See full version: 20 Unmissable Attractions in Monaco
One of the most beautiful buildings and landmarks of the principality, the Oceanographic Museum is a must-see. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, it houses various exhibitions throughout the year as well as an impressive aquarium. here
Monaco can be overwhelmingly over the top, intense and oh-so-bright on first sight, so follow Culture Trip’s 20 unmissable attractions to navigate yourself around the alluring principality with ease. [links]
The Prince’s Palace is home to the royal family. In front of the palace, every day at 11:55 am, the traditional ritual of the Changing of the Guard takes place. Definitely worth planning your day around. here
Sport events
From Aix-en-Provence (tolls): 2 h 10 min (197 km) via A8 here
From Fréjus (tolls): 1 h 18 min (86.4 km) via A8 more
Monaco is such a tiny city/state/country, less than a square mile. The neighboring French towns are quaint and charming, with crumbling steps and peeling paint, but Monaco is bright and gleaming as it is home to the most millionaires and billionaires per capita in the world. more
Monaco is home to the upscale casino, the Monte Carlo, and a yacht-lined harbor. On our trip in, we passed many mega-yachts and while unable to snap a photo, I did find this site which will give you a glimpse of the opulence to be seen in the harbor: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2016/05/07/billionaire-superyacht-showdown-whos-who-at-the-2016-cannes-film-festival/#5cb92b7d553e
We did stop at the Monte Carlo, which I’m still trying to decide if it was worth the hike! We were somewhere on a street “below” the casino and approaching from the back. It was the end of a day full of walking and we didn’t have much time, but we were told it was just ahead. So, we quickly hiked up a few flights of winding stairs, walked a bit, then found we had to hike up a few flights of very steep stairs. We walked a bit, then found we had to hike up more stairs. (Do I sound like I’m repeating myself?) Then we had to walk some more, and then some more, and I’m not sure but I think there were more stairs in there somewhere. We were on the side of the building (to the right of the photo below). We turned the corner and I felt a bit of a letdown. It is architecturally grand, but for some reason my mind’s eye held all these photos I had seen of fountains and lush landscaping, and just over the top opulence. It just seemed so anticlimactic. Or were my expectations unrealistic? here
Qualifying for the Champions League group stages over the summer allowed Monaco to keep a promising squad together, led by Falcao and his fellow loan returnee Valère Germain in attack. Monaco have also been buoyed by the development of their young wide players. The mercurial Bernardo Silva and the skilful Thomas Lemar have also been key components in a forward-thinking 4-4-2. more
Success in the principality has been a long time coming for Falcao. From the moment he posed with the club’s distinctive red-and-white shirt overlooking Monte Carlo Bay, the relationship between club and player has been a tumultuous one. The marquee acquisition of the Dmitry Rybolovlev era, Falcao joined in the summer of 2013 as part of a mammoth €150m outlay. He was the brightest among a constellation of stars that included Jérémy Toulalan, João Moutinho and James Rodríguez.
Nice were by no means embarrassed, despite the scoreline. They are just three points behind Monaco and a place in the Champions League would still be an astounding achievement. They are a modest club, who are slowly and wisely investing in youth and astute acquisitions from around Europe. Monaco’s spending power has been diminished – down to €145m this season, compared to €500m for Paris Saint-Germain and €235m for Lyon – but it is still massive when compared to what Nice can invest in players. Monaco bought Mendy from Marseille for €13m last summer – a figure equivalent to Nice’s total transfer outlay. here
Monaco showed that they the most compelling spectacle Ligue 1 has to offer and one of Europe’s best sides, with Falcao a prime factor in their development. When asked about Falcao, a member of staff at Atlético Madrid once said: “On the morning of the game, he’s friendly and open. At lunch time, you can see he’s concentrating that bit more. But by the time you leave the hotel for the ground, he’s completely different. The contrast is huge. He leaves the dressing room last and if you see his face at that point, he’s no longer Falcao – he’s ‘The Tiger’. His only thought is the ball.” European football seemed to have given up on him, but the Tiger has returned. [links]