Beausoleil, Alpes-Maritimes


Beausoleil is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. It adjoins the Principality of Monaco. Beausoleil was formerly known as Monte-Carlo-Supérieur.

Geography

Located on a hillside above the city-state of Monaco, Beausoleil is surrounded by the Tête de Chien and Agel mountains. It is urbanistically contiguous with the principality and shares some streets, as the Boulevard de France, the Boulevard du Maréchal Leclerc, and the Avenue du Maréchal Foch. Its municipality borders with the Monégasque wards of Monte Carlo, Saint Roman, Saint Michel, Moneghetti and Les Révoires; and with the French municipalities of La Turbie, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Peille.

Economy

The commune is intertwined with Monaco. It functions to some extent as a bedroom community as many of its residents are employed in Monaco. The main part of the town consists of Belle Époque houses with ornate entrances. Attractions within Beausoleil include the Gustave Eiffel covered market, St Joseph's Sanctuary and the Fontdivina Fountain and Wash House.
Given the town's proximity to Monaco, real estate in Beausoleil is prohibitively expensive for many. There is a sense in which the even more expensive Monaco exports its worker accommodation challenge to Beausoleil, which, in turn, exports its own acute accommodation challenge to other French towns further inland.

Politics

The town's border with Monaco was largely fixed during the 18th century. What is now known as Beausoleil was administered from La Turbie prior to 1904, when the town was incorporated. Along with other French communes adjacent to Monaco, the electorate has traditionally had a sizable proportion which is left-leaning: Roger Bennati, mayor of the town 1989-1995, served under Communist affiliation. Monaco's political parties are more right-leaning.

Former mayors

DateNameParty
1904Camille Blanc
1929Jacques Subles
1935Paul-Joseph Chiabault
1941François Rochesani
1943Arthur Audoly
1944Marius Floret
1944Auguste Dubar
1953Paul-Joseph Chiabault
1971Paul Massa
1986André Vanco
1989Roger BennatiPCF
1995Gérard SpinelliUDF
2001Robert VialDivers Gauche
2008Gérard Spinelli

Demographics

Beausoleil is the home of many Filipino and Portuguese immigrants.

Education

Schools in Beausoleil:
The Gare de Monaco-Monte-Carlo is located on the border between Beausoleil and Monaco.