Моnaco Eden ... Stars !
 

The Principality of Monaco is a country in Western Europe and a district of the same name occupy the same land that the state himself.
 

Ensconced in the French territory between the towns of Cap d'Ail, Beausoleil and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Monaco is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, along the Cote d'Azur, about twenty miles east of Nice.
 

Independent since 1297, this constitutional monarchy is headed since 2005 by the Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco of the Grimaldi dynasty, which is the parent of Rainier III, the oldest ruling dynasty in the world.

The state now occupies an area of 2 km2 making it the second smallest independent state in the world (the first being the Vatican).

At the last census in 2008 counted 32,796 residents Monaco.
 

With 16,398 inhabitants per km2, the country's most densely populated in the world.
Almost entirely urbanized, the Principality of Monaco enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate and has many luxury hotel facilities.

An international event (Grand Prix Formula 1), takes place in most of these attractions throughout the year (Monte Carlo Casino, Oceanographic Museum Prince's Palace), making it a preferred destination for tourists.

The first traces of life in Monaco back about 300,000 years BC
 

Protection occurring through the rock of Monaco and the natural harbor sheltered attracted many tribes: Liguria, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Saracens.

The modern history of Monaco has been strongly marked by the Grimaldi family which reigns without interruption on the Principality since the thirteenth century.
 

Monaco is ruled by the Grimaldi dynasty since Jan. 8, 1297, when Francois Grimaldi seized Malizia said the fortress disguised as a Franciscan monk.
It is on the crest of the Principality traces of this origin with the two monks holding a sword.

In 1847, the Principality of Monaco occupied a total area of 24 km2 and included three municipalities: Monaco, Roquebrune and Menton.

The most extensive and richest of the principality was the plain Menton, with its crops of citrus and olive trees, foreign trade, largely based on exports of oil and lemons.

But in 1848, Menton and Roquebrune proclaimed the downfall of Grimaldi and declared themselves "free cities" under the protection of the kingdom of Sardinia.

In 1860, they voted their attachment to France, which was endorsed by the Franco-Monegasque 1861.
It was then that Prince Charles III had the idea of creating casino games (banned in neighboring countries), which would enable the principality, being enriched, grow rapidly.

In 1869, Charles III abolished taxes personal property and furniture, which led to intense construction activity.

In July 1918, a treaty granting limited protection of the principality by France is signed between the two countries.

The treaty is the Treaty of Versailles and establishes that the small state will have to follow the political, military and economic France.

In 1982, the principality is grieving over the death of Princess Grace of Monaco, Rainier III's wife and mother of the current Prince of Monaco (Albert II), an accident on the road that connects La Turbie Cap Garlic and not one where she had once shot in the film To Catch a Thief, as is often believed. His daughter Stephanie of Monaco survives this accident

In 1993, Monaco became officially a UN member.
On the death of Prince Rainier III, which occurred April 6, 2005, his son Albert II (born 1958), until then Crown Prince and Marquis of Baux, who became sovereign prince.

The principality 5469 m boundary and 3829 m of coastline. In recent years, major work has enabled Monaco to expand by nearly 40 hectares, mostly reclaimed from the sea by means of embankments.

Throughout antiquity, the wearing of Monaco was associated with Hercules, often referred to as Herakles Monoïkos. This port was also called Portus Herculis Monoeci in Latin. The modern port of Monaco also called Port Hercule.