Where Monaco's allure
meets the beautiful game

For more than seven hundred years, the House of Grimaldi has reigned over this improbable jewel of the Mediterranean. In 1297, François Grimaldi seized the fortress on the Rock disguised as a monk, the two sword-bearing friars still emblazoned on Monaco's coat of arms. Genoese by origin, sovereign by will, the Principality endures as one of Europe's oldest ruling dynasties, today led by HSH Prince Albert II.

Barely two square kilometres pressed between the Maritime Alps and the sea, Monaco rises in tiers of pastel façades, palm-lined terraces and Belle Époque grandeur. From the medieval lanes of Monaco-Ville atop the Rock, to the yacht-filled basin of Port Hercule, the casino gardens of Monte-Carlo and the sculpted seafront of Fontvieille and Larvotto, every metre is a view worth framing.

The most densely glamorous address on the planet, and the beating heart of the Riviera's high season.

Each spring, the Croisette becomes the world capital of cinema. Directors, stars and creators from across the globe climb the steps of the Palais des Festivals for the Palme d'Or, the most coveted prize in film.

From Monaco, Cannes is a simple dash along the coast, by helicopter, private chauffeur or yacht. Experience the premieres, the parties and the pageantry of a legendary festival.