Which great men of 20th century French culture have close links with the Principality?

Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the famous explorer, film-maker and inventor, directed Monaco's Oceanographic Museum for 30 years, from 1957 to 1988. The former minesweeper began exploring the seas aboard Calypso and went on to create films and books. His film "The Silent World" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956 and left an indelible cultural mark. Throughout his career, Captain Cousteau has raised public awareness of the beauty of the oceans, but also of the threats they face.

Considered one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century, his work and influence have never ceased to extend beyond the French-speaking world. Léo Ferré, a poet as well as a musician, composer and orchestra conductor, was born in the Principality during the First World War in 1916. The son of a croupier at the Société des Bains de Mer, the interpreter of "Avec le temps" gradually developed his reputation across borders, thanks to the many artists who wanted to include a Ferré composition in their repertoire, right up to the famous folk singer Joan Baez, who made it a classic on American campuses. Today, music lovers and the curious flock to the Espace Léo Ferré throughout the year, and it acts as a major cultural venue, offering eclectic events, particularly musical ones.