El puerto Hercule en Mónaco

A short History

By 1901, Prince Albert 1st had already marked his reign with the realisation of a number of important projects, the Oceanographic Museum, a hospital, a modern sanitation system etc, when it became apparent that the Principality needed a harbour, able to accommodate the large number of yachts that visited the Côte d'Azur and to help open up the commerce of the area.

The construction of a port would complete the modernisation of the Principality and would at the same time be an important new source of prosperity. In order to maximize the space available, it was decided to build two quays, which still serve as the main walles of the harbour today. The work started on the 2nd July 1901.

The rock needed for the construction of the quays was taken from an area next to the sea, to the east of Cap Ferrat in the Bay of Lilong, five miles to the West of Monaco. The project was completed in 1926.