Creation of the National Archives of Monaco: Inauguration of the Directorate’s premises and launch of their website

On Monday, June 16, at 11 a.m., H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince inaugurated the National Archives Directorate of Monaco at its new premises in Fontvieille, in the presence of Mrs. Isabelle BERRO-AMADEÏ, Government Counselor–Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, acting as Minister of State, and other key authorities of the Principality.

By sovereign ordinance published in the Journal de Monaco on May 16, the Principality officially established a national institution dedicated to public-interest archives. The former Central Archives and Administrative Documentation Service is now the Government Archives Service, fully integrated into the National Archives Directorate.

It remains under the State Ministry.

This marks the culmination of four years of work by the Prefiguration Mission for the National Archives.

Until the 1911 Constitution, the Sovereign and the State were institutionally inseparable, and so were their archives. As a result, many heritage documents from the Government up to 1911 are kept at the Prince’s Palace Archives, founded in 1881, where they remain part of the Crown’s collection. These archives continue to preserve the records of the Sovereign, the Princely Family, and the Sovereign Household.

The National Archives, under the authority of H.E. the Minister of State, safeguard part of the Principality’s heritage archives. For those that are publicly accessible, they are available to the administration, Monégasque citizens, residents, historians, researchers, and genealogists, both amateur and professional.

Their mission includes the collection, preservation, processing, accessibility, and promotion of public and private archival collections. They also contribute to the development of archival legislation, and support archive producers—particularly public entities—in modernizing and standardizing archival practices.

Designed as a shared resource center open to all entities, especially public ones, wishing to preserve and enhance their heritage archives, the National Archives Directorate now benefits from an additional 500 m² of fully renovated space in Fontvieille. Over the past few months, several heritage archive deposit agreements have been signed between the National Archives and public bodies not under the authority of the Princely Government. Others are expected to follow this summer.

In addition to its two reading rooms—one in Fontvieille and one at the State Ministry, both accessible by appointment during the week—the National Archives also launched their new public website on Monday, June 16:
👉 https://archivesnationales.gouv.mc

This national portal offers access to standardized inventories, digitized archives, virtual exhibitions, and editorial content. It is also open to other entities beyond the National Archives for showcasing public-interest archives of the Principality. This includes, for example, municipal public archives and private collections held by the Heritage Fund of the Monaco Municipal Library, whose inventories are published on the site.