World War 2 deception: How Monaco’s vast wine collection was hidden from Hitler
MONACO's expert wine collectors hid vast collections of wine worth thousands of pounds from the Nazis during World War 2.
Inside Monaco: Sommelier reveals hidden wine collection
Monaco is one of the smallest yet richest places on Earth. Not much bigger than the size of London's Hyde Park, per head, the principality is one of the wealthiest areas in the world. One in three people living there are millionaires. The sprawling affluence has forced the country to acquire expensive tastes - not least in its wine.
A number of cellars, both private and company owned, boast some of the best alcohol in the world.
Beneath the famous five star Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, 12 metres down, sits one of the most exclusive wine cellars in existence.
The BBC, in its documentary, Inside Monaco: Playground of the Rich, was given exclusive access to much of the country, including the hotel's wine cellar.
It was here that head sommelier Patrice Franck revealed several historical quirks about the vault, including how it was once feared that Adolf Hitler's Nazis would plunder the entire collection.
He said: "Just before World War 2, the head of the wine cellar closed all these corridors with empty bottles."
Here, director Michael Waldman asked: "They made it look like that there was nothing behind?"
Mr Franck said: "Of course, of course.
JUST IN: 'It has to be unique!' Prince Albert's struggle with bettering Monaco
"They closed all the corridors with empty bottles.
"There were probably 3,000 empty bottles stacked in the corridor.
"They took one rack, three racks, four racks, to stop anyone from entering the wine cellar we're about to go to where there's the greatest wine in our company."
DON'T MISS
Man Utd chief Ed Woodward takes first step to hijack Real Madrid plan [SPORT]
Prince Albert reveals intense childhood under Grace Kelly [REVEALED]
Prince Albert's devastating routine to 'get through difficult' life [INSIGHT]
The most special wines, not found by the Germans, are now kept safely under lock and key.
Described as an "amazing" collection, it includes Chateau Margaux 1929, thought to carry a hefty price tag of £2,411.61, according to drinksandco.
When asked whether the wine would have been one of the bottles the Nazis would have set their sights on, Mr Franck replied: "Of course, well, it's very nice."
Built in 1863, the cellar consists of a complex cavern system.
Mr Franck described it as "probably one of the biggest private wine cellars in the world”.
He continued: "We stock more than 400,000 bottles of wine and alcohol.
"If you have the wine cellar and not the guest in front of you, this is not good.
"This is our specificity in Monaco.
"The customers are rich and they know and love wine - these are the perfect conditions for me."