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MONACO
POP 32,350 / 377
Squeezed into just 200 hectares, this confetti principality might be the world's second-
smallest country (the Vatican is smaller), but what it lacks in size it makes up for in atti-
tude. Glitzy, glam and screaming hedonism, Monaco is truly beguiling.
Although a sovereign state, the principality's status is unusual. It is not a member of the
European Union, yet it participates in the EU customs territory (meaning no border formal-
ities crossing from France into Monaco) and uses the euro as its currency.
History
Since the 13th century, Monaco's history has been that of the Grimaldi family, whose rule
began in 1297. Charles VIII, king of France, recognised Monégasque independence in
1489. But during the French Revolution, France snatched Monaco back and imprisoned its
royal family. Upon release, they had to sell the few possessions they still owned and the
palace became a warehouse.
The Grimaldis were restored to the throne under the 1814 Treaty of Paris. But in 1848
they lost Menton and Roquebrune to France, and Monaco swiftly became Europe's poorest
country. In 1860 Monégasque independence was recognised for a second time by France
and a monetary agreement in 1865 sealed the deal on future cooperation between the two
countries.
Rainier III (r 1949-2005), nicknamed le prince bâtisseur (the builder prince), expanded
the size of his principality by 20% in the late 1960s by reclaiming land from the sea to cre-
ate the industrial quarter of Fontvieille. In 2004 he doubled the size of the harbour with a
giant floating dyke as part of an ambitious project to place Port de Monaco (Port Hercules)
among the world's leading cruise-ship harbours. Upon Rainier's death, son Albert II be-
came monarch.
MONACO TRIVIA
»Citizens of Monaco (Monégasques), of whom there are only 7600, don't pay taxes.
»Monaco has its own flag (red and white), a national anthem and the national holiday is on 19 November.
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