Monaco Tribune

WEC: Vista AF Corse Ferraris’ livery supports Princess Charlene Foundation

The Italian stable unveiled the two Ferrari 296s that will take part in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), including the 24 Heures du Mans, at Milan Linate airport. 

A special feature this season will be the inclusion of the Princess Charlene Foundation’s logo on the two vehicles that will be driven by Thomas Flohr, Chairman of Vista Jet, the world leader in private jet hire, and Francesco Castellacci.

Charles Leclerc and Gareth Wittstock present

As part of the partnership between the two entities, a donation will be made for every point the team wins during the championship, to help promote a healthy lifestyle and sporting values, with a particular emphasis on children’s safety.

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Gareth Wittstock and Charles Leclerc were present in Milan (Photo © Vista Jet)

Gareth Wittstock, General Secretary of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, attended the presentation, along with Charles Leclerc and world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim, both ambassadors for the Foundation.

The Endurance World Championship kicks off on March 2 in Qatar.

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All the 2024 season’s drivers together (Photo © Vista Jet)

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Is Nice airport romantic? Apparently so!

According to the ranking published by travel website Kayak.fr, Nice is the fourth most romantic airport in France.

Need time for goodbyes before taking off? Don’t worry, the drop-off zone at Nice airport is one of the most generous with passengers before the big departure, according to the travel website Kayak.fr. Offering 15 minutes’ free parking, it ranks behind Lyon (20 minutes), Marseille and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

But do travellers agree?

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1 day, 1 venue, 1 cause: how Monaco will celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March

From 9 am to 8 pm, women will be in the spotlight at the Espace Léo Ferré.

The event, organised by the Comité pour la promotion et la protection des droits des femmes (Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights), will bring together a number of stakeholders and partners, working together for a single cause: women’s rights.

“Our aim is to show the strength of the Monegasque collective that is committed to women’s rights, hence the name ‘PowHer’, which promotes current and future actions  by stakeholders in the Principality,” said Céline Cottalorda, Inter-Ministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights.

© Prince’s Government

Four themes for the day 

Education, health, sport and work. These four themes will put women front and centre, through a number of stands, conferences, round tables, a wishing tree and interactive workshops. The open-access, free event will take place over a whole day, in one venue, for a common cause. “It will be a wonderful celebration, open to everyone,” Céline said. A unique stage show will conclude the day of action.

While events on 8 March will likely make an impact, the commitment to women’s issues will also continue throughout 2024, which promises to be a year of “collective action”.

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New hydrogen pontoon in Monaco Yacht Club marina

SBM Offshore inaugurated the first green hydrogen pontoon on Monday 19 February.

Take a stroll around the Monaco Yacht Club marina and you’re sure to spot a rather unusual little floating structure. Covered in solar panels, the pontoon produces green hydrogen from renewable sources. The SBM E-Racing team will be using the hydrogen it produces during the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge,

The prototype “captures solar energy”  and stores it “so that it can produce at night and convert into electricity.”  The electrical energy then powers “an electrolyser that breaks down the water molecule to produce hydrogen, and a compressor that compresses the hydrogen into bottles,” Patrick Ferri, SBM Offshore’s Project Manager explained to Monaco Info.

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The innovative device consists of four main components: solar panels, batteries, the electro-catalyst and a compressor – © Monaco Tribune

The innovation is part of SBM Offshore’s commitment to being “a player in the energy transition,” said Francesco Prazzo, Managing Director at SBM Offshore. “We have been operating in the traditional energy sector for several years now. We’ve started to develop products in this field [renewable energies] and so we’re very much in a research phase, looking at all the new energies that could be part of it,” he added on state television.

These high-tech inventions are in phase with the Principality’s commitment to the energy transition. “Monaco is always at the cutting edge of technology and tries to contribute to the development of yachting,” said Bernard d’Alessandri, Secretary and General Manager of the Yacht Club de Monaco.

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Cookery classes in and around Monaco

Cooking is an art form, and there’s no better way to improve than by taking lessons with the best. 

Wish you could impress your family and friends with dishes worthy of a Michelin-starred restaurant? Monaco Tribune tells you where you can take cookery lessons between Monaco and Nice.

Cuisine sur Cours, Nice

Cuisine sur Cours, in Nice, offers an introduction to all things culinary. The cookery lessons given by Chef Aude are adjusted to the student’s ability and tastes. With 20 years’ experience in renowned establishments in France and abroad, she’ll be able to “guide you along the path to a meal that’s both simple and original.” Through the different classes she offers, Aude helps everyone to learn to cook, with lessons for children, teenagers and parents. And if you want to rattle those pots and pans regularly with Aude, you can also take out a subscription.

  • Further information: +33 4 93 96 17 29

Les Petits Farcis, Nice

At Les Petits Farcis, the focus is on Mediterranean culture. Over the course of a morning, the team will take you to discover the region’s delicious local produce in Nice’s markets, then it’s back to the kitchen to prepare seasonal recipes. Founded by Rosa Jackson, a former Canadian food journalist with a passion for French culture, Les Petits Farcis takes you on a culinary adventure “in the most Italian of French cities.”

Du Goût & des Autres, Nice

“After 15 years in interior design, 6 years in the wine world and a pasty-maker’s vocational qualification (CAP), pastry-making became an obvious choice” – © Du Goût & des Autres

David Millereau teaches pastry-making at Du Goût & des Autres. He runs a host of classes focusing on sweet dishes in his workshop in Nice’s Cimiez district. On your own or in a group, you can choose from dozens of recipes suggested by David. “Ideal for celebrating a birthday with family or friends, or just having a good time with your significant other.”

  • Additional information: +33 6 12 63 83 39

École Française de Pizzaïolo, Cap d’Ail

The French Pizzaïolo School has been training chefs for 20 years. Founded by Eric Riem, the school has antennae in Paris, Lyon, Cap d’Ail and Nantes. From a simple two-day session to a one-month course, the French Pizzaiolo School teaches you how to master the typical Italian dish. The longer courses provide training in the pizza trade, and are mainly aimed at those who wish to take up the profession.

  • Additional information: +33 4 93 78 02 02

Chef Clément

After more than nine years in the business and 5,000 students trained, Chef Clément has made a real name for himself in many styles. On the strength of five years studying at the Lycée Hôtelier de Marseille, he offers cooking classes of different types. Meat, fish, vegetarian, pastry… Clément can share his culinary talents in your home, throughout the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region. His workshops are open to all, in groups or alone, at home or remotely.

  • Additional information: +33 6 65 24 49 07

L’Atelier Cuisine Niçoise

The Atelier Cuisine Niçoise is located in Nice’s old town, in the former Senate building. As the name suggests, the courses focus on Nice’s culinary heritage. With the family, as a couple, with friends or just to have fun, participants can learn how to make the emblematic recipes of the region. L’Atelier Cuisine Niçoise provides 12 workstations and all the necessary equipment.

  • Additional information: + 33 4 89 06 48 01

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Did you see the Prince’s Palace turn orange?

A poignant message of support for the Fondation Flavien, and a symbol of hope on International Childhood Cancer Day.

Orange was Flavien’s favourite colour. Denis Maccario fights a daily battle against paediatric cancer in Monaco as a tribute to his son, who he lost in 2014. The Prince’s Palace was a veritable orange beacon on 15 February, in support of his Foundation’s work, and as a gesture of support for all cancer and rare disease patients on this special date.

© Prince’s Palace
© Prince’s Palace

Research is gradually gaining ground

Created on 15 August 2014, the Flavien Foundation’s purpose is to raise awareness and inform Monegasques of the need to take action. Thanks to a number of partnerships, volunteers organise regular events to raise funds. These are then donated to science, in the hope of one day curing all children suffering from cancer or a rare disease. The fight continues.

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How to make the most of the winter school holidays in Monaco

Exhibitions, outings, concerts… If you don’t know what to do from February 23 to March 11, 2024, read on!

It’s winter school holidays time again in the Principality. And the good news is, the good weather’s back too! Here are 6 activities for a busy break.

Reveal your artistic gifts at the Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Plastiques

Are you an artist at heart? Time to let it show!

Several workshops are on offer for art lovers from Monday 26 February to Friday 1 March, at the Pavillon Bosio. Three types of workshops in fact, each run by teachers. From engraving to ceramics, there’s something for all tastes. Children or adults, beginners or experienced artists… fear not, registration is open to all.

A word of advice, don’t forget your gear!

Practical information for all courses

AS Monaco at home to PSG

This is THE encounter of Ligue 1’s 24th match day. It’s payback time for the Red and Whites. Despite losing the away leg (5-2), AS Monaco isn’t rolling over. Just four days before the last 8 return match between Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, the Monegasques have every reason to believe they can win. A victory would move them up the league table, closing the gap on the Parisians.

So, head over to the Louis-II Stadium, to support them on Friday 1 March.

Pay a visit to the Oceanographic Museum

No need to wrap up warm… The Principality takes you down into the deep blue sea over the holidays. And you can take advantage of a great deal: for every adult ticket purchased, a child gets in free, from February 10 to March 10, 2024.

Since June 4, 2022, the “Polar Mission” exhibition takes us on an adventure to the North and South Poles. You can follow the history of the greatest explorers and see the projected images in the amazing “Immersion” room. All the while taking part in the awareness campaign to protect marine areas around the Antarctic. And, children can even leave with their polar worlds reporter’s certificate!

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The “Polar Mission” exhibition – © Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

Continuing your visit, you can meet Greg Lecoeur, a wildlife photographer from Nice, and his photographs on the theme of “Poles, fragile worlds” until March 12, 2024. There is also the “The Prince and the Mediterranean”  exhibition, where you can imagine yourself on board Prince Rainier III’s famous boat, off the Mediterranean coast.

Other activities will be on offer during the holidays. Children can enjoy a fishes’ snack time and even discover animals from the coastline. For the more adventurous, an Escape Game and a 360-degree immersion will take you down to the depths of the Big Blue.

Bookings

Your shot at fame at the “Golden Voices Music Awards”

If you like to sing, this event is for you.

The jury will be looking for five-star talent at the Théâtre Michel Daner in Beausoleil on Saturday, February 24. Bruno Berberes, casting director of The Voice and The Voice Kids will be present at what promises to be a real treat for music enthusiasts. What’s up for grabs? The opportunity to represent the Principality at the competition’s next annual international final, on April 20, 2024. It will take place on a very special stage, the Croisette in Cannes.

Practical details

Come and sing along with Pierre de Maere in concert

His songs, “Un jour je marierai un ange” and “Regrets” have been all over Europe. Pierre de Maere will be on the Monegasque stage during the school holidays. The Belgian sensation has been making a name for himself since his breakthrough in 2022. Whether you are a real fan or just curious, it’s a great opportunity to spend an evening listening to music and singing at the top of your lungs.

It’s a cool way to round off the holidays in style – Saturday, March 9 at 8 pm at the Grimaldi Forum.

Care to meet one of the most famous mammals of the prehistoric era?

A number of bones were discovered in the permafrost of Siberia between 1991 and 1993. After much research and analysis the skeleton turned out to be none other than a woolly mammoth that lived over 30,000 years ago. So who is he really and what secrets is he hiding? Good news, since 2014, Stepan the mammoth has made the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of Monaco his home. You can learn about the life of this monument of the Ice Age, as well as more about Siberian history. And don’t miss the special activities for the February holidays:

Ages 4 to 6 : dress up for a magical visit on Wednesday, February 21 from 2.30 pm to 4 pm.

Ages 7 to 10: Tuesday, February 27, from 2 pm to 4 pm, there will be firelighting and story-making workshops.

Prices and bookings

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Music lessons in Monaco

Whether you want to be a violin virtuoso, a guitar hero or a piano player, you too can learn to play an instrument. Monaco Tribune lists some of the Principality’s music lessons.

When it comes to the arts, Monaco stands out for many reasons, not least of which is music. Major institutions such as the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra have helped the region shine on the international stage.

Rainier III Academy

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The Gala Concert at the Académie Rainier III was organised as part of the commemoration of the centenary of his birth – © Ed Wright Images / Monaco Town Council

The Rainer III Academy is one of the Principality’s most renowned arts schools. Covering all instruments, from strings and woodwinds to brass and voice, the school has several music departments: early, classical, jazz and contemporary.

With a teaching team made up of renowned artists, the different courses are designed for both the most ambitious students who are aiming for a professional career and amateurs wishing to hone their skills. From the age of five onwards, the Academy’s early learning programme also allows students to combine music and school through its ‘classes à horaires aménagés musique’, with a specially adjusted timetable. On the other hand, admission to the adult amateur programme requires a certain amount of musical experience and is not open to beginners.

In addition, the courses prepare students for the DEM or CEM diplomas, as in a music conservatoire.

The ‘Parcours Adapté’ (Adapted Pathway) is designed for people with special needs such as disabilities.

For more information: +377 93 15 28 91

MusicFit

MusicFit is an international group, which also has a presence in Switzerland, Belgium and the UK. Located in Beausoleil and Monaco, the school provides lessons in singing, piano, keyboard, guitar, electric guitar, violin, saxophone and music theory. From beginners to advanced, it offers courses for groups and individuals all year round and during the holidays. Courses are “conventional,” like conservatory learning, combining music theory and instrumental practice, for children and adults alike. Each of the teachers is a professional graduate of a music conservatory.

The range of courses on offer is flexible, from single classes to annual programmes, so everyone can choose what suits them best. It is also possible to opt for a one-month introductory course with the aim of discovering music and which instrument you might like to pursue.

Further information : +33 6 32 20 31 23

Private piano teachers

If you wish to learn to play the piano in the Principality, you can also call on the services of private tutors.

German Eugène Velmoznyi, a graduate of the Munich and Hanover Conservatoires, gives lessons in piano, singing and music theory. He offers individual lessons from the age of  7 upwards and for all levels. He can also provide an annual curriculum. His speciality is composition and improvisation. With 35 years’ experience of teaching music, he gives lessons in Monaco and the surrounding area. In the course of his career, he has also sung in and directed choirs.

Further information: +33 7 67 21 72 11

Grégoire Peñalba uses a different method to conservatory classes. A graduate of the École Normale de Musique A. Cortot, he takes an unconventional approach to teaching, notably through “musical well-being classes,” in which he focuses on the sensations music provides. His method encourages his students to speak the music before reading it. He also provides musical appreciation classes, essential to understanding music in his opinion. He teaches interpretation, improvisation and composition for all levels. His lessons, available for 6 years and up, can take place at home, in his premises or by videoconference.

More information: +33 6 10 68 02 01

Private guitar lessons

Learning the guitar is also possible in Monaco.

Florent Garcia
Florent Garcia can teach you guitar via his videos on YouTube © Florent Garcia 

Florent Garcia is a youtuber with nearly 250 thousand subscribers, and he provides guitar lessons in Monaco. He taught himself the guitar after attending the Rainier III Academy. Later on he went back to the Monegasque Academy, studying jazz and contemporary music. He offers training courses for both beginners and more advanced, delivered remotely via videos.

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Two new tourist trains between the Côte d’Azur and Italy this summer?

Trenitalia announced on 6 February its intention to create two new rail links in France.

One towards Milan and the other towards Turin. The Italian company’s two new projects were unveiled at a press conference held by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Nice. Its aim is clear: to improve its tourist-oriented offering to meet seasonal demand, in collaboration with the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. For the operator of a Paris – Lyon – Milan route since 2021, the ambition is “to reach Marseille or, who knows one day, Avignon,” said its Managing Director, Luigi Cantamessa.

Along the coast, towards Milan

By summer 2024, it will be possible to travel from Marseille and Milan once a day. A tourist route run “in collaboration with the SNCF,” he told France 3 Côte d’Azur. While the stops along the way are still unclear, one thing is certain: Nice and Monaco are expected to be included, with a short stopover at the Italian border, in Ventimiglia. This is good news, reversing the decision to stop running Thello trains between the two cities, in 2021.

The ‘Train des Merveilles,’ Italian-style

A direct route from Nice to Turin? The equivalent of the Alpes Maritimes’ “Train des Merveilles,” revisited by the Italian operator, should start up from 2025. Passing through Breil-sur-Roya, the route would allow passengers to admire beauty of the Nice hinterland, with “fully glazed, panoramic carriages, similar to those on the Ferroviaire del Bernina,” he continued. In short, Trenitalia is packing quite the punch.

These projects appear to be in line with the agreement signed by the Southern Alps Cross-Border Alliance and the Italian railway company on 8 February to strengthen their cooperation, mainly in the transport field.

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Sir Stelios: Nasdaq listing would attract more easyJet investors

The budget airline’s founder believes a dual listing, with New York in addition to the London Stock Exchange (LSE), would attract more investors stateside.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday at the weekend, the Monegasque resident said easyJet should consider listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange to attract more US investors. 

“Why would you object to a secondary listing on Nasdaq?” he said. “London hasn’t lost anything. You’re just attracting more shareholders from the States.”

Extra investment would certainly bring the airline closer in value to Ryanair. The lrish rival airline has a primary listing on the Irish stock market and one on Nasdaq, and is currently worth £19.6 billion, compared with £4.2 billion for easyJet, despite serving only 1.5 times more routes.

“I often look at the value of Ryanair and wonder why it is higher than Easyjet.”

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou

In contrast, Tui’s shareholders voted to leave London in favour of a single listing on the Frankfurt stock market, considering that this would free the German holiday firm from having to adhere to ‘two separate regulatory regimes’, which created ‘inefficiencies as well as ongoing and periodic costs’. 

Billionaire and philanthropist Haji-Ioannou, who founded the airline in 1994, still has a stake in the company worth about £650 million, however he no longer runs the business and conceded that the final decision lies with easyJet’s management team.

There seems no suggestion by Sir Stelios that easyJet should quit the LSE. However, to provide some context, other major companies are jumping ship.

Gambling giant Flutter has also begun trading in New York and has announced its intention to make the Nasdaq its ‘primary’ listing.  Cambridge chip giant Arm and London-based commodities broker Marex are also crossing the Atlantic, along with packaging group Smurfit Kappa and education firm Pearson.

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‘Dreamers’ – Charles Leclerc releases debut EP

The Monegasque driver has released his first EP, a long opus comprising four instrumental tracks.

“Dreamers” has been available on all music platforms since 16 February. It’s a collaborative album, produced with French pianist Sofiane Pamart, who trained at the Lille Conservatoire. Fast on the track and bursting with energy, there was no way the Formula 1 driver was going to twiddle his thumbs while waiting for the new season to start: “I went into a studio for two days with Sofiane and we worked on four songs that will be released tonight at midnight. I’m so proud of the result,” he said, the day before the release. The EP is composed of melancholy, soft and emotional sounds — very different to his professional world.

Driver and musician

An artistic soul since childhood, the 26-year-old surprised his fans last spring by revealing his love of music with his first single “AUS23,” a reference to the 2023 Australian Grand Prix. This time, the red colour of the EP sleeve is a nod to his Ferrari team, with whom he has just extended his contract.

Limited-edition vinyl copies of the EP will be released shortly. In the meantime, there are only a few days to go before we see the Monegasque driver in his new race car, when the F1 season officially kicks off in Bahrain on March 2.

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Counsellor dismissed from Princess Charlene Children’s Home after slanderous accusation

The son in his thirties and his retired mother were convicted by the Monaco Criminal Court.

On 2 March 2017, the Police Department received a complaint from a man who had come to report a counsellor at the Monegasque children’s home where his son and daughter, along with his ex-wife, were staying at the time. The 4-year-old girl allegedly described being sexually abused the previous day. “Adrien* put his hand in my knickers and jiggled,” she is quoted as saying.  The little girl repeated this to the police, but later told her mother that her father and grandmother had told her to say that. When she appeared before the examining magistrate, she changed her story slightly.

“The situation with your ex-wife is very tense, as is the relationship between you and the staff at the home. You and your mother are a tight unit, showing a united front and you contest absolutely everything,” the President summarised, addressing the 37-year-old man who had already been convicted of violence towards his partner. “You accused your ex-wife of beating the children, of having sex with other men in front of them… The counsellors all state that you are uncooperative and that you make disparaging remarks about the mother who, on the other hand, is making an effort.”

A letter sent to the Palace

The father decided to send a letter to the Prince’s Palace, alleging abuse at the home. The matter was taken no further until the complaint was submitted, at which point the counsellor was taken into custody and the child was examined by experts. Their assessment was guarded: the little girl’s statement appeared to be somewhat fabricated, typical for a child of her age, and a physical gesture could have been misinterpreted, rather than necessarily an assault.

The court president explained during the hearing on Tuesday, January 23, that the defendant’s ex-wife had remarried, and was planning to move to Haute-Savoie with the children. “According to staff at the home,” Florestan Bellizona continued, “everything you said is a lie, and your goal was to stop the move. It certainly put it off, but it did not prevent it.”

Emotional and financial distress

The defendant maintained everything was true: “that day, I was beside myself. I reacted like any father would. And I will always believe my daughter. She may have misinterpreted things, but in any case, there shouldn’t have been any contact with her private parts.” The victim was not present, but was represented by his lawyer Christophe Ballerio. “I have the unpleasant feeling that the word of a four-year-old child has been instrumentalised to further the interests of her father and grandmother. The impact on my client’s health and financial situation were dire. May I remind you that he lost his job, with a wife and two children to support. He suffered such emotional distress that he had to take a host of tranquillisers and antidepressants.  He had been working at the home for 15 years.” A little over €100,000 in damages were sought.

The prosecutor asked that both be convicted. “It reminds me of rape cases, where the magistrates’ job is complex, because there were no cameras at the scene. Does this mean we should acquit or dismiss the case? I don’t believe so. The little girl says she was abused, and the father happily takes her back to the home that evening? I find that ludicrous. The child would have been kept at home if they really believed she had been sexually assaulted. I believe he wanted to get the children out of care and back with him. Today the damage has been done, and the harm to the victim and the children can never be repaired.” Julien Pronier asked for a six-month suspended sentence.

Acquittal requested

“Instrumentalising a child? Who could have done such a thing? Only psychopaths could come up with something like that. Which these two are not. I ask for madam to be acquitted and that the sums requested be reduced to a fairer amount,” said the grandmother’s lawyer Clyde Billaud.

Defending the children’s father, Erika Bernardi conceded “my client behaved inappropriately, but that is not sufficient to convict him. A father felt that his children would be taken away from him. His statement hasn’t changed over the course of the three-year investigation. I would also like to come back to the term “jiggled”. It is not insignificant. Is that the kind of word a grown man would use? I don’t believe so for a moment. Yes, it is an unfortunate situation for the victim, but my client did not act with malice aforethought.” The Monegasque lawyer also asked for an acquittal.

After deliberation, the court gave its decision on Tuesday, February 13, finding the two defendants guilty and handing down suspended 10-month prison sentences. They must also pay the sum of €62,000 to the civil party, in compensation for material and non-material damages.

* The name has been changed

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Slow Food showcased at Alain Ducasse’s Louis XV

The fine-dining restaurant welcomed the Slow Food Monaco Riviera Côte d’Azur club. 

Around fifty guests enjoyed a gourmet lunch in the unique setting of the Louis XV. Chef Alain Ducasse was present as Honorary President of the club, which promotes “clean, good and fair food.”

The Slow Food movement began in the 1980s. A group of food-lovers from Piedmont, led by Carlo Petrini, took a new approach to food, agriculture and gastronomy. In 1986, the movement turned to protest and activism in reaction to a McDonald’s restaurant opening in the heart of historic Rome. In response to the fast food invasion, the movement was named in opposition: Slow Food. From Italy, the message spread around the world.

Slow Food Monaco Riviera Côte d’Azur was founded in 1999 by Jean-Pierre Rous, who is still president of the club and head sommelier at the Louis XV. To kick off 2024, guests were treated to a menu based on the Mediterranean and natural ingredients, with no animal proteins, devised by Alain Ducasse and Emmanuel Pilon, chef at the Monaco restaurant.

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Prince Albert II commits to protecting freshwater ecosystems

Prince Albert II spoke via video at the fifth Mediterranean Water Forum in Tunis, on February 6.

Putting the preservation of freshwater ecosystems at the forefront. That is the Sovereign’s goal: “Desalination plants, large-scale water conveyance infrastructures and other technological innovations are all obvious solutions to water scarcity.” Solutions yes, but at a considerable price: “They overshadow…the need to preserve the very origin of water, i.e. its natural environment,” he continued.

Echoing the Prince’s words, the side event “How can nature respond to the water crisis?” was organised by the Prince’s Foundation’s Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DMIFE). Several speakers stressed the need to act quickly to combat the devastating consequences of drought.

More than half of all wetlands have disappeared in recent years

The consequences are already severe, but they could get worse. The data is alarming, given the crucial role of wetlands in preserving biodiversity. “Preserving and restoring wetlands is not only our life insurance policy for the future, but also our main ally, to ensure sustainable development for all Mediterranean countries,” explained Anis Guelmami, coordinator of the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory.

So what are the solutions?

Given the urgency of the situation, the experts called on Mediterranean governments to put wetlands at the forefront of the fight against climate change. Organisations such as Living Planet Morocco and Plan Bleu shared their experiences and successes in wetland restoration, sustainable management of water resources and the use of advanced technologies to preserve these ecosystems. Proving that freshwater ecosystems must be seen as THE key to improvement, in the face of the crisis.

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Visit Monaco without breaking the bank? Here’s what the Swiss recommend

Glitz, glamour, prestige… And yet it’s perfectly possible to visit the Principality on a budget, thanks to some helpful tips from the Swiss daily La Liberté.

From the Rock to the iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo, not forgetting the majestic Prince’s Palace, Monaco boasts some amazing treasures. In its article entitled Evasion: Découvrir Monaco autrement,” (Getaway: Monaco from another angle) the daily suggests some addresses that are popular with the Swiss, for a unique Principality experience.

1. A simple meal

It’s hard to choose between treating yourself and watching your budget…  “What if we discovered Monaco from a different perspective?” says the article’s writer, Michel Bloch.

He believes it’s not hard to have a great time in Monaco on a shoestring. The article lists a number of affordable but high-quality places to enjoy the Monegasque adventure.

One of the favourites for lunchtime: the La Condamine market, where you can enjoy a delicious sit-down Italian dish and feel right at home. He likens the experience to a “stammtisch where everyone sits wherever there’s a free seat.” Then there’s Place du Casino, with its legendary Café de Paris, considered a must-visit by the editors. Finally, the article takes us to the Sass Café for dinner, where the author praises Sassa, the owner, by whom he was “treated like a star.”

2. Shopping, even if you’re broke

Luxury is a big part of Monaco’s lifestyle, but casual is just as popular. As far as the Swiss daily is concerned, there’s no doubt that the sales staff will help you find what you’re looking for at Capucine’s. To back up its claims it adds: “It is said that H.S.H. Princess Grace liked to go there.” And for a haircut that costs just a few dozen euros, the best option according to La Liberté is the “No Comment” salon.

Who are the best hairdressers in Monaco?

3. Discover Monegasque nature

Did you know that 20% of Monaco’s territory is made up of parks? ” Michel Bloch reminds us. Providing a short overview of the Principality’s natural wonders, the author insists that nature is very much present on Le Rocher. The article mentions three parks to stroll around in the Principality: La Roseraie Princesse Grace (Princess Grace Rose Garden), the Jardin japonais (Japanese Garden) and the Jardin Exotique (Exotic Garden).

4. Escape for a night

Not familiar with the Métropole Monte-Carlo hotel? La Liberté is happy to show you around. Located on the seafront, in the Carré d’or district, the author describes a heavenly place that is as luxurious as it is comfortable. After meeting its Michelin-starred chef Christophe Cussac and discovering his secrets, the verdict is that the gastronomic cuisine is a perfect match for the relaxed atmosphere. From seawater pools to cocktails with sea views, the article describes the extraordinary activities on offer in what it describes as a ‘paradise’, for an unforgettable night in the Principality.

For an even more atypical stay, check out our article “How to visit Monaco on a budget” Monaco Tribune gives you the ideal times of year to visit the Principality, as well as tips on how to save money on accommodation. While you can certainly stroll around the streets of Monaco on foot, we tell you the best places to buy your bus ticket, if you need to take the weight off. And you can read our recommendations for free activities and low-cost meals to make your trip unforgettable.

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