Though a native of southwest France, chef and restaurant magnate Alain Ducasse is now a citizen of Monaco. He was 33 when he was awarded the Michelin Guides’s highest possible three-star rating as chef at Le Louix XV restaurant in Monaco. According to Michelin, his vegetable-based “Jardins du Provence” menu, which debuted in Monaco in 1987, has been hugely influential in French cuisine.

Founded in 2003, the Monaco International Film Festival claims to be the only film festival in the world that focuses on showcasing non-violent films in “a celebration of peace.” The festival is a non-profit, non-governmental, independent event held annually, and honors outstanding entries with Angel Awards.

Originating in Monaco, barbagiuan is a fried pastry filled with swiss chard and ricotta. The name translates roughly to “Uncle John” in Monegasque — according to legend, it got its name when someone with that name went to make ravioli and substituted Swiss chard after realizing he didn’t have sauce. Barbagiuan is traditionally eaten on Monaco’s national day, November 19.

The Monte Carlo simulation or Monte Carlo method is used to model the probability of outcomes when random variables are present. The technique was developed in the late 1940s by Stanislaw Ulam, a mathematician who worked on the Manhattan Project. The process got its name thanks to the world-famous casino’s association with games of chance like roulette.

As of 2023, Julien Médécin is the only Olympic medal winner in the history of Monaco, taking home bronze for architectural design in the art competitions category (which no longer exists). Médécin received the medal for designing the Stadium for Monte Carlo in Fontvieille, which included a cycling track, a rugby and football pitch, and a nautical basin.

At 89 years, Monaco residents have the highest average lifespan on Earth, according to the CIA World Factbook. Singapore comes in second, followed by Macau and Japan. Monaco has a state-funded healthcare system, an abundance of doctors for its relatively small population, and a high concentration of wealth — all factors contributing to its record average lifespan.

The first Eurovision Song Contest took place in Lugano, Switzerland, in 1956, and has since grown into a hugely popular annual event. Each European country, plus Israel and Australia, puts forth a musical act and viewers vote on their favorite. Monaco first entered Eurovision in 1959, placing last. The country won the contest in 1971, making it the smallest country to have done so.

The Monaco Grand Prix has been Formula 1’s marquee event since it debuted in 1950, the first year of the racing series. The event takes place annually in May and draws thousands of spectators to the tiny European country. The late Ayrton Senna won the Monaco Grand Prix six times (including five consecutively) — more than any other driver.

The 1995 James Bond film “GoldenEye,” starring Pierce Brosnan, features several prominent scenes filmed at the Monte Carlo Casino, although 1983’s “Never Say Never Again” also displays the Monte-Carlo Casino facade. “GoldenEye” not only has scenes shot within the famous Monte-Carlo Casino, but also in Port Hercules, Fort Antoine, and the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

When the famous Monte Carlo Casino first opened in the 1860s, Monaco’s Princess Caroline forbade citizens from gambling on moral grounds, hoping to avoid any potentially negative social effects and ensure gambling revenue came only from foreigners. Those laws still stand, but Monaco’s wealthy citizens do enjoy a tradeoff: not paying income taxes. Approximately 4% of Monaco’s revenue today comes from gambling.

While the constitution of Monaco guarantees freedom for any religion, it also declares Roman Catholicism as the official state religion. State ceremonies in Monaco, including those involving the royal family, frequently include Catholic rituals, and Catholic instruction is optional in public schools.

Monaco’s flag features a horizontal red bar over an equally-sized horizontal white bar. The two colors are taken from Monaco’s coat of arms, which feature alternating red-and-white diamonds. The full coat of arms is flown above Monaco’s government buildings, but the simple red-and-white striped flag is used internationally. The flag of Monaco is nearly identical to that of Indonesia.

The House of Grimaldi’s rule over Monaco began with an act of subterfuge by leader Francesco Grimaldi. In 1297, he dressed as a Franciscan monk to be welcomed at the gate by the Genoans, who ruled Monaco at the time, accompanied by his cousin Rainier I and several dozen other men armed with swords. When the gates opened, they seized control of Monaco and have ruled ever since.

Monaco’s current prince, Albert II, belongs to the House of Grimaldi, which was founded in 1160 in Genoa and has ruled over Monaco since Francesco Grimaldi captured the territory in 1297. Article I of Monaco’s House Law requires that the reigning Prince or Princess bear the surname of Grimaldi. The Grimaldi coat of arms features a red-and-white diamond pattern.

Monaco is a constitutional monarchy, currently headed by Prince Albert II. The prince and a freely elected parliament jointly exercise legislative power. Traditionally, the French government submits three French nationals to be considered for the position of minister of the state, and the prince chooses from those candidates.

With less than one square mile of land, it probably doesn’t come as much surprise that Monaco has the shortest coastline in the world — a mere 2.5 miles along the Mediterranean Sea. With its location in the popular French Riviera resort area, Monaco’s shoreline has become so congested that the country is undergoing a billion-dollar project to artificially extend it by 15 acres.

Given its proximity to France, Monaco's official language is French, but the country also recognizes Monegasque as the “lenga d’i nostri avi,” or “language of our ancestors.” That language is rooted in Genoese but has evolved with influence from nearby dialects, including those from Nice, Italy, Piedmont, and Liguria.

Hollywood actress Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier III of Monaco while she was filming Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief” in the French Riviera. The couple wed in 1956, and Kelly became the Princess of Monaco at the age of 26. A street named in her honor, Avenue Princesse Grace, was once the most expensive street in the world — with real estate that averaged a whopping $17,750 USD per square foot in 2008, according to the Wealth Bulletin.

The entire country of Monaco is roughly 60% of the size of New York City’s Central Park. However, Vatican City is even tinier, at 0.19 square miles, which makes it the only country with a smaller area than Monaco. Although Monaco is only 0.78 square miles, its population of over 38,000 people makes it one of the world’s most densely populated countries.

Monaco — officially named the Principality of Monaco — is bordered by France on three sides and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. The country is situated along the French Riviera five miles from the Italian border, and it covers a land area of just 0.78 square miles. Nicknamed the “Billionaire’s Playground,” Monaco is also known for its high concentration of wealth.