Terre-plein de Fontvieille

The Fontvieille land reclamation is the largest sea extension in the Principality’s history. Before Mareterra, before Port Hercule, Monaco gained on Fontvieille bay the space where Louis II stadium, the heliport, the marina and an entire district stand today.

An operation in three stages

1965 — the decision. Law No. 781 of 2 July 1965 decommissions a parcel of the public maritime domain « for the construction of a land reclamation », about 14,700 m². One month later, on 2 August, a concession treaty is signed with SADIM: the parcel to be gained must reach a minimum area of 22 hectares, with a marina of at least 55,000 m², 500 m of quays and an eight-year completion deadline. The act states that « the first works date back to 1907 » — the idea of developing this bay is therefore much older.

1973 — the buy-back. Law No. 939 authorises the State to borrow 50 million francs to acquire « all the land of the land reclamation ». The Principality regains land control of what it had built.

1975 — planning. Ordinance No. 5.583 sets the first planning rules for the land reclamation: quality housing, shops, offices and hotels allowed, industry banned except naval and port activities. The district’s allocation is written in the act.

A floor-area discrepancy Memoria flags

Three figures circulate for Fontvieille’s area: 22 hectares in the 1965 treaty, 20 hectares in a 2016 National Council report, 17 hectares according to the concession holder. Memoria does not decide: it records all three and indicates their origin. An archive that silently chose one figure would create misleading precision.

What Memoria does not claim to know

The completion date of the works, the first stone and the volume of fill were not found in the acts consulted. The published timeline is that of decisions, which is solid — not that of the building site, which remains to be established.

The facts are paraphrased; only the source is cited. To suggest a correction or a missing date, write to Memoria.