Monte Carlo

The resort town of Monte Carlo, in the principality of Monaco, on the Côte d'Azur of France. It is difficult to tell Monte Carlo apart from the town of Monaco-Ville and the area called La Condamine, for the principality occupies less than one square mile. While multi-storey buildings are banned on the French part of the coast, tall blocks abound in Monaco – there is nowhere else to build but upwards.

Town and luxury resort in the principality of Monaco, situated on a rocky promontory along the Mediterranean Sea on the Cote d'Azur, northeast of Monaco town; population (2002 est) 16,200. The district of Monte-Carlo (in Italian, mount of Charles) was created by Prince Charles III in 1866. It is a popular summer resort known for its casino (1878) designed by architect Charles Garnier; the Monte Carlo car rally and Monaco Grand Prix motor races; the Monte Carlo Open Golf Tournament; and its international television festival.

The concessionaire of the casino (Société Anonyme des Bains de Mer et Cercle des Etrangers), established by Prince Charles III in 1863, used to pay an annual grant to the principality. The gambling concession came under the control of shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1954, but it was nationalized in 1967. The district of Fontvieille has been extended onto land reclaimed from the sea (210,000 sq m/2,260,000 sq ft) and a 500 m/1,640 ft beach has been constructed.