THE FIRST MONTE CARLO RALLY TAKES PLACE IN MONACO

Today, The Grandma has been reading about one of her great passions, the rallies. On a day like today in 1911, the first Monte Carlo Rally took place in Monaco and The Grandma wants to remember this event talking about it.

The Monte Carlo Rally or Rallye Monte-Carlo, officially Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo, in modern days abbreviated to RMC, is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique.

The rally now takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and southeast France. Previously, competitors would set off from all four corners of Europe and rally, in other words, meet, in Monaco to celebrate the end of a unique event.

From its inception in 1911 by Prince Albert I it was an important means of demonstrating improvements and innovations to automobiles, as well as promoting Monaco as an important tourist resort on the Mediterranean shore. More and more people became owners of motor cars and touring at home and abroad with a car was becoming an important way of recreation in the first decades of the 20th century.

In 1909 the Automobile Club de Monaco (Sport Automobile Velocipédique Monégasque) started planning a car rally at the behest of Albert I, Prince of Monaco. The Monte Carlo Rally was to start at points all over Europe and converge on Monte Carlo.

More information: ACM

In January 1911, 21, 23 cars set out from 11 different locations and Henri Rougier was among the nine who left Paris to cover a 1,020 kilometres route. Except for some glazed frost on the road most itineraries were not too bad for January. However, the two participants starting from Vienna did not reach their destination because of temperatures of -18 Celsius and 40cm of iced snow on the roads. The event was won by Rougier in a Turcat-Méry 25 Hp. The rally comprised both driving and then somewhat arbitrary judging based on the elegance of the car, passenger comfort and the condition in which it arrived in the principality. The outcry of scandal when the results were published changed nothing, so Rougier was proclaimed the first winner.

In 1912 the Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo attracted 60 actual starters. There were now ten different starting points from where to rally towards the Principality of Monaco, Rallye Automobile Monaco was on their cars plates.

With an average required speed of 25 km/h this meant that the character was mostly touring, and the participants mostly used comfortable closed limousines. As these participants were often affluent owners, it was not uncommon that most of the driving was done by their chauffeurs. The most adventurous new starting city was Saint Petersburg in the Russian Empire, 3.257 km of winter roads away from Monte Carlo.

The period between 1924 and 1939 can be characterized as a difficult and sometimes frustrating search for an event to truly and fairly challenge the competitors and their vehicles. This was particularly hard because of the rapid development of not only the motor cars in that period, but also of the quality of the roads and their maintenance in winter.

It took some time after the Second World War for the organizers -still with Anthony Noghès in charge- to put a new Rally together. Europe changed geographically and politically. New countries, new borders, so Prague was the only possible starting point behind the Iron Curtain. Instead of the rallying to meet near Monte Carlo, now there was a circular route from Monte Carlo to Amsterdam and back.

Skipping 1957 because of the Suez crisis -with fuel rationing and a ban on motor sports events for several months- the next few years witnessed very different winners.

After another petrol crisis, following the Yom Kippur war, as a result of the stop of crude oil exports to Europe the 1974 edition was cancelled.

These years the first four-wheel-drive cars appeared. Allowed form 1979, in fact the Audi Quattro was the first to be entered in 1981, but it took some years to become successful. Combined with the arrival of Group B regulations from 1982, 200 cars to be built with vast freedom in design and almost unlimited power with turbo engines developed and allowed, this made rally cars incredibly fast. And incredibly hard to drive.

One of the most remarkable facts over the last twenty some years is that just three drivers won 18 out of the 24 events. Tommi Mäkinen four times in a row and later Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier seven times each!

More information: WRC

 We will try everything to get another win in Monte Carlo,
which is an event I really enjoy.

Sébastien Loeb

COLETTE DÉREAL, TÉLÉ MONTE CARLO BEFORE SÉVERINE

Colette Deréal & Jean-Claude Pascal

Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, in Ligurian Principatu de Mùnegu, is a sovereign city-state, country, and microstate on the French Riviera in Western Europe.

The Grandma loves small countries because she was born in one of them and she considers that as small is your country better attention it has with its inhabitants. Tina Picotes, one of The Grandma's best friends, was born in Monaco and they share their experiences living in these rich microstates full of history and diversity. Today, they have been talking about the participation of Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest along its history. Tina has talked about two especial singers, Colette Deréal and Séverine. The first died on a day like today in 1988 and the second won this Contest representing Monaco for the first and only time.  

The Grandma considers that talking about them is a good way to pay homage and remember them.

More information: François Grimaldi captures the Rock of Monaco

Colette Deréal, born Colette Denise de Glarélial; 22 September 1927-12 April 1988) was a French actress and singer.

In 1961, Deréal represented Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, with the song Allons, allons les enfants. Deréal finished joint tenth place with the Finnish entry Valoa ikkunassa sung by Laila Kinnunen and the Dutch entry Wat een dag sung by Greetje Kauffeld, receiving six points.

Allons, allons les enfants was the Monegasque entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, performed in French by French singer Colette Deréal.

The song is a call from Deréal to the children of the world to get out of the towns and into the wider world to celebrate the joys of Spring. She sings that this is the only way for them to truly live.

The song was performed second on the night, following Spain's Conchita Bautista with Estando contigo and preceding Austria's Jimmy Makulis with Sehnsucht. At the close of voting, it had received 6 points, placing 10th in a field of 16.

It was succeeded as Monegasque representative at the 1962 Contest by François Deguelt with Dis rien.

More information: Eurovision

Allons les enfants, aujourd'hui la vie est belle
Il faut sur le champ qu'on répande la nouvelle
Une belle page blanche, toute blanche, s'ouvre maintenant
C'est le jour du printemps.

Let's go children, today life is beautiful
On the field they just have to spread the news
A beautiful white page, all white, is opened now
It's the day of spring.

Colette Deréal

Monaco has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 24 times since its debut in 1959.

The country's only win in the contest came in 1971 when Séverine performed Un banc, un arbre, une rue. In 1972, Monaco was expected to host the contest, but declined. Until now, Monaco is the only microstate which has won the contest.

Monaco finished last at its first contest in 1959 before achieving three top three results in the 1960s. Two of these were achieved by François Deguelt, who finished third in 1960 and second in 1962. Romuald also finished third in 1964.

Severine's victory in 1971 was the first of five top four results in eight years.

The others were achieved by Romauld, who returned to place fourth in 1974, Mary Christy who was third in 1976, Michèle Torr, fourth in 1977 and Caline & Olivier Toussaint who were fourth in 1978. After participating in 1979, Monaco was absent from the contest for 25 years.

Séverine won Eurovision in 1971

Monaco is the only country to have internally selected all of their participants. While some countries organise televised national finals, it is believed that TMC does not have enough money to organise national finals.

Monaco returned to the contest for three years from 2004 to 2006 but failed to qualify for the final on all three occasions.

The Monegasque broadcaster then withdrew from the contest, stating that regional voting patterns in the contest have effectively given Monaco no chance of qualifying for the final.

Monaco participated in the contest 21 times between its debut in 1959 and 1979. Afterwards the country withdrew from the contest for financial reasons. It only returned in 2004, 25 years after its last participation. It withdrew again in 2007, after failing to qualify for the final for three consecutive years.

Monaco won the contest in 1971, with the song Un banc, un arbre, une rue, performed by Séverine.

The Monegasque victory is rather particular in the history of Eurovision as neither the songwriter, the singer, nor director were from the country they represented, something which also was the case with four of Luxembourg’s five victories.

Séverine even declared to journalists that she had never set foot in Monaco, forgetting that the video-clip was filmed there. Séverine's producer was dishonest with her and stole her prize, thus she never got paid for her victory, even after suing him. Nevertheless, the singer is still a great fan of the contest.

More information: Wiwi Blogs

Monaco's next best placing is second place, which it has achieved once in 1962. It has placed third three times, in 1960, 1964 and 1976; and last twice, in 1959 and 1966.

Monaco is among the eight countries which finished last on their first participation, the others being Austria, Portugal, Malta, Turkey, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and San Marino.

Monaco never organised the contest. After winning in 1971, the country decided to organise the 1972 contest as an open-air show, setting the date in June rather than early spring. However, because of a lack of funds and material, Télé Monte Carlo sought help from the French public broadcaster, ORTF, which accepted to organise the contest.

Because TMC wanted the show to be held in Monaco while ORTF wanted it in France, negotiations never succeeded. Monaco left it up to the EBU. The EBU asked Spain and Germany, who respectively finished second and third at the 1971 contest, but the countries were not interested in organising the 1972 contest. It was eventually organised by the BBC in Edinburgh.

Séverine won Eurovision in 1971

Monaco was absent from the contest between 1980 and 2003, before returning for three years from 2004–2006, but Maryon (2004), Lise Darly (2005) and Séverine Ferrer (2006) all failed to progress from the semi-finals. TMC broadcast the 2007 contest, opening the way for participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. However, TMC decided against it.

The EBU announced they would work harder to bring Monaco back into the Contest in 2010 alongside other lapsed participants.

TMC programs no longer revolve around the principality. As TF1 Group being the biggest competitor to the French public channels, it is very unlikely that TMC will again broadcast the contest. When TMC did so between 2004 and 2006, its audience was much smaller than the one of the French public channel. In those years, it was the government and the municipality of Monaco who chose the contestant and funded the delegation, while it is usually the responsibility of a broadcaster or a producer.

Due to the country's very small size, all Monaco's entrants came from outside the principality, although French-born Minouche Barelli, who represented the principality in 1967, shared her time between Paris and Monaco, acquired Monegasque citizenship in 2002, and died in the principality on 20 February 2004 at the age of 56.

More information: Victorovies

Séverine (born Josiane Grizeau; 10 October 1948, Paris) is a French singer.

Séverine won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 for Monaco, performing Un banc, un arbre, une rue with music by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre and words by Yves Dessca. It was recorded in English as Chance In Time, in German as Mach die Augen zu (und wünsch dir einen Traum) and Italian as Il posto.

The original French version made #9 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1971, whereas the English version, released on CBS rather than Philips, did not chart. The song charted highly in most other European markets.

Séverine had further success in France and Germany, but never again on an international scale.

Séverine made two further attempts at winning the Eurovision Song Contest, participating in the German national finals of 1975 and 1982. Neither song won. She accompanied Monaco's delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens, Greece.

More information: Escextra

Un jour ou l'autre il faut partir
Pour se construire un avenir, un avenir
Et see'est l'inoubliable instant
Où l'on rend ses habits d'enfant, d'enfant.
 

One day or another we have to leave
To build a future, a future
And it's the unforgettable instant
When we return our child clothes, child clothes.
 

Séverine

FRANÇOIS GRIMALDI CAPTURES THE ROCK OF MONACO

Francesco Grimaldi, Prince's Palace of Monaco

Today, The Grandma has received the visit of her closer friend Tina Picotes.

Tina was born in Monaco the second smallest country in the world.

They have been talking about the history of this Principality, full of shadows and lights that has become in one of the richest countries of the world but also one of the most controversial due to its dark businesses in casinos and its tax policies that allow evading taxes.

On a day like today in 1297, Francesco Grimaldi, the Genoese leader of the Guelphs, captured the Rock of Monaco. This was the beginning of the saga of the Grimaldis the most powerful family of the island and also the rulers of it.

Francesco Grimaldi called il Malizia, the malicious, was the Genoese leader of the Guelphs who captured the Rock of Monaco on the night of 8 January 1297. He was the son of Guglielmo Grimaldi by his wife Giacobina or Giacoba, a Genoese noble.

Dressed as a Franciscan friar, Francesco was greeted at the gates of Monaco's castle, only then to seize the castle with his cousin Rainier I, Lord of Cagnes, and a group of men behind him. The event is commemorated on the Monegasque coat of arms, on which the supporters are two friars armed with swords. He held the citadel of Monaco for four years before being chased out by the Genoese. The battle over the rock was taken over by his kinsmen. Francesco thus failed to establish Grimaldi's rule over Monaco, but was the first to attempt to do so.

More information: Tina Picotes Monegasque Style for Travelling

He was married in 1295 to Aurelia del Carretto; the marriage was childless. The modern Grimaldis are therefore not descendants of Francesco. After his death, in 1309, he was succeeded by his cousin and stepson, Rainier I, Lord of Cagnes.
His cousin's descendants, the Grimaldi family, still rule Monaco today.

Over one hundred years after the coup, the Grimaldis purchased Monaco from the crown of Aragon in 1419, and became the official and undisputed rulers of the Rock of Monaco.

The Rock of Monaco

The Rock of Monaco, in French Rocher de Monaco, is a 62-metre tall monolith on the Mediterranean coast of the Principality of Monaco. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and the port.

The Rock has been a coveted possession from the beginning of the ancient Massilian colony of Monoïkos, in Greek Μόνοικος, named for the Ligurian tribes who occupied the area and vied for control of it; even earlier, it was a shelter for primitive populations.

The Rock of Monaco was also the first conquest of the Grimaldi dynasty, the rulers of the country for more than 700 years, founded when the Guelf Francesco Grimaldi disguised himself as a Franciscan friar in order to gain entry to the city and open the gates for his soldiers.

Today, the Rock is in the oldest of Monaco's four quarters, Monaco-Ville, which is also the location of Old Town, the oldest part of the city. This is not far from the Prince's Palace, in French Le Palais Princier, home of the current monarch Albert II and the princely family, the Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. The Rock of Monaco is a popular attraction where tourists view the palace and the changing of the guards.

More information: Gouvernement Princier

Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, in French Principauté de Monaco, is a sovereign city-state, country, and microstate on the French Riviera in Western Europe. France borders the country on three sides while the other side borders the Mediterranean Sea. Monaco is about 15 km from the state border with Italy.

Monaco has an area of 2.020 km2, making it the second-smallest country in the world after the Vatican. Its population as of 2018 is 38,682. With 19,009 inhabitants per square kilometre, it is the most densely-populated sovereign state in the world.

Monaco has a land border of 5.47 km, the world's shortest coastline of approximately 3.83 km, regardless of the coastline paradox, and a width that varies between 1,700 and 349 m. The highest point in the country is a narrow pathway named Chemin des Révoires on the slopes of Mont Agel, in the Les Révoires Ward, which is 161 metres above sea level.

Monaco's most populous Quartier is Monte Carlo and the most populous Ward is Larvotto/Bas Moulins. Through land reclamation, Monaco's land mass has expanded by 20 percent. In 2005, it had an area of only 1.974 km2.

Shield of Monaco

Monaco is known to be the most expensive and the wealthiest place in the world due to its tax laws.

Monaco is a principality governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state. Although Prince Albert II is a constitutional monarch, he wields immense political power.

The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco, with brief interruptions, since 1297. 

The official language is French, but Monégasque, Italian, and English are widely spoken and understood. The state's sovereignty was officially recognised by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861, with Monaco becoming a full United Nations voting member in 1993. Despite Monaco's independence and separate foreign policy, its defence is the responsibility of France. However, Monaco does maintain two small military units.

Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with the opening of the country's first casino, Monte Carlo, and a railway connection to Paris. Since then, Monaco's mild climate, scenery, and gambling facilities have contributed to the principality's status as a tourist destination and recreation centre for the rich.

In more recent years, Monaco has become a major banking centre and has sought to diversify its economy into the services sector and small, high-value-added, non-polluting industries. The state has no income tax, low business taxes, and is well known for being a tax haven. It is also the host of the annual street circuit motor race Monaco Grand Prix, one of the original Grands Prix of Formula One.

More information: Hello Monaco

Monaco is not formally a part of the European Union (EU), but it participates in certain EU policies, including customs and border controls. Through its relationship with France, Monaco uses the euro as its sole currency, prior to this it used the Monégasque franc. Monaco joined the Council of Europe in 2004. It is a member of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

Monaco's name comes from the nearby 6th-century BC Phocaean Greek colony. Referred to by the Ligurians as Monoikos, from the Greek μόνοικος, single house, from μόνος (monos) alone, single + οἶκος (oikos) house, which bears the sense of a people either settled in a single habitation or of living apart from others.

According to an ancient myth, Hercules passed through the Monaco area and turned away the previous gods. As a result, a temple was constructed there, the temple of Hercules Monoikos. Because the only temple of this area was the House of Hercules, the city was called Monoikos. It ended up in the hands of the Holy Roman Empire, which gave it to the Genoese.

An ousted branch of a Genoese family, the Grimaldi, contested it for a hundred years before actually gaining control.

Like France, Monaco was overrun by the Axis powers during the Second World War and for a short time was administered by Italy, then the Third Reich, before finally being liberated. Although the occupation lasted for just a short time, it meant the deportation of the Jewish population and execution of several resistance members from Monaco. Since then Monaco has been independent, it has taken some steps towards integration with the European Union.

More information: BBC

I must hurry back to my house

and my flowers in Monaco.

Lillie Langtry

TINA PICOTES: MONEGASQUE STYLE FOR TRAVELLING

Tina Picotes

Today is a great day for our unforgettable families. Another member is going to join us: Tina Picotes.

Tina Picotes was born in Maison Neuve a quartier of Monte Carlo, Monaco. She studied in the London School of Economics and Political Science and she works like a Monegasque Diplomatic. Because of this, she is always travelling around the world. She’s an expert in human and political relations and she’s an important figure for her country. She always travels accompanied by her bodyguards: Grimaldi & Ghibellines.

Tina is going to explain us her travels and we’re going to learn a lot about different countries, manners and languages.

The Grandma met Tina in Saint Tropez in the French Riviera. Both of them have a common friend: Joseph de Ca’th Lon. All of them are going to explain you lots of interesting stories about different themes.

TINA'S HOMETOWN: LE MAISON NEUVE IN MONTE CARLO

Tina with Grimaldi and Ghibellines in Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlu in Monegasque, officially refers to an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally the name also refers to a larger district, the Monte Carlo Quarter which besides Monte Carlo/Spélugues also includes the wards of La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins, and Saint Michel. The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500, while that of the quarter is about 15,000. Monaco has four traditional quarters. From west to east they are: Fontvieille (the newest), Monaco-Ville (the oldest), La Condamine, and Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo or literally Mount Charles is situated on a prominent escarpment at the base of the Maritime Alps along the French Riviera. Near the western end of the quarter is the world-famous Place du Casino, the gambling centre which has made Monte Carlo. It is also the location of the Hôtel de Paris, the Café de Paris, and the Salle Garnier, the casino theatre which is the home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

More information: Visit Monaco

TINA'S ANCESTORS: THE HOUSE OF GRIMALDI

Tina, Grimaldi & Ghibellines leaving the Palais

The House of Grimaldi has ruled the tiny principality of Monaco on the Mediterranean coast for over 700 years. The first Lord of Monaco, a merchant-turned-pirate called Lanfranco Grimaldi, was Italian by birth and a member of the Genoan Guelphic family who invaded the area in 1297, following an economic dispute with rival clan, the Ghibellines.When Lanfranco died in 1309, he was succeeded by his first cousin, Rainier I, from whom all subsequent Monegasque monarchs are descended.

Rainier was also a seafaring man, but unlike those of his predecessor, the new leader's trading activities were legitimate, and eventually earned him the respect of the French monarch who appointed him Grand Admiral of France in 1304.

More information: Palais Princier de Monaco

Monaco became a principality when the then ruler Honor II assumed the title of prince in 1612. At that point the territory was still under the protection of Spain, with whom it had been linked since 1524, but the Treaty of Peronne in 1641 allied it instead with France. Subsequent Monegasque sovereigns upped their title count by marrying a string of French heiresses, which explains why; in addition to the title of Sovereign Prince of Monaco, the head of the principality can lay claim to 19 other titles.

Although the Grimaldi family was exiled from Monaco in 1793 following the French revolution - during which time the principality reverted to its ancient name of Fort d'Hercule - its members returned in 1815, following the Treaty of Paris, and have been its monarchs ever since.

 

Welcome Tina to our families!

 I must hurry back to my house and my flowers in Monaco - Lillie Langtry.

LURDES: MONACAN BEAUTY

Lurdes Addams plays in Monte Carlo Casino

Lurdes was born in Monte Carlo, the capital of Monaco, one of the smallest countries in Europe very famous for its casinos, its car races and its tributes and taxes advantages.

She decided to travel around the world with the rest of the family to discover other sources of inspiration and other cultures. She was born in a small country and that’s the reason because of she has the necessity of visiting other places, although every time she does it, she misses much more her country and she need to return to her origins.

I work hard in social work, public relations, 

and raising the Grimaldi heirs.

Princess Grace

GEMMA & JAMES: AN "AFFAIRE" IN CASINO ROYALE

Casino Royale, Monte Carlo, Monaco

Last news about the family!

Gemma, our nurse, has fallen in love again. This time, the lucky one is a handsome English man called James. We don’t know anything else. He’s very reserved but we think he’s an important business man because he lives between London and Monte Carlo and spends hours and money in Casino Royale. 

The couple met in the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, meanwhile he was being nursed by Gemma. A beautiful love story!

Do you know that Monaco won the Eurovision Song Contest once? Yes. It was in 1971 with the song Un banc, un arbre, une rue performed by Séverine. Here it is.

Listen to Un banc, un arbre, une rue by Séverine (English version)

One day or another we have to leave
To build a future, a future
And it's the unforgettable instant
When we return our child clothes, child clothes

Everyone, in his corner of the horizon
Only defends their ambitions, their ambitions  
But if we share nothing
What will be left for us in common, in common?