Near Monte Carlo holiday villa rental with golf, walking, beach/lake nearby, balcony/terrace, air con, internet access, telephone

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Villa Oceansound (villa)

Home description

Welcome at Villa Oceansound , French Riviera villa rental in Cap Martin - close to Monaco . Be our guest and experience the breathtaking part of the South of France.

A five star deluxe main-floor of Villa Ocean sound rental in Cap Martin close to Monaco, NIce, Cannes and San Remo , available for all events (Holidays, Weddings, Midem, GSM World Congress, MIPIM, MIPTV, Film Festival, MIPCOM, TAX FREE World Exbition, MAPIC, and advertising), fully equipped and designed for your comfort, charming decoration, sea view, kids pool, BBQ
Villa Oceansound offers you the ultimate solution for your vacation on one of the most exclusive resorts area in Europe with no un-pleasant surprises.

100 M², located on the sea 5 minutes from Monaco, offering a gorgeous and unique 230° view over the bay of Menton to Italy Riviera and the Mediterranean Sea. This French Riviera villa rental will give you an unforgettable holiday time for your friends, family and yourself.

Favourite location in Europe of the rich and famous all year round, French Riviera is also the environment which attracted several artists like Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir in the past ; today local artists as "Ben", "Arman" or "Sosno" are the trend setters in the artistic world of the South of France.

For an exceptional and unforgettable holiday in the South of France, we advise you to book in time your French Villa rental in Nice.

The region has everything ; beautiful weather, superb food and wines, beautiful people, fantastic shopping and a great way of life.

Winter time between mid December and end March offers you the availability to practice your snow skiing in Limone ( 85km) , Isola 2000 or Auron. The ski resorts are just one hour away from villa Manoupa.

In February discover the Nice Carnaval, a major and unique attraction.
In March is the Monte Carlo master- tennis and fete de citron in Menton .
In May hang on the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes International Film festival.

27 golf clubs within 45 minutes drive.

Villa Oceansound, Your French Riviera Villa Rental
Home description :
of the main floor of the villa Ocean Sound on Cap Martin.
living room with sea view, master bedrom with sea view, secodn bedroom with garden view, super equipped kitchen with Miele washing attached to a nice terasse ( 20 m2) on the side yard, bathroom equipped with,Villeroy and Bosch and Grohe

Cap Martin with Monaco in the back	VIlla Oceansound
linging room from the seaside terrace	view to terrace and sea - from the living room

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/55033

The Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur / Alpes-Maritimes region

French Riviera History

The French Riviera is a major prehistoric site. In fact, several million years B.C. the French Riviera was inhabited by man. Traces of human activity have been found in the Tachou cave in Roquebrune Cap Martin.

300 000 years B.C. the first homes were built around the beaches of Terra Amata (now the site of Boulevard Carnot, to the East of the harbour in Nice).
200 000 years B.C. the Lazaret Cave (in Nice) was inhabited by hunters.
80 000 years B.C. Neanderthal man lived in the surrounding caves. Weapons dating from 30 000 years B.C. have been found in the Grimaldi grottoes, proving that Homo sapiens sapiens lived in this area. The oldest rock engravings of figures date back to 1800 years B.C. and are found in the "Vallée des Merveilles".

Between 900 and 600 years B.C. the Ligurian tribes came to inhabit the Riviera coastline. They left behind them a number of fortified constructions and rock paintings on Mount Bégo in the Vallée des Merveilles. Later on, with the arrival of the Celts, the inhabitants came to be known as the Celto-Ligurians.

600 years B.C. the Phocaeans set up home in Marseilles and established several trading posts: Hyères, Antibes, Nice, Monaco... Trade also spread into Provence and the Languedoc region and the inhabitants there adopted the customs of the Phocaeans: cultivating olive trees, vines, pottery, sculpture...

Around 100 years B.C. the various trading posts were attacked by neighbouring tribes until Rome came to defend and then annexe them. From the 1st century A.D. Roman civilisations were present in the Alpes Maritimes: Fréjus (a harbour created by Julius Caesar), Antibes and Cimiez which later became the capital of the Province of the Alpes Maritimes.

In 313, Constantine granted Christians the freedom of worship and hence made Christianity the official religion. From then on, Christianity spread first of all along the Riviera coast. The earliest evidence of this is the construction of the Monastery on Saint Honorat Island (opposite Cannes) which took place in the 4th century.

Then came a long period of troubled times and the country grew weaker after the fall of the Roman Empire. The whole of Provence was under the authority of the Barbarians: the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths, then the Francs in 536. After the Barbarians, the region was invaded by the Moors who were repelled thanks to Charles Martel (between 732 and 739). Following this, for more than 200 years the Saracens ravaged the country: plundering, destroying, looting, enslaving... In 974, Count William - known as William the Liberator - expelled them from the country and founded a single county.

The 11th century was devoted to rebuilding the country under the armed protection of the overlords. The descendant of William the Liberator married Raymond Béranger III and it was under his reign that Nice and Grasse acquired Consulates. In 1215, Nice joined forces with Genoa but a few years later, Raymond Béranger IV succeeded in re-imposing his authority and re-conquered Nice in 1229. In 1246, thanks to the marriage of Raymond Béranger IV's daughter with Charles of Anjou (the brother of King Louis IX), Provence belonged to the House of Anjou which already exercised its authority over Maine, Anjou, Naples and Sicily. The country entered a time of prosperity and peace.

The County of Provence was in the hands of Queen Jeanne, a descendant of Charles of Anjou. Further to a great number of manipulations and alliances, the Count of Savoy annexed Nice along with part of Eastern Provence. In 1388, Nice fell into the power of Savoy and this lasted until the French Revolution.

In 1419, Nice was officially granted to the Duke of Savoy in spite of the protests made by René of Provence, who was made Count of Provence in 1394. In 1431, René of Provence's successor died after bequeathing his county to the King of France, Louis XI: Provence then became French. In 1489, the King of France and the Duke of Savoy granted Monaco its independence.

From 1524 to 1544, the war of rivalry between François I (King since 1515) and Charles V created great tension in Provence where there were many battles. The armistice between François I and Charles V was signed in 1538. In 1543, the Turkish fleet joined forces with the King of France to lay siege to Nice, without success...

During the 17th century, Nice became more organised and improved its structure and crossed the century without much mishap, unlike Provence which was the seat of troubles and repression: on October 18th 1590, the Duke of Savoy took Aix, but Provence belonged to Savoy for only three years; the Spanish seized the Lerins Islands in 1635 but did not manage to land on the continent; during the Fronde rebellion, Louis XIV had to crush revolutions in Draguignan and Marseilles.

From the start of the 18th century, war resumed between France and Savoy:
- Louis XIV declared war on the Duke of Savoy in 1690... but the Treaty of Turin returned Nice to Savoy in 1696.
- In May 1705, following an attack, Nice was annexed to France until 1713, which is when the Treaty of Utrecht was ratified. In 1718, the Sardinian kingdom was created and this included the County of Nice.

From 1749 to 1748, the War of Succession in Austria: the battles between the Franco-Spanish and Anglo-Sardinian fleets took place within the territory of Nice. The Treaty of Aachen returned Nice to the House of Savoy in 1748. In 1769, the Treaty of Turin altered the boundary between these two counties: Gattières and the right bank of the Estéron were allocated to France and Sardinia recovered La Penne and Guillaumes.

In 1792, the French Army received the order to invade Savoy and the County of Nice. Following this, the inhabitants of Nice asked that the County become French and on January 31st 1793, the department of the Alpes Maritimes was created. At the same time, Monaco asked to be annexed to France and so Monaco, Menton and Roquebrune were united with France. Officially, it was not until May 15th 1796 - with the signature of the Treaty of Paris - that the County of Nice became French.

During the Restoration, Nice was returned to the King of Sardinia in 1814 and Monaco was once again under the authority of its Prince. One year later, the Crown of Savoy recovered Nice and its County.

It was not until 1860 that Nice and Savoy were attached to France and this was in exchange for the help given by the King of Sardinia in conquering the province of Milan. This exchange was documented in the Treaty of Turin, signed on March 24th 1860 (except for La Brigue and Tende, which only became French after the Second World War). The Prince of Monaco abandoned the towns of Menton and Roquebrune and became an independent sovereign.

The early 20th century was deeply marked by the First World War and the Rural Exodus. From 1939, troops began to gather in the region. On June 24th 1940, Menton was occupied by the Italians and the Alpes Maritimes were demilitarised. In 1942, the French Riviera was occupied by the Italians and the Germans and was under a dictatorship. After Italy's surrender in 1943, the Italian troops fled and left room for the German troops. On August 15th 1944, the Allies landed all along the coast between Hyères and Cannes. On August 28th, the Niçois expelled the Germans. It was not until April 25th 1945 that the French Riviera completely recovered its freedom.

Near Monte Carlo area

History of Monaco

History
1815-present

The name "Monaco", "Monoikos" in Greek, is nearly always associated with that of Hercules by the ancient writers.
In Greek, Heracles Monoikos may mean "Heracles alone" or "Heracles who has only one temple". This is popular etymology. The name "Monoikos" is certainly a native one and must have its origin in the Ligurian language. It does not appear to be the name of a tribe. The coast and the harbor of Monaco were probably the outlet to the sea for a great Ligurian people of the hinterland, the Oratelli of Peille.

On January 8, 1297, the Guelphs led by François Grimaldi, known as "Malizia" ("the Cunning"), seized the fortress. According to one chronicler, François Grimaldi penetrated the walls in the disguise of a Franciscan monk. This was the first capture of Monaco by the Grimaldis; the event is commemorated on their coat of arms where the supporters are two monks armed with swords.

In 1301, the Grimaldis lost control of Monaco. They were only to return thirty years later, thanks to the return to power of the Guelph party.

Charles Grimaldi occupied the Rock on September 12, 1331. In 1341, Charles I acquired the possessions of the Spinolas in Monaco. Historians consider him to be the real founder of the Principality, to which he added land by purchasing the lordships of Menton and Roquebrune, both of which were to remain Monegasque until 1861. Charles I was the son of Rainier I and the father of Rainier II. These three Grimaldis occupied important positions at the court of the King of France and the Count of Provence. Rainier I, who commanded a fleet of galleys, was promoted Admiral of France by Philip the Fair and won a brilliant victory over the Flemish at Zeriksee in 1304. Charles I placed at the service of King Philip IV an army of crossbowmen who took part in the famous battle of Crecy in 1346, and his fleet took part in the siege of Calais. Rainier II, who never entered Monaco, had a glorious career as a sailor in the service of King John the Good and Queen Joan of Naples. His sons Ambrose, Antoine and John were lords of Monaco in 1419; after a division of the land between the three brothers, the Rock and the Condamine were allocated to John, who remained sole master of them until his death in 1454.

John I campaigned all his life for the independence of his lordship which the Genoese were not prepared to abandon. His son Catalan outlived his father by a mere three years, leaving as heiress a daughter who married a Grimaldi of the Antibes branch, Lambert. The successful policies of this lord led to the recognition of the independence of Monaco by King Charles VIII of France and the Duke of Savoy in 1489. It had thus taken nearly two centuries for the Grimaldis to establish their indisputable sovereignty over Monaco.

From then on, the attempts of the Genoese to recapture the fortress were limited to a siege which lasted several months and which was finally repulsed by the garrison in 1507. The independence of Monaco was again confirmed five years later by Louis XII who declared that the lordship was held by God and the sword. In 1512, Louis XII recognized by letters patent the independence of Monaco and a perpetual alliance with the King of France. This policy was continued by John II and Lucien until the death of the latter, assassinated in 1523 by his cousin Bartholomew Doria. He left only one son of tender years, Honoré, whose custody was given to his uncle Augustin, Bishop of Grasse, who was recognized as lord. Augustin did not receive from François I the support that Charles VIII and Louis XII had given to his father and brothers. Following serious disagreements that arose between him and the French authorities, François I and the Emperor Charles V entered into negotiations, which ended in 1524 with Monaco being placed under the protection of Spain. This was an act whose consequences were to weigh heavily on the financial situation of the country for more than a century. Its instigator, before his death, was able to assess the gravity of the error which he had committed; the Spaniards only partly fulfilled their undertakings and the garrison which they placed in the fortress remained there almost entirely at the expense of the Monégasques.

At the death of his uncle Augustin in 1532, Honoré had not yet attained his majority. It was a Grimaldi from Genoa, Stephen, known as "the Governor" who was his guardian and had the government of the lordship granted to himself for his whole lifetime. The reign of Honoré was only peaceful towards its end; those of his two sons, Charles II and Hercules, who reigned one after the other, were also filled with intrigues and conflicts: Hercules was to perish assassinated in 1604. His son Honoré was still a minor; his custody was entrusted to his uncle the Prince of Valdetare until 1616. It was he who persuaded his nephew to take the title of "Prince" and "Lord of Monaco" (1612), titles which were recognized by the Spanish Court and passed on to his successors.

The reign of Honoré II witnessed the most brilliant period in the history of Monaco. As soon as he had assumed power, the young sovereign adopted as his policy an alliance with France. The discussions that began in 1630 lasted more than ten years. The Prince received the most favorable support from Cardinal Richelieu and he was assisted in Paris by his cousin John Henry Grimaldi, Marquis of Courbons and Lord of Cagnes and by Marshal de Vitry, the governor of Provence. In 1641, in Péronne, King Louis XIII signed a treaty providing Monaco with the friendly protection of France. This agreement confirmed the sovereignty of the Principality, recognized the independence of the country and maintained its rights and privileges.

A French garrison was placed under the direct orders of the Prince who assumed command of it. There remained the problem of the expulsion of the Spanish garrison which continued to occupy the fortress. Several months later, Honoré II managed to organize as a fighting force a certain number of his subjects to whom he distributed arms; they succeeded in seizing the main posts, thus bringing about the capitulation of the Spaniards. During the course of the following year, the Prince was received at the French Court and obtained all sorts of honors and privileges. The lordships which had been given to his predecessors by Charles V in the Kingdom of Naples were replaced by those which were to become known in the Principality as the "French lands": the Duchy of Valentinois, the Viscount of Carlat in Auvergne and the Marquisate of Baux with the lordship of Saint-Rémy in Provence. Honoré II returned to the French court twice where he was magnificently entertained by Cardinal Mazarin. The young King Louis XIV was the godfather of his grandson, the future Prince Louis I.

The embellishment of the Prince's Palace during this reign was striking: first came the building of the South Wing, which contains the Great Apartments, today open to tourists. Honoré II gathered admirable art collections in his Palace: more than 700 paintings, many of which were signed by the greatest masters, were hung in the galleries; sumptuous furniture, precious tapestries, pieces of silverware and valuable ornaments provided a decor of great artistic worth which was the marvel of the eminent people whom the Prince invited to visit his Palace. Numerous events were staged during this reign, including those in the field of the arts such as the French and Italian ballets, balls were held and great religious ceremonies took place in the Church of Saint Nicholas.

MONACO: 1662 TO 1815
Honoré II died in 1662. He had had only one son, Hercules, who had died as a result of an accident in 1651, leaving a son, Louis, and several daughters. Honoré II had the pleasure of witnessing the brilliant alliance of his grandson with Catherine-Charlotte, daughter of Marshal Gramont. The young princess occupied an important post at the French Court.

Her residence in Monaco was only short; however, she used it to found the Convent of the Visitation, which later became a college and today is the Albert I Grammar School.

She then returned to Paris and became Lady in Waiting to the Princess Palatine. Louis I, who had followed her, took part in the War of the United Provinces against England. At the head of his regiment, the Monaco Cavalry, he fought battles in Flanders and Franche Comté. He later returned to Monaco because of his poor health and it was there that Louis XIV came to entrust him with the embassy of the Holy See. His mission was to obtain the support of the Pope to ensure that the succession of the King of Spain, Charles II, would pass to the Dauphin, the son of Maria Theresa. The unheard magnificence, which he displayed in Rome, obliged him to empty the Palace of the riches that his grandfather Honoré II had gathered. He died in 1701 without having had to intervene in the Spanish succession.

He had had two sons by Charlotte de Gramont : Antoine, the elder, succeeded him and François-Honoré became Archbishop of Besancon. Antoine was forty years old when he ascended the throne. He had spent a lot of time living in Paris where he had forged links with the great French aristocracy, in particular with the Duke of Orleans, the future Regent. He had a brilliant career in the army as Colonel of the Soisson Infantry Regiment. His considerable height and dynamic spirit earned him the nickname of "Goliath". In 1688, he had married Marie de Lorraine who belonged to one of the greatest families allied to the throne of France. She filled a splendid position at the French court and only rarely visited Monaco. In addition, because of his health, Antoine I hardly ever left Monaco. During the invasion of Provence by the Duke of Savoy in 1707, the Principality, in spite of its neutrality, had grounds for fearing invasion. Large-scale fortification work was undertaken by the Prince, including the tower "Oreillon" ("the Ear") which commands the ramp leading to the Palace and which was completed in 1708. The Principality remained on the alert until the Treaty of Utrecht, signed in 1713.

Antoine I maintained voluminous correspondence with the most well-known figures of his time; including with Marshall Tesse, which has been published. His great taste for music placed him in contact with François Couperin and André Cardinal Destouches, the directors of the Paris Opera.

In 1731 the male line of the Grimaldis of Monaco died out with Prince Antoine as Marie de Lorraine had only given him daughters. In 1715, he gave the eldest, Louis-Hippolyte, away in marriage to Jacques-François-Léonor de Matignon, heir of one of the most illustrious families of Normandy and owner of a great deal of land and possessor of many lordships ; he held the County of Torigni, the Duchy of Estouteville and the Barony of Saint-Lô. Jacques de Matignon, as a result of arrangements made by the parents of his bride, gave up his name and coat of arms for those of the Grimaldis. Louis XIV agreed to confer on him the title of Duke of Valentinois.

On the death of his wife ten months later, he was recognized as Prince of Monaco with the title of Jacques I, then held the regency during the minority of his elder son, the future Honoré III, in favor of whom he abdicated on 7th November 1733. Jacques I lived out his days in semi-retirement devoting his time to the magnificent art collections assembled in his house in Paris, which is still known today under the same name, the Hotel Matignon, while it has become the official residence of the French Prime Minister.

Honoré III was to be Sovereign Prince of Monaco until 1795. During the first years of his reign, he had taken part in campaigns in Flanders, Rhine and the Low Countries and was promoted in 1748 to the rank of Field Marshal.

During the War of the Austrian Succession, from 1746 to 1747, Monaco was blockaded by the Austrian-Sardinian forces; the latter were repulsed after several months by the troops of Marshall de Belle-Isle. This was the only crisis of the reign, which ended in peace. The Prince spent more time in Paris and on his land in Normandy than in the Principality. He was, however, there during the summer of 1767 when the young Duke of York, the brother of King George III of England, on his way to Genoa, suddenly fell ill and had to be landed in the harbor of Monaco. He was immediately taken to the Palace but, in spite of the care and attention he was given, he died several days later. The English Court expressed its deep gratitude to Honoré III for his hospitality. One may still visit the room in the finest of the great apartments of the Prince's Palace in which the Duke of York died.

The wedding of Honoré III with Marie-Catherine of Brignole-Sale was celebrated in 1757. The Brignole family was one of the richest and most powerful families in Italy.

The marriage, however, did not last long. Irritated by the social success of his wife in the entourage of the Prince de Condé, Honoré demanded and obtained a separation. Before the quarrel between the spouses, two sons had been born, Honoré, who was later to become Prince of Monaco, and Joseph. The elder married Louise d'Aumont Mazarin in 1776; as a result of this union the Sovereign's House acquired all the property left by Cardinal Mazarin to his niece Hortense Mancini, including the Duchy of Rethel, the Principality of Château-Porcien and many other estates.

The situation of the Princes and their subjects was therefore at its most brilliant when the French Revolution broke out. Thanks to the wise administration of the Governor, the Chevalier de Grimaldi, the people lived rather well in spite of the lack of resources in the territory of the Principality. Maritime commerce and the revenue arising from taxes levied on ships making their way to Italy contributed to a considerable extent to the economy of the country. The Princes, with their fiefs of Valentinois, in the Auvergne, Provence and their land in Normandy, enjoyed a large income which was made even larger by the contribution from the lordships in Alsace. All these sources of income were removed by the suppression of feudal rights voted by the French Constituent Assembly during the night of August 4, 1789. Honoré III tried in vain to have his rights respected by invoking the Treaty of Péronne ; on his death, which took place in 1795, his family found itself in dire financial straits.

In Monaco, two opposing parties came into being; one was the supporter of sovereignty. The other, the Party of the People, wanted to hand the government over to the people and its representatives.It was the latter who overcame this opposition.

The entry of French troops into the County of Nice hastened the establishment of the new order. On February 15, 1793, the Convention decided upon the incorporation of the Principality into France. First it was a canton, then the chief town of an arrondissement, which was later moved to San Remo.

All the riches of the Palace were dispersed - the paintings and articles of artistic worth being sold at auctions. The Palace, after first being used to provide billets for officers and soldiers in transit, was converted into a hospital and then into a home for the poor.

Throughout the whole of the Revolution, the members of the Prince's family had undergone severe trials. First they were imprisoned and then freed, with the exception of Marie-Thérèse de Choiseul-Stainville, the wife of Prince Joseph (the second son of Honoré III) who perished on the scaffold. They found themselves in all sorts of difficulties and were obliged to sell nearly all their possessions. Two of them, Honoré-Gabriel and Florestan, served in the French army.

The situation changed completely after the abdication of Napoleon on May 30, 1814. The first Treaty of Paris returned to the Principality all the advantages, which it had enjoyed before January 1, 1792. Prince Honoré IV, son of Honoré III, unable to assume power because of his poor health, nominated his brother Joseph to replace him but his son, Honoré-Gabriel, vigorously opposed this notion and his father, understanding his son's argument, passed him sovereignty. Honoré therefore returned to Monaco in March 1815. On his arrival in Cannes, he learned of the departure of Napoleon from Elba; he was arrested by General Cambronne and taken in the middle of the night to speak with Napoleon.

MONACO: 1815 TO PRESENT
After the final fall of the Empire, the second Treaty of Paris of November 20, 1815 placed the Principality under the protection of the King of Sardinia. A treaty was signed on Novemebr 8, 1817, with King Victor-Emmanuel I at Stupiniggi. The situation of Monaco resulting from this was much less advantageous than the alliance with the King of France. The state of the finances was more delicate, the resources of the country being very much reduced, the communes, parishes and hospitals burdened with debts.

Honoré-Gabriel, having become Prince Sovereign under the name of Honoré V, tried throughout his reign from 1819 to 1841 to remedy this state of affairs. The measures taken, although dictated by a very strong concern for the general interest, were not always happy and often alienated the population. There were several hostile demonstrations, in particular in Menton in 1833.

In 1841 upon the death of unmarried Honoré V, power passed to his brother Florestan. This Prince, passionately interested in literature and the theater, was unprepared for the exercise of power. Luckily, his wife, Caroline Gilbert of Lametz, daughter of a family with a bourgeois background, possessed remarkable intelligence and a very developed sense of business; she was a great help to him. The first measures taken to redress the difficult situation, which the decrees of Honoré V had created, had the effect of calming the people for the moment but was of short duration. Florestan and Caroline, however, made every effort to re-establish prosperity.

Serious disagreements then came to a head with the commune of Menton, the inhabitants having shown their desire for independence for some time. The King of Sardinia, Charles-Albert, had given a liberal constitution to his subjects and the people of Menton demanded a similar one for the Principality. The constitution, which Florestan offered them on two occasions, did not meet their approval; after the revolution of 1848 in France, the situation grew worse. Florestan and Caroline handed over all their powers to their son Charles. But it was too late to assuage the spirits of the people. On March 20, 1848, Menton and Roquebrune declared themselves to be free and independent townships. However, annexation by the Kingdom of Sardinia, in spite of the efforts of the Court of Turin, did not take place. The efforts of Florestan and, after his death in 1856, those of his son Charles III, were also unsuccessful. Troubles continued until the Treaty of Turin in 1860 which ceded to France the county of Nice and Savoy. Shortly after the Treaty of February 2, 1861, Charles III gave up his rights to France over Menton and Roquebrune. This treaty, which gave the Prince, an indemnity of four million francs for the loss of the two towns, guaranteed for him the independence of Monaco under his sole authority. For the first time in three centuries, the independence of Monaco was formally recognized and freed from any link with a protecting power.

The Principality, reduced to one-twentieth of its territory, deprived of the revenue, which it drew from Roquebrune and Menton, found itself in a financially difficult situation. In order to meet the expense of administration and the cost of upkeep of the Court, it was imperative to find other sources of revenue apart from taxes whose rates could not be increased. In 1863 after several attempts to increase commercial activity, Charles III and his mother Princess Caroline had the idea of establishing a gaming house under the name of the Société des Bains de Mer. The concession was given in turn to two businessmen, neither of whom was able to manage the enterprise successfully. It was then that François Blanc, director of gaming at Homburg, who came to be called the Magician of Monte Carlo, obtained the concession for fifty years. Under his enlightened management, the business developed to an extent, which was far beyond the most optimistic forecasts. Situated in an enchanting setting, the various establishments - hotels, theater and casino - of the Seabath Company attracted hosts of tourists from the very beginning, in spite of the difficulty of access to the Principality. Later, in 1868, when the railway line between Nice and Ventimiglia was completed, their number increased to remarkable figures. The economic growth of the Principality increased in a striking manner and at the same time the development of the town went ahead at an incredible pace. On the rocks of the Spelugues, the main establishment of the Seabath Company, the Casino, was quickly surrounded by luxury hotels and splendid buildings. This area changed its name in 1866 and in honor of Prince Charles assumed that of Monte Carlo.

Between 1866 and 1905 the Principality signed treaties relating to the extradition of wrong-doers with Italy, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Great Britain and Denmark as well as conventions on Legal Aid and Reciprocal Communication of Civil Status Deeds with Italy, Belgium and France. Monaco was also a signatory of several multilateral treaties such as the Paris Convention of 1883, the Berne Convention of 1886 and the Madrid Arrangement of 1891. At the same time, Monaco accredited Ministers or Chargés d'Affaires to Paris, the Vatican, Spain, Italy and Belgium. Charles III also increased the number of his consular agents.

Prince Charles III, living for most of his reign in his chateau of Marchais in Champagne, did not, however, neglect the direction of public business, aided by the enlightened advice of the lawyer Eynaud. It was to this Prince and his son, Prince Albert I, that Monaco owes its striking development, its reputation and its institutions.

Albert I succeeded his father in 1889. Until then he had devoted himself entirely to scientific research, which engrossed him. His discoveries in the fields of oceanography and paleontology won him a great reputation and a seat in the Academy of Sciences. It would take too long to list all his achievements; it suffices to recall that he was the founder of the Oceanographic Institute, which consists of the famous Museum inaugurated in 1910 and the establishment created in Paris to teach this science. We are indebted to him also for the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology in Monaco and the Institute of Human Paleontology in Paris. In addition, in 1903 he founded the International Institute of Peace with the task of "studying the means of resolving disagreements between nations by arbitration, propagating attachment to methods of harmonious agreement and removing hatred from the hearts of people".

In the field of the arts, activities undertaken during his reign won the Principality a magnificent reputation; the Opera, created in 1869, under the directorship of the eminent Raoul Gunsbourg, rapidly won international fame due to the superior quality of its performances and its creations, which were to become famous.

In 1869 Prince Albert married Marie-Victoire de Douglas-Hamilton. This union produced Prince Louis II who succeeded his father in 1922. Prince Louis II, a graduate of the Saint Cyr military college, enjoyed a career as an officer of colonial troops in Algeria. Having left the army, he returned to service life again during the 1914-1918 War and was promoted to the rank of general. The attempts of Prince Albert I to persuade the Kaiser to stop the war in 1914 unfortunately bore no fruit. On January 5, 1911, Prince Albert I gave Monaco a Constitution. With the consent of Prince Albert I, Prince Louis II married his daughter, Princess Charlotte, to Prince Pierre de Polignac. It was this marriage which produced in 1921 H.S.H. Princess Antoinette and in 1923 H.S.H. Prince Rainier III.

Joining the French Army as a volunteer during the Second World War, H.S.H. Prince Rainier III was mentioned in Brigade Orders with the award of the War Cross and in 1947 He received the Cross of the Legion of Honor, military division. In 1949, He succeeded His grandfather, Prince Louis II, to the throne.

On April 18, 1956, Prince Rainier married Miss Grace Patricia Kelly, who was born in Philadelphia on November 12, 1929. Their three children are: H.S.H. Princess Caroline, born in Monaco on January 23, 1957, H.S.H. Prince Albert, Heir to the Throne, Marquis of Baux, born in Monaco on March 14, 1958, and H.S.H. Princess Stephanie, born in Monaco on February 1, 1965.

During His 56-year reign, Prince Rainier maintained Monaco’s political, economical and social stability and transformed this idyllic Riviera holiday spot into a thriving international financial, business, cultural and sports centre and premier luxury tourist destination. He initiated many innovative infrastructure policies and oversaw the Principality's unique geographical extension and its exceptional economic development. In 1958, He opened up Monte-Carlo’s seaboard and in 1965 launched the land reclamation project that extended Monaco’s territory by 20 percent. Other major infrastructure projects included the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, a state-of-the-art conference and cultural centre and the transformation of Port Hercule with a unique, semi-floating breakwater, installed in 2002, which allows for increased capacity and the docking of larger cruise ships. Light manufacturing and hi-tech commercial businesses found a home in the new Fontvieille district, bringing diversity to the Principality’s economy. These economic advances continue to ensure Monaco’s citizens and residents receive substantial social and cultural benefits.

He was dedicated to establishing the Principality’s status in the international community – in 1993 Monaco became the United Nations’ 183rd Member State, and in 2004 it was admitted to the Council of Europe. As the leader of a prosperous democratic nation, He gained much international respect by offering His patronage and financial support to many social and humanitarian causes. His commitment to scientific and environmental issues stemmed from his passion of the sea and His legacy to the world’s oceans includes thoughtful resource management practices and conservation techniques.

With the invaluable contribution of His beloved Princess Grace, Monaco became an international centre for cultural and sporting events. Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Little Singers of Monaco, the Prince Pierre Foundation, the Princess Grace Foundation, the International Circus Festival, Spring Arts Festival, the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Tennis Open are just some of the many initiatives that grew and prospered under His leadership.

On September 14, 1982, Princess Grace died as a result of a motor car accident.

H.S.H. Prince Rainier, known as “The Builder Prince”, passed away on April 6, 2005 in Monaco at the age of 81. The official ceremonies marking the enthronement of H.S.H. Prince Albert II took place in Monaco on July 12, 2005.

How to get there

From Nice Airport International take the motorway A 8 direction Monaco take the exit Monaco or La Turbie ( about 13 minutes) and drive to the direction Italy along the Grand Corniche to Cap Martin ( about 14 minutes)

Activities near Near Monte Carlo

Facilities

Further details indoors:
We rent the belle etage with a big terraces to the sea with panoramic view over the bay of Menton to Italy and the open sea.
One living room connected to the seaside terrasse with panoramic view , the master bedroom with the same panoramic view, a second bedroom with view to the sidyard, one bathroom and separate WC
A big a sofa bed in the living room could be a bed for one to two guest
Flat rated Internet telephone ( rates are visible in www. free.fr ) all together 2 telephone lines ,WI FI ,high speed DSL line, Weber gas BBQ, 200 TV channels, HP fax machine, printer ( for PC) , copy machine ( HP all in one) ,
Miele washer in kitchen.
The kitchen is fully equipped for cooking and entertaining .
The bedrooms are equipped with sheets and towels ( all 100 % cotton).

Further details outdoors:
Oceansound in the living room, masterbedroom and on the terrace .
Dining table and chars on terasses for 8 and 6 guest, two sun beds, Weber Gas BBQ,
Pool for kids available on request on the terrace connected to the kitchen.( 3.50 m in diameter and 1.20 deep)

Further details

We ask in additional to the rental amount a security deposit of 1000 Euro,refundable after telephone bill.
Power , wather ,DSL base flatrate,telephone base fee, are all included in the rent .

Conditions

The rent amount with security deposit of 1.000 Euro has to be paid in front, it follows the booking confirmation by email.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
winter and spring season	1 Jan 08	14 May 08	1400£  1,111	0-	0-	1 Week
Grand Prix - and Cannes	14 May 08	26 May 08	2300£  1,825	0-	0-	1 Week
june	26 May 08	29 Jun 08	1800£  1,429	0-	0-	1 Week
july-august	29 Jun 08	31 Aug 08	2300£  1,825	0-	0-	2 Weeks
september	31 Aug 08	1 Oct 08	1800£  1,429	0-	0-	1 Week
wintrer season	1 Oct 08	20 Dec 08	1400£  1,111	0-	0-	1 Week
christmas weeks	20 Dec 08	10 Jan 09	1800£  1,429	0-	0-	1 Week

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion.
We charge for end-cleaning 200 Euro

Availability notes

To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/55033

Contact owner

To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/55033

Contact details for home 55033 Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:	French Riviera Construction Waldhof
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Contact Notes: Anytime
Advertiser joined: 4 Apr 2008 This property added: 4 Apr 2008

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