Country France Canton Beausoleil Population (2008) 14,078 Mayor Gérard Spinelli Arrondissement Nice | Department Alpes-Maritimes Intercommunality Riviera française Area 2.79 km² Local time Wednesday 6:32 AM Prefecture Nice | |
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Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Weather 9°C, Wind W at 24 km/h, 29% Humidity | ||
Beausoleil ([bosɔlɛj]; Occitan: Bèusoleu [ˌbɛwsuˈlew]; "Beautiful Sun") 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 (Upper Monte Carlo).
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Map of 06240 Beausoleil, France
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 very intertwined on 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. Interesting attractions within Beausoleil include the Gustave Eiffel covered market, St Joseph's Sanctuary (a church with ornate stained-glass windows) and the Fontdivina Fountain and Wash House.
Another attraction is its Stade Vanco, a well-appointed sports centre. Given the town's proximity to Monaco, real estate in Beausoleil is usually 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. This may seem strange since Monaco's political parties are more right-leaning.
Demographics
Beausoleil is the home of many Filipino and Portuguese immigrants.