Monaco is a super-small locale tacked on to the bottom of France, but is it a part of France?
Although Monaco looks like it’s a part of France, it is actually a sovereign nation in its own right. It is bordered on every side by French territory, but it has its own government, laws, and traditions.
Read on to learn more about this history of Monaco, and why it technically isn’t a part of France.
Miniature Monaco
Monaco might be the second-smallest nation on the planet, but it boasts an expansive and interesting history. It covers an area of just two square kilometers, some thirty times smaller than the island of Manhattan.
However, the history of his micronation stretches back almost three thousand years, starting with the Ancient Greeks. In Greek mythology, Hercules traveled through Monaco, giving cause for a temple to subsequently be built in his honor.
Around two thousand years ago, Monaco – then known as ‘Monoikos’ – was taken over by the Holy Roman Empire. Throughout the few centuries that followed, Monaco would become a sought-after locale, with many powerful families vying for control of the nation.
Ultimately, the dominant European forces that were France and Spain decided to leave Monaco’s management to an Italian family. However, the events of the French Revolution led France’s government to effectively annex the tiny nation.
At this point, yes, France had assumed ownership of Monaco, but it wouldn’t last long at all. It was a little under two decades later when the Kingdom of Sardinia, at the base of Italy, took control of the nation.
In truth, Monaco has spent hundreds of years longer under the control of Italy than it has under the control of France. It seems bizarre, considering Monaco is located entirely within French borders, and sits a few miles outside of Italian territory.
When the Second World War ended, Monaco was liberated from the clutches of Axis powers, and it effectively became a sovereign nation. It took a few decades to recoup its losses and stand on its own two feet, but Monaco would come to thrive.
Since the mid-twentieth century, Monaco has been an independent nation, a fact which won’t change any time soon.
Modern Day Monaco
These days, Monaco is essentially the embodiment of the term ‘small but mighty’. It’s a tiny nation, little more than a mile-long stretch along the French Riviera, but it’s dramatically powerful and wealthy.
It’s a remarkable success story, transitioning from a small port town to a thriving, bustling, and intensely luxurious resort. Monaco is famous all around the world for its opulence and extravagance, its casinos and its beautiful scenery.
Reportedly, Monaco has proportionally more millionaire residents than any nation on earth, with a third of its citizens boasting enormous bank accounts. It’s a haven for the super-rich, a fact which is aided massively by Monaco’s revolutionary approach to taxes and earnings.
At the peak of summer, Monaco is a treasure trove of celebrity faces, incredible wealth, and luxury. The streets are lined with supercars, the harbor is flush with gargantuan yachts, and the casinos have millions of dollars trading hands.
As a location, the French Riviera is inherently beautiful and has a fantastic reputation as one of the world’s leading vacation destinations. However, Monaco transcends that ranking, often proving itself to be the gem of the entire coastline.
It’s alleged that Monaco has zero poverty, and almost no crime at all, with the most-broken laws often being a non-compliance to dress codes, or littering. The nation has a vision of becoming completely carbon neutral by 2050 and has worked hard to make itself as green as possible.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a safer, cleaner, and more inviting nation anywhere on the planet. It openly welcomes tourism, as that makes up a massive portion of its economy, especially around key destinations such as the Casino Monte-Carlo.
Some of the most legendary gambling in the world takes place in Monaco’s casinos, with over one hundred million dollars a year changing hands. The government prohibits Monaco’s residents from gambling in its casinos, but tourists are welcome to play for as long as they possibly can.
You can learn much more about Monaco’s famous casinos in another article we published.
If you want to take a trip to Monaco, expect to be rubbing shoulders with the world’s elite. While there are places that are considerably affordable, the nation as a whole is dramatically expensive, and celebrities just love it there.