Documentary articles
Founding of the Institute of Human Palaeontology. A location, a memory
The Institute of Human Palaeontology is, together with the Institute of Oceanography, one of the two Paris foundations established by Prince Albert I, and the third oldest, after the Pasteur Institute and the Institute of Oceanography. It was founded due to both a desire to support scientific research and a wish to reach a wider public through educational work. The founding of the Institute of Human Palaeontology on 23 July 1910, and its subsequent recognition as a foundation of public interest on 15 December 1910 by decree of the President of the French Republic marked a new step: the Institute of Human Palaeontology would become the first research centre in the world to be entirely dedicated to the study of human fossils, taking both a naturalist and ethnographic perspective.
National Day, 19 November. Did you know?
The current National Day ceremony dates back to the reign of Prince Charles III, during the era when the Principality transformed into a modern and genuinely independent State.
Wilhelm II. A man, a Prince
Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert of Hohenzollern, who was born on 27 January 1859 in Berlin and died on 4 June 1941 in Doorn, in the Netherlands, was, from 1888 until his abdication in 1918, the third and final German Emperor (Deutscher Kaiser) and the ninth and last King of Prussia.
11 November. Did you know ?
11 November, yesterday and today
In France, 11 November is the day on which victory and peace are commemorated, and tribute paid to all of France’s fallen.
Norway. A location, a memory
Norway is an important memorial site for Prince Albert I. On 20 June 1910, an honorary prize was awarded to Prince Albert I at the Tourism, Sports and Recreation exhibition held from 1 June to 15 September 1910 in Bergen (Norway).
Jules Massenet. A man, a Prince
Jules Massenet, born on 12 May 1842 in Montaud, in the Loire commune, which is today part of Saint-Etienne, was an important musician in the history of Monaco’s artistic life during Prince Albert I’s era. Massenet achieved rapid success. After receiving a first prize for piano in 1859, he won the Grand Prix de Rome in 1863 and spent two years at the Villa Medici. The meeting with Georges Hartmann, who would become his publisher and mentor, and a commission from the Opéra Comique, proved decisive for his career. He wrote his first opera in 1867, “La Grand’ Tante”. He maintained a constant friendship with many artists, including Franz Liszt. The links between Massenet and the Principality of Monaco were numerous during the Belle Epoque, as seen through his friendship with Prince Albert I, which was strengthened by their relationship at the Institute. Massenet was elected to the Académie des beaux-arts (Academy of Fine Arts) in 1878, while Prince Albert I, who had already been a corresponding member in the geography section since 1891, became an associate member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1909. In fact, the last ten years of Massenet’s creative life are intrinsically linked to Monaco. From 1902, the Monte-Carlo Opera regularly hosted works by Jules Massenet (1842–1912): first “Le Jongleur de Notre-Dame”, a work dedicated to the Prince, then “Chérubin” in 1905, “Thérèse” in 1907 and “Don Quichotte” in 1910, one of his greatest successes with Chaliapin performing the title role.
7 November 2022
Le parc Princesse Antoinette. La minute Albert Ier
Lycée Albert Ier. La minute Albert Ier
Vidéo "La minute Albert Ier" avec Stéphane Lamotte au sujet du Lycée Albert Ier
Establishment of the Monaco Lycée. Did you know?
To ensure that his plans were properly prepared, the Prince, who was keen to bring together the best elements of European education systems, particularly the French and German systems, asked his personal advisor, Gaston Moch, to conduct a comparative study looking at how secondary education was organised in various countries, and how secondary schools were established. Visits were paid to France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland. Gaston Moch came up with a kind of compromise, striking a balance between German progress on infrastructure and French superiority in terms of educational content.
Cave of El Castillo. A location, a memory
Prince Albert I is known for his exploits as an explorer and for his strong involvement in oceanography. His curiosity was not limited to this field, however. His appetite for knowledge also led him to support anthropology and prehistory, fields which were then flourishing, driven by leading academics including Henri Breuil, Marcellin Boule and Hugo Obermaier.