The pretty kitties will be at Espace Léo-Ferréon Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 April.
Organised by the De Gati de Mùnegu non-profit, the 6th edition of this unique beauty contest will feature over 220 cats belonging to 80 different breeders. Over 20 races will be present, including some rare ones such as the Pixie Bob, which looks like a little lynx.
Some owners enter their animal because they are from Monaco of course but others make the trip from all over Europe: France, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, for example, or even from the United States.
Edina Csora, Louis Coste, Yann Gobrecht, Thierry Fontaine and André Delsin are the five European judges who will decide the most handsome among them. And, as ever, there will be stands selling equipment, food and products for cats. Visitors will also find a wide range of cat-themed souvenirs.
Practical details:
Where: Espace Léo-Ferré, 25 Avenue Albert II
When: the exhibition is open from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The blessing will take place on Saturday at 9 am.
Pricess : 10 euros for over 13s, half price for 6-13 year olds, free for under 6s.
Please note: the nearest car park is the Papalins, 300 mètres from the venue.
The Sovereign is calling on the international community to promote peace through sport on April 6.
Involved in the #WhiteCard campaign organised by Peace and Sport since 2020, Prince Albert II again bradished the now traditional white card. The symbolic gesture means being part of the “International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.”
The Sovereign shared his commitment to the cause in an Instagram video: “As we navigate these challenging times, it is imperative to carry the message of peace, whether through a collective voice raised in unison or simple gesture of solidarity. Every action has the potential to make a difference.”
Begun by Peace and Sport in 2013, the campaign has seen many international celebrities promote the event, including Didier Drogba, former football player, and the last edition’s ambassador.
The white card enables you to show your support for the movement, wherever you are. As opposed to the yellow and red cards used in sport, the white card is not used as a punishment, but rather to promote peace.
Like Prince Albert II, you too can wave a white card to celebrate peace through sport!
Ultrasound renal denervation is performed under general anaesthetic and takes around thirty minutes.
It affects one in three adults in France*, i.e. 17 million people… While hypertension – high blood pressure – may seem to be a harmless condition, it can lead to serious, sometimes fatal complications. It is the leading cause of stroke and of dementia, the second leading cause of heart attacks and the second highest contributing factor to heart failure. Painless and without any particular symptoms, it is only detected in half of all cases, hence its reputation as a “silent killer”.
‘Normal’ blood pressure should not exceed 140/90 mmHg, and you can measure it yourself using a blood pressure monitor (on the arm or wrist), which can be bought in chemists’ or certain supermarkets for a few dozen euros. The home test is also recommended by healthcare professionals as it avoids “white coat syndrome” – anxiety and therefore a rise in blood pressure – experienced by some on a visit to the doctor’s surgery. You can find the list of approved devices on Stridebp.org, which will be available soon in French.
Kidneys are the key
Until now, the CHPG has had two solutions for treating patients who suffer from hypertension: advocating lifestyle changes (eating less salt, losing weight, exercising, stopping smoking), or treatment through drugs. But in the last fortnight or so, a third option has been introduced: renal denervation using interventional radiology ultrasound.
For those of us who didn’t go to medical school, here’s a simple explanation from Professor Atul Pathak, who is also President of the French Hypertension Society: “when you have high blood pressure, the SNS (sympathetic nervous system) is put under stress. It is present throughout the body, including in nerve fibres around the arteries that lead to the kidneys and communicate with the brain.”
Renal denervation involves destroying these small electrical wires around the artery of the kidney, which are thought to be responsible for high blood pressure. “To access the renal artery, we put a small wire up through the femoral artery in the groin. On the end of it is a device that emits ultrasound, which destroys the nerve fibres. It’s a real revolution,” says the specialist.
A first procedure on 8 March
On 8 March 2024, Professor Atul Pathak’s cardiology team and Professor Giuseppe Guzzardi’s interventional radiology team achieved a major first, treating two hypertensive patients for whom drug treatments had been unsuccessful, using this “very safe” method, which was first developed in Australia in 2009 by an American start-up. “It’s a technique that makes it possible to reduce blood pressure while avoiding too many drugs or ones that may have undesirable side-effects,” says the head of the cardiology department at the CHPG, while not ruling out the possibility that there will be “non-responders”, patients who will not improve after the innovative therapeutic procedure.
Women are particularly at risk of hypertension, as a result of the contraceptive pill, pregnancy or the menopause.
The Monegasque hospital currently has the capacity to treat 25 patients, but the number is set to increase rapidly. “I think we should be able to reach 100 this year,” says Professor Atul Pathak. The CHPG is the only facility to offer this technology within a radius stretching from Genoa in Italy to Perpignan.
* According to Santé Publique France figures in 2023.
The closing arguments of both the prosecution and defence were expected on Thursday.
Frequented by local and international stars such as Lady Gaga, Johnny Hallyday and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Sass’ Café on Princess Grace Avenue is in turmoil.
Among the eight defendants summoned before the criminal court on Wednesday this week, is the current manager of the restaurant/nightclub, Samuel Treves, the son of the founder, Sassa Treves. He is accused of having set up an “institutionalised policy” regarding prostitutes who frequent the establishment, and therefore, as reported by our colleagues from Monaco-Matin, gaining higher turnover “through drinks and tips paid into a shared ‘kitty’.”
The Portuguese citizen in his forties risks a fine of €9,000 to €18,000, and between 6 months and 3 years in prison, for procuring. He appeared in court along with seven other defendants, all on the same charges, except for a man who is also accused of drug offences and a woman who is also charged with money laundering.
“My name has been sullied”
As Monaco-Matin reveals, the case dates back to 2020, following anonymous witness statements that appear to be from sex workers, reporting drug trafficking. However after questioning them, the investigating officers suspected procuring was involved. In the magistrates’ view, the offence had indeed been committed, and remanded the eight accused before the court for allegedly aiding, abetting or acting as an intermediary for sex workers. The court hearing began on Wednesday 3 April and is due to end on Friday 5 April.
In his defence, as reported by the Monegasque daily, Samuel Treves said: “I am not a pimp. I am a good person, a hard-working businessman, my name has been sullied.”Also according to Monaco-Matin, prostitutes have been barred from the Sass’ Café since the beginning of the case.
A few weeks ago, a ministerial decree published in the Journal de Monaco introduced new safety measures concerning the use of terraces and balconies during the Monaco Grand Prix.
Monegasque flats are rented out at a premium during Grand Prix weekends. And terraces in particular. Some are willing to pay tens of thousands of euros to watch the race from the apartment buildings. Port Hercule is perhaps the most popular, as it has a view of the Sunday afternoon’s GP starting grid. However, authorisations are required. Owners or tenants of balconies and terraces overlooking the circuit may welcome guests for the event, with permission. The procedures are clearly explained on the Monegasque government website.
If you want to watch the Formula 1 cars racing from the comfort of your own home, you first have to make sure that your balcony or terrace and its railings are in good repair, and that everything has been checked by “an authorised entity in the Principality.”Certificates of ownership or tenancy agreements will then be required to apply for and obtain passes from the Police Department. To get the ‘golden ticket’, you need to begin the process at least 30 days before the Grand Prix. Be aware that balconies may accommodate up to two people per linear metre of railing.
The rules for balconies, terraces and loggias are set out in Ministerial Decree no. 2005-238 dated 9 May 2005. At the beginning of March, the Journal de Monaco published new articles concerning special measures “designed to guarantee an appropriate level of safety for the publicin premises that are not, by design, open to the public.”
The owner or occupier is responsible for a number of measures. First of all, they must check that the flat or office has a fire detection system [or at least a functioning smoke detector Ed.], and that the flat or office has a carbon monoxide detector if the premises have a gas-fired boiler. Also it is requested that additional cooking applicants do not exceed 20 kW, and that extra gas cooking appliances and naked flames are banned.
Another new measure, a safety officer must be appointed for each flat or office concerned. That person must be “aware of the number of people present in the premises during the competitions, so as to be able to communicate this information without delay to the authorities at their request,” and be able to raise the alarm with a potential security service in the building. The designated person must also comply with the provisions of Ministerial Order no. 2018-1079 dated 21 November 2018, as amended, relating to fire resistance of fittings used during the Grand Prix races.
The International School of Monaco’s will be hosting a ‘Reality Check’ on pressing global issues, on April 6.
The International School of Monaco (ISM) is organising its third TEDxYouth event on Saturday 6 April. The local manifestation of the international TEDx initiative demonstrates the School’s commitment to fostering young people’s interest in learning and debate.
The two-hour session is due to begin at the School at 2 pm. There will be an array of 11 young speakers, from 10 to 17 years old, as well as two adults: a parent, Filippo Ghirelli, who is the founder and Executive Chairman of Genera Group, and one of the School’s teachers, Katie Lattik.
Mr. Ghirelli’s field of expertise is energy transition, and he says, “Participating in TEDxYouth in Monaco is not only an honour, but it gives me a chance to combine my passion for mentoring the next generation with a reflective examination of our roots.”
The line-up of speakers is deliberately diverse so as to have as broad a range of points of view as possible on topics including the implications of fake news and the role of Artificial Intelligence, the impact of social media and awareness of climate change.
This year’s theme is Reality Check. The scheduled debates on cyberbullying, dreams, reality TV and more, were designed to focus the event on today’s challenges as seen from a young person’s perspective.
A new immersive and interactive experience about the Pelagos Sanctuary will surely prove popular, and will be accompanied by Manila Di Giovanni, CEO of DWorld. Attendees will also be entertained with performances by the ISM Year 4 Choir and the band Exodity.
Co-organiser Alicia Sedgwick says, “TEDxYouth events, organised for and by young people, present a combination of live speakers and TED Talk videos to inspire curiosity, ignite new ideas and empower young leaders.”
The presentations will be recorded and made available to a wide audience via the TED YouTube channel.
Tickets, priced at €10, are available at the School’s main reception and on the day. More details here.
The new coins bearing the star’s effigy will gradually be put into circulation between now and the summer of 2024.
After entering the Panthéon on 30 November 2021, Josephine Baker is being honoured once again. A pioneer of feminist and anti-racist activism and a member of the Resistance during the Second World War, the artist who died almost 50 years ago was an outstanding figure in the fight for minority rights. As well as Baker, two other exceptional women are featured on 10 and 50 cent coins: Simone Veil and Marie Curie.
As you may know, Josephine Baker and the Principality have a special bond. “She was, and will remain, a Monegasque at heart,” Prince Albert II solemnly declared at a ceremony in honour of her induction into the Panthéon. Considered one of the world’s first black celebrities, Josephine Baker was born into poverty in Saint-Louis, Missouri and went on to stardom in Paris, Europe and around the world. In Monaco, her place of eternal rest, she became friends with Princess Grace Kelly.
In the 1960s, Josephine Baker was living in her château in Les Milandes du Périgord with her “rainbow tribe”, and was drowning in debt. With unfailing generosity, she dedicated her time to the tribe’s 12 orphaned children from the four corners of the globe. In 1964, the château was put up for auction, but there was a last-minute reprieve thanks to Brigitte Bardot. Then a few years later, in 1968, when the building was finally sold, the singer and her tribe found themselves without a home. It was then that the actress and wife of Prince Rainier III came to her rescue.
Princess Grace Kelly moved Josephine Baker and her children into the Villa Maryvonne overlooking the Mediterranean in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. She also enabled the singer to return to the stage. After a number of performances including one at the Gala of the Monegasque Red Cross in 1974, Josephine Baker returned to Paris and began a series of shows at the Bobino. A few days after the show’s premiere, the entertainer suffered a brain haemorrhage and died on 12 April 1975. After a commemoration ceremony in Paris, her body was brought back to the Monaco cemetery, where it remains to this day.
The first flights will take off on Sunday 31 March and the last on 26 October 2024.
Fancy a trip? You can fly to the United States from the end of March with United Airlines, which has launched its seasonal service between Nice and New York/Newark a month earlier this year.
These flights are operated using Boeing 767-300 planes, “A premium aircraft with more spacious United Polaris and United Premium Plus Business Class cabins, 46 United Polaris Business Suites with direct corridor access, 22 United Premium Plus seats and 99 Economy Class seats,” a press release reads.
The airline points out that while food, soft drinks, fruit juices, beer and wine, tea, coffee and in-flight entertainment are free of charge in economy class, and most aircraft are equipped with adjustable headrests and on-demand personal entertainment systems, there are other classes offering premium services. These are the “United Polaris” business class, the “United Premium Plus” class and the “United Economy Plus” class, whose benefits are detailed on the airline’s official website.
This is what came out of the conference organised by Monaco’s Junior Economic Chamber.
Three of the Principality’s key players were invited by the JCE Monaco. Gaëlle Tallarida, Managing Director of the Monaco Yacht Show, Christian Tornatore, General Commissioner for the Tour de France stage in Monaco, and Richard Micoud, Head of Communications and Media at the Automobile Club de Monaco, discussed the new features, prospects and trends concerning the Principality’s emblematic events in 2024.
Rallies and Grand Prix
The Automobile Club de Monaco alone is responsible for six of the Principality’s unmissable events, from January to May. Every year, it organises three rallies and three Grand Prix races. As a measure of its popularity, there are some 200,000 visitors and a million live viewers for the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The Monaco Grand Prix has put innovations in place every year since the first edition in 1929. Regardless of its dimension, every change is important, both for the drivers’ performance and the spectators’ experience. The vehicles and the track are required to evolve at each event to keep up with new regulations and specifications.
This year, no major changes for the upcoming Grands Prix, except for a few details when building the circuit. On the other hand, in 2025, the single-seaters will ‘shrink’ from 5 to 4.50 metres long and from 2 to 1.80 metres wide, which will make overtaking easier, and therefore provide even more of a spectacle.
The final stage of the Tour de France will start from Monaco on 21 July
It’s not a scoop. This year, the emblematic final stage and time trial of the Tour de France is relocating from Paris and taking the Principality’s roads en route to the Promenade des Anglais, in Nice. Continuing with the innovations of previous years, the Tour’s cars and caravans will be exclusively electric or hybrid and will no longer be throwing out plastic “goodies” for spectators at the roadside.
The 22 team paddocks will be located so as to be very accessible to visitors, who will be able to see the riders up close as well as their latest carbon models, which will fly by at 100 kph during the race.
“Monaco is fertile ground for all athletes. As for us, theMonegasque Cycling Federation, we are very active and we’ve never had as manylicensees as this year thanks to the Tour de France,” says Christian Tornatore.
Monaco Yacht Show – 25 to 28 September
Its perfect organisation is the fruit of an entire year’s work: this year’s Monaco Yacht Show will showcase new products from over 500 exhibitors, and 105 super and mega yachts. It stands out from other shows since it is the only event to be 100% dedicated to super yachts measuring 24 metres and more.
This year, the MYS is expecting boats that are up to 120 metres long. It also includes boats with “greener” engines than in previous years, the environment being a key topic at the event.
The MYS has also needed to rethink the presence of “toys” to go with the boats, since the clientele is increasingly young (30-35 years old today versus an average of 50 in the past).
“Whether it’s security, hospitality, service, infrastructure, diversity of restaurants and international cultures…all these aspects mean thatevents in Monaco often owe their great success to the location,” said Gaëlle Tallarida in conclusion.
The world’s biggest hotel wine cellars are offering a rich programme of entertainment.
Created in 1874 at the behest of Marie Blanc, the legendary cellars are launching a year of festivities. This legendary venue, with 350,000 bottles spread over 2 kilometres of racks in a 1500m2 space, will be welcoming a host of guests for their 150th anniversary.
Stéphane Valeri, SBM’s Managing Director, believes the anniversary is an excellent opportunity to showcase the prestigious cellars: “The 150th anniversary of the Hôtel de Paris cellars celebrates not only Marie Blanc’s fabulous legacy, but also the passion and talent of our cellarmen and sommeliers, who are keeping this heritage alive, whether in the cellars, or in our thirty or so restaurants and bars today. For our group, it’s about sharing and handing down through the years.”
Having started on 21 March with a sumptuous private dinner, the celebration will feature a series of exclusive events throughout the year. On the programme: gourmet meals, conferences and masterclasses, in partnership with excellent wine and champagne houses.
The three events that will take place in the cellars are:
5 April 2024: The Bordeaux Grands Crus dinner, in partnership with Château Cheval Blanc, Château d’Yquem, Château Haut-Brion and Château Margaux, orchestrated by Chef Yannick Alleno. The dinner will be preceded by a wine tasting and a talk on “Climate change and its impact on the fine wines of Bordeaux”.
11 June 2024: Tenuta San Guido – Bolgheri dinner, also created by Yannick Alleno, preceded by a Master Class with the sommeliers and a private tasting with Priscilla Incisa Della Rocchetta from the Tenuta San Guido estate in Tuscany, which produces the great Sassicaia.
7 November 2024: Moët Hennessy dinner by Emmanuel Pilon, Chef at the Louis XV – Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris. Preceded by a tasting and a conference on “Climate change and its impact on Champagne,” the dinner will be a fitting end to the series of events.
In addition to these highly-anticipated events, the cellars play a less visible but vital logistical role throughout the year. They supply nearly 40 sales outlets in the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Resort with wines, champagnes, spirits and other beverages. 330,000 bottles of wine and champagne are uncorked and served each year, an average of 900 bottles a day.
In addition, the Route des Grands Crus will give diners at the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Resort’s restaurants an exclusive opportunity to taste a selection of fine French wines by the glass, showcasing the rich heritage of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo cellars.
On this historic occasion, the cellars wiill also unveil the first phase of their refurbishment. These improvements are part of a drive to modernise and safeguard this exceptional winegrowing heritage.
Finally, to mark the jubilee, SBM is launching a limited edition “Grande Champagne Premier Cru de Cognac”, a cognac of exceptional quality, which will be available from April 2024.
Practical info
Exclusive dinners on 5 April, 11 June and 7 November 2024
Masterclass with tasting of 8 wines on each of the above dates, from 10 am to noon
After the detection of a benign tumour, the Italian and Monegasque resident Flavio Briatore underwent emergency heart surgery at the age of 73. He shared an update on his Instagram account.
The news on his state of health is reassuring. “Ten days ago, I went to San Raffaele Hospital (Milan) for a routine check-up and they found a benign tumour in my heart. They took immediate action. And I’m still here to tell the tale. I spent ten days at the San Raffaele hopsital and off all the social networks,” he says in a video, posted on his Instagram account, with the caption “Thank you for your affection and support!”.
Back home soon after the operation, he took the opportunity to send his subscribers a message about prevention. “I would really like to thank the whole San Raffaele team, they were great, I must thank Elisabetta Gregoraci who stayed by my side the whole time, and my son who came from Monaco to see me at the hospital in Milan. So everyone was at my side, my friends and a many others. But the main thing is prevention, to get a check-up every year. I had one two years ago and the benign tumour wasn’t there then, but this time there it was. We need to look after ourourselves, prevention is fundamental. I’m telling you, I spent ten days in the hospital and here I am. Tomorrow I’ll be back at it.”
“Back at it” trackside at the Grand Prix circuits, since he is particularly close to the Spanish driver Fernando Alonso, who must decide soon if he will continue to take part in the Championship in 2025, and if so, with which team.
By coach, free shuttle or train, here’s how you can get to the tournament starting this weekend, without taking your car.
With only a couple of days to go until the start of the first Masters 1000 clay-court tournament of the season, it’s time to plan your visit. Every year, the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco (CAM) lays on free shuttle buses for spectators. The SNCF is organising a special “Monte-Carlo Country Club” stop for the event. Find out more.
By bus
We strongly advise you to avoid traffic jams and parking difficulties when you get to the tournament. Instead, use the free shuttles, as well as the buses provided by the CAM and the TER ZOU! services. Buses run every 15 minutes from Nice from the port area (the n° 607) or from Menton from the bus station (n° 608) and cost €1.50 per person.
If you are coming from one of the Principality’s public car parks, a set of shuttle buses are available free of charge in the mornings and evenings, for spectators with tickets (see the “Navette bus Spectateurs 2024 Circuit Parking VL” (Shuttle bus route for car parks) maps, for details of the routes and car parks concerned).
Another set of shuttle buses, also available in the mornings and evenings, are for spectators arriving in the Principality by coach (see the “Navette bus Spectateurs 2024 Circuit Parking Autocar” (Coach park shuttle route) maps).
Once at the Monte-Carlo Country Club (entrance/exit 3), a multilingual assistance system has been set up to guide spectators between the two types of shuttle bus.
By train
As every year, the SNCF is setting up a temporary station between Monaco and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. The TER (regional express train) drops you off about 500 metres from entrance n°4 to the event. Please note that this stop is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Alternatively, you can get off at Monaco station and then, if you show your tennis ticket, take the Principality’s buses (lines 1, 4 or 6) to the Monte-Carlo Country Club free of charge.
Come and discover or revisit the State Rooms in the Prince’s Palace, surrounded by the renovated frescoes.
As expected every year, the reopening was eagerly awaited by many tourists. The Prince’s Palace is open from 26 March to 13 October 2024. The event takes place at the same time each year, but it is still very special. In fact, a Prince’s Palace visit is a must in the Principality.
Astride its Rock, the Prince’s Palace was given a facelift and a new lease of life this winter thanks to the restoration of some of its frescoes. You’ll be able to see the painstaking work, which required the utmost care and attention to detail. For example, it took four years to renovate the ceiling of the Prince’s Palace alone.
Prince’s Palace opening times:
From 26 March to 30 June : 10 am – 5 pm – Closes at 6 pm
From 1 July to 31 August : 10 am – 6 pm – Closes at 7 pm
From 1 September to 13 October : 10 am – 5 pm – Closes at 6 pm
10 euros for adults and 5 euros for children and students
The Palace will be closed to visitors during the F1 Grand Prix weekend. For further information, you can contact the Palace via email at the following address: visites@palais.mc
As part of its commitment to protecting the environment, Monaco’s Town Council is launching an innovative and committed event: the Marathon des Fresques (fresco marathon).
On Saturday 6 April, from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Maison des Associations, the new workshop aims to raise awareness, across all generations, of the crucial environmental issues of our time.
Young and old alike are welcome to take part in the creation of five themed frescoes, tackling subjects as diverse as climate change, waste management and ocean conservation.
Among the activities on offer, the “Climate Fresco” is a fun approach to the complex challenges posed by climate change, while the “Compost Loop” will raise awareness on environmentally responsible purchases and the ecological impact of our everyday choices. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about the circular economy with a dedicated fresco, and to explore the crucial issues to do with the ocean and water management.
Open to all, the family-friendly event promises to be an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn and take action for the environment through an informative but relaxed activity.
Taking part is free, but you do need to sign up: environnement@mairie.mc. Don’t miss this opportunity to get environmentally involved at the Marathon des Fresques.
When : Saturday 6 April 2024 from 3 pm to 6 pm
Where: Maison des Associations de Monaco, 2 bis Promenade Honoré II
Booking: Free, by e-mail to environnement@mairie.mc
With 1858 brews in the running, the Monegasque beer won a gold medal at the Lyon International Competition, held on 22 and 23 March.
It’s a first for the Brasserie de Monaco! One year after winning a silver medal for its lager, the white beer went one better this year, after 1113 tasters tested and analysed 1858 samples.
The ‘Blanche de Monaco’ (4.8°) is light, with a floral but deliberately slightly bitter taste. The beverage is made from organic barley malts and Czech wheat and hops from sustainable sources. The Belgian style “weissbier – witbier” and the citrus notes, which come from the selected hops, are brought out by a hint of coriander.
“This gold medal is yet another testament to the quality of our products and the care we take in the production process. This is the seventh award in our history. It recognises the work carried out by my staff and showcases Monaco’s only craft brewery. We are once again helping to promote the Principality abroad, which makes me particularly happy,” said Gildo Pastor, President of the Brasserie de Monaco.
