Beausoleil, Alpes-Maritimes

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Beausoleil

Clocher beausoleil.jpg
Coat of arms of Beausoleil
Beausoleil is located in France
Beausoleil
Administration
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Alpes-Maritimes
Arrondissement Nice
Canton Beausoleil
Intercommunality Riviera française
Mayor Gérard Spinelli
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 40–621 m (130–2,037 ft)
Land area1 5.48 km2 (2.12 sq mi)
Population2 14,078  (2008)
 - Density 2,569 /km2 (6,650 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 06012/ 06240
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 43°44′33″N 7°25′28″E / 43.7425°N 7.4244°E / 43.7425; 7.4244

Beausoleil (French pronunciation: ​[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).

Contents

Economy [edit]

The commune is very dependent on Monaco. It functions to some extent as a bedroom community for people employed in Monaco. The main part of the town consists of handsome Belle Époque houses with ornate entrances. Interesting attractions include the Gustave Eiffel covered market, St Joseph's Sanctuary (a church with ornate stained-glass windows) and the Fontdivina Fountain and Wash House. It can be difficult to determine where Monaco starts or Beausoleil ends as the border meanders across streets and footpaths. 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 people who work in the town. There is a sense in which Monaco exports its worker accommodation challenge to Beausoleil, which, in turn, exports its own acute accommodation challenge to other French towns.

Politics [edit]

The town's border with Monaco was largely fixed during the 18th century. What is now know 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.

Former Mayors [edit]

Date Name Party
1904 Camille Blanc
1929 Jacques Subles
1935 Paul-Joseph Chiabault
1941 François Rochesani
1943 Arthur Audoly
1944 Marius Floret
1944 Auguste Dubar
1953 Paul-Joseph Chiabault
1971 Paul Massa
1986 André Vanco
1989 Roger Bennati PCF
1995 Gérard Spinelli UDF
2001 Robert Vial Divers Gauche
2008 Gérard Spinelli

Population [edit]

Historical population
Year Pop.   ±%  
1968 14,144 —    
1975 12,208 −13.7%
1982 11,664 −4.5%
1990 12,326 +5.7%
1999 12,775 +3.6%
2008 14,078 +10.2%

Beausoleil is the home of many Filipino (numbering anywhere between 1,500 and 5,000 people) and Portuguese immigrants.

See also [edit]

References [edit]

External links [edit]