40 m above sea level, there are caverns (empty spaces in the rocks) reaching almost sea level.

Tourist attractions of Monaco

One of the neighborhoods of Monaco is a great attraction for speed lovers. Monte Carlo tempts not only with the wealth of casinos, but also with the gigantic Grand Prix F1 race track. Running through the narrow streets of the city , the Formula 1 circuit is considered to be one of the most dangerous race tracks in F1. Vehicles speeding at full speed can be observed from the windows of guesthouses, hotels and houses.

Speaking of casinos, it is worth mentioning the most famous casino in Monte Carlo. They were built in 1878 according to the design of Charles Garier, the architect of the Paris Opera. We enter the building from the square side, passing through the games and entertainment center. Right next to it is the so-called American room, the only game room open to the public. Admission to the second room is paid, and the others are private - you can enter them only with a special invitation. In turn, the entrance to the casino from the south leads to the opera opened at the end of the 19th century. Many famous shows have premiered there, including The "Damnation of Faust" in 1893. Moving on, we will move on to a new architectural complex, i.e. the Auditorium Congress Center and the Loews Hotel.

On the other hand, in the capital of Monaco there is a delicious, stunning with the scale of architecture Oceanographic Museum. JY Cousteau and the equally delightful Ducal Palace. The interior of the palace consists of 19 chambers, 15 of which can be visited, but only if there is no prince in the residence. You can find out if the prince is traveling or staying in the palace by looking at the mast - if no flag is flying on it, we will visit more chambers. On the other hand, the aforementioned Ethnographic Museum is a place where we will see the Physical Oceanography Room, where there is a permanent exhibition on the Earth, and a Conference Room where films of a scientific nature are shown. In the Main Hall you can admire souvenirs from the expeditions of Prince Albert I, and everywhere there are aquariums with various species of fish.

One of the many attractions of Monaco is the neo-Romanesque Cathedral of St. Nikolas , which houses the tomb of Princess Grace Kelly. It was established in the second half of the 19th century on the site of the former Saint Nicolas church. The building was made of Brescia and La Turbie stone. A valuable monument is an altar made of gilded red walnut - it is located in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The interior of the temple is decorated with paintings by Louis Brea, a painter from the school representing the so-called "Nice primitivism." The Great Gate leads to the building, while inside there are princely tombs.

The charm of the beaches of Monaco

Tourists who want to gild their skin on a Monakia beach should remember that the local authorities do not tolerate skimpy outfits outside the area of blissful aging. This is definitely not a place where you can walk to the boulevard close to the beach in just a swimsuit. However, an ordinary pareo or other coverlet is enough not to arouse unfriendly glances.

Warm and crystal clear, similarly clean beaches and azure water (after all, the name of the coast itself obliges). Unfortunately, you often have to pay for the opportunity to enjoy the charms of golden sand. Free beaches are just off Lavrotto Beach and Princesse Grace, while private beaches are available at Monte Carlo Beach Club and Beach Plaza Sea Club.

It is a real paradise for water sports enthusiasts . Tourists have at their disposal several swimming pools where you can relax (if someone could not cram into the water - unfortunately, the beauty of the region is associated with crowds of sunbathers). You can also sail, fish and dive under the watchful eye of experienced instructors.

Holidays in Monaco will be an unforgettable experience. If you are looking for a more relaxed type of accommodation and do not want to use a hotel, you can stay at Camping Delle Rose (via Provinciale, Isolabona). In terms of prices, it costs € 10.00 per berth for a vehicle, and an adult costs € 8.00-9.00 per day. It is located 32 km from the capital and 5 km from the medieval town of Dolceacqua, surrounded by the greenery of eucalyptus, pine, chestnut and mimosa. It is an ideal place for families with children and for those who want to stay in close contact with nature, among the aromas of Mediterranean vegetation. However, wherever we stop, we will be pleased. We are finally in Monaco.