Monaco: Looking beyond the glam and hype

DW (English)

Monaco is the world's second-smallest country and a tax haven for the super-rich. A life of luxury flaunted on Instagram. But is it all that?

Transcript

00:00Luxury, exclusivity and style.

00:03That's what photos of Monaco on social media promise.

00:07But what is it really like here?

00:10Our arrival is a bit disappointing.

00:12The coast is very built up and it's raining in the otherwise sun-drenched sovereign state.

00:18Yet we aren't deterred.

00:20It's time to check out three well-known tourist spots in Monaco.

00:24Surrounded on land by France along the Mediterranean coast,

00:27Monaco is only around two square kilometers in area.

00:30It's the second smallest and most densely populated country in the world,

00:33home to around 40,000 people.

00:36Tax breaks, car races and celebrity glamour.

00:38That's what Monaco is known for.

00:40The country is a constitutional monarchy.

00:43The Grimaldi family has ruled here since the 13th century.

00:46The legendary Casino de Monte Carlo, one of the most famous in the world.

00:50It's where the super rich like to show off their luxury cars,

00:53but in this weather there are few cars to be seen.

00:57Valentina de Gaspari lives here and works as a photographer, author and real estate agent.

01:04Well, Monaco under the rain is an exclusivity.

01:09You are able to pick up some images which are quite unusual,

01:13because seeing Monaco quite empty is quite unusual.

01:16Our first spot is the harbour with its racetrack.

01:21The sports cars and luxury yachts are a hit on social media.

01:25How much glamour is left when it rains?

01:27Some of the most prestigious car races in the world take place here,

01:32such as the Monaco Grand Prix.

01:34The thoroughfare is transformed into a racetrack.

01:37The Rascasse hairpin is one of the course's biggest challenges.

01:42With an angle of 135 degrees, overtaking here is almost impossible.

01:47The berths in the harbour are usually fully booked during such events.

01:54Having a yacht is a really big status symbol in Monaco, of course.

02:00Port Hercules, this is his name.

02:02It's an amazing harbour with stunning super yachts,

02:07and a very lively waterfront with a lot of bars and restaurants,

02:11and of course a beautiful Mediterranean backdrop.

02:14But you won't see many luxury cars in this weather.

02:18The harbour and yachts look better when it's sunny.

02:22Our second hotspot is Monacoville.

02:25The old town district looks idyllic on social media,

02:28but how beautiful is it in real life?

02:31The area is located about a 15-minute walk from the harbour

02:34atop La Roche, or The Rock as it's called.

02:37The heart of the old town is the fortress, now the Prince's Palace.

02:41Its foundation stone was laid in 1215,

02:44and it attracts visitors from all over the world.

02:47It's like Disneyland.

02:49Actually, we work for Disneyland.

02:51So, oh, here is everywhere.

02:52It's a castle.

02:53It's a very nice view.

02:59In Monacoville, there are a lot of nationals

03:02that are proud to be Monegasque,

03:05and they are proud to live in the oldest part of Monaco.

03:10And it has plenty of charm with its narrow streets

03:13and a lot of cultural landmarks,

03:16like the Prince's Palace and the Oceanographic Museum

03:20and, of course, the Magnificent Cathedral.

03:23Hollywood actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III

03:26celebrated their wedding in the Roman Byzantine-style cathedral

03:29in the 1950s and were later buried there.

03:33So, what's our conclusion?

03:39Even in the rain, the monumental buildings of Monacoville

03:42exude their exclusive charm.

03:44Incidentally, entry to the cathedral is free.

03:48There is one spot that you have to visit when you come to Monaco.

03:58It's a place called La Tête du Chien.

04:01La Tête du Chien is not in Monaco,

04:03but from there you have an amazing view

04:06on three different countries, of course,

04:09because you can see Monaco, you can see Italy, you can see France.

04:13The photos of this viewpoint on social media look incredible.

04:20The rock looks like a dog's head from afar,

04:23which is where it gets its name.

04:25You can drive most of the way up by car or bus

04:27and then walk for about 15 minutes.

04:31From here you have an incredible view of Monaco, even on a rainy day.

04:38So, what do we think about the harbour, the old town

04:42and the Tête du Chien viewpoint?

04:44When the weather is bad, you'll see a different Monaco than in the photos,

04:48one that's less glamorous but more authentic.

04:51Fortunately, the sun often shines here, making the city shine too.

04:56It's the komucking green party.

04:57The령 sixteenxes are Catherine tough,

05:10either you can tell us.

05:12It's beautiful.

05:14It's beautiful, it's beautiful,

05:15because of course they do.

05:17én Your country has a meaning of this,

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