Documentary articles
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.
Flore Singer
Flore Singer was an important figure in Parisian life and a loyal friend to the Prince.She was born in 1824 and died in Paris on 28 November 1915. A salon host and author, for almost half a century she hosted a salon at her Paris home on the first floor of the Hôtel de Chimay, a location which inspired Proust’s depiction of the Verdurin salon.
Objects and instruments
Prince Albert I was fascinated by inventions such as photography, cinematography and means of transport such as bicycles, motorcycles and aeronautics.
William Speirs Bruce. A man, a Prince
William Speirs Bruce, a Scottish oceanographer who specialised in polar science, was born in London on 1 August 1867 and died in Edinburgh on 28 October 1921. He took part in two of the Prince’s scientific expeditions to Spitsbergen, in 1898 and 1899.
The Azores. A location, a memory
The correspondence exchanged between the two sovereigns, Dom Carlos I of Portugal and Albert I of Monaco, highlights their efforts to bring about a major achievement: a network of meteorological observatories in the Azores.