Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo was created in 1866, named by Prince Charles III during his reign. This is the area for those wishing to gamble in the internationally famous Casino, attend the opera, stay in its great and luxurious hotels, dine in fine restaurants, and shop for clothing and jewelry and leisure facilities, some created recently: Larvotto beach and the Monte Carlo Sporting Club.

Monte Carlo Casino
Casino Gardens
Monte Carlo Opera House
Café de Paris
Japanese Gardens
National Museum
Larvotto Beach
Sun Casino
Monte Carlo Sporting Club

Monte Carlo Casino

Built in 1863 in the Principality of Monaco, overlooking the Mediterranean, this architectural masterpiece has been the scene of Monte-Carlo's finest hours, spawned prestigious resorts and provided gaming with its most elegant setting.

Designed by Charles Garnier, the legendary architect who also built the majestic opera house in Paris, the Monte Carlo Casino was dedicated from the outset to the art of gaming.

The 'atrium', paved in marble, is surrounded by 28 Ionic columns in onyx. It leads into the auditorium of the opera, called the 'Salle Garnier', which is decorated in red and gold, with a profusion of bas-reliefs, frescoes and sculptures. Here, for more than a century, outstanding international performances of opera, ballet and concerts have been staged.

The 'gaming rooms' comprise a succession of numerous rooms featuring stained glass windows, admirable decorations and sculptures, allegorical paintings and bronze lamps.

The Casino is also home to the Monte-Carlo Opera, which stages world-renowned productions.

Casino Gardens

Opposite the famous Casino, magnificent beds of many species of flowers and plants; all nicely labeled, are displayed harmoniously on a background of perfectly manicured soft green lawns interspersed with ponds in which reeds and water lilies grow. The central garden accommodates several car park levels. It also has an impressive fountain and sculpture by Bottero.

The back of the Casino, facing the sea, is bordered by sunny terraces. A striking multicolored geometrical work by Vasarely decorates the roof of the Convention Center and Auditorium.

Monte Carlo Opera House

By the end of the 19th century, Charles Garnier was hired to build Monaco's Opera House. The famous architect had gained recognition from his work for the Paris Opera House.

Sarah Bernhard opened the new Salle Garnier in 1879. Between 1893 and 1951, Raoul Gunsbourg directed the Opera and built fame and prestige for Monaco's Opera House.

Many works were produced here for the first time, such as Richard Wagner's 'Tristan and Isolde', in 1893, and Maurice Ravel's 'The Child and the Spells' in 1925. In all, 45 lyrical works were first produced in Monte Carlo by some of the world's greatest singers including Melba, Caruso, Chaliapin, Tito Schipa, Georges Thil and the more contemporary Ruggero Raimondi, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.

Every year John Mordler, the current Director of the Monte Carlo Opera, presents a season of quality works, many of which are often new productions.

Café de Paris

Just beside the Casino is the Café de Paris, established in 1868 and opened in 1988 after extensive renovation. While combining old-fashioned windows with ultra-modern gaming rooms, the renovation increased its surface area to 10,000 square meters.

The interior outfittings are spectacular: indeed, while the decoration of the restaurant, adorned with magnificent window panes by Garnier, has a delicious Twenties fashion style, the new gambling rooms extending over 1,300 sq. m are definitely modern.

This apparent contradiction was wished for by Prince Rainier himself, to boost Monte Carlo's image.

The entrance hall, the drugstore or the huge bistro-style terrace complement the whole harmoniously, enabling the Café de Paris, created in 1868, to keep its rank among the jewels of Monegasque tourism.

Japanese Gardens

This beautiful, designed by the landscape-architect Yasuo Beppu is located right next to the Mediterranean Sea and has been blessed by a Shinto High Priest.

The site is an authentic work of art that unites stone, water and vegetation in the most marvelous harmony. The pine and olive trees are pruned in the pure tradition of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Waterfalls and koi-ponds, decorated with symbolically-shaped islands, add to the serenity of the surroundings and are admired by visitors as they walk through the garden.

The natural stones were carefully chosen according to their shape, color and size.

The bamboo fences, Tea House, stone lanterns, tiles and wooden gates were all made in Japan.

National Museum

This is a unique world of 300 dolls and mechanical toys, made in Paris in the latter half of the 19th century. This fabulous collection was built by Madeleine de Galéa throughout her life. Her son gave it to the Principality.

The dolls are dressed in period costume presented with miniature furniture and everyday items thus recreating the sophisticated atmosphere of the 19th century.
The mechanical toys are proof of the Parisian makers' highly surprising ingeniousness at the end of the last century. The toys are demonstrated to the public several times daily.

This collection is housed in Villa Sauber designed by Charles Garnier, the architect responsible for the Paris and Monte Carlo opera houses, and set in a terraced rose-garden decorated with pieces of modern sculpture.

Larvotto Beach

When visitors are not staying in a beach hotel or you cannot dispose over a private beach you will end up at the Larvotto Beach. Many restaurants and shops are available and as the sole public beach in Monte Carlo it can become very crowded in high season. It's very much an in-city beach and is adjacent to some beautiful gardens.

Sun Casino

Opened in 1975, the Sun Casino is all things American in Monaco. Its creation was of immediate interest to the Anglo-Saxon players keen on Black Jack, American Roulette and Craps. The European clients were quick to follow and were delighted to find in Monaco the special ambience of gambling, the fascinating peculiarities of which had been portrayed in a few American films. These games are still popular alongside 300 slot machines divided between the main room and the grand Jackpot, including the 'colossus'; the most colossal machines to be found in Monaco. During 2001, the Sun Casino's decor has been transformed along the lines of a circus theme.

Monte Carlo Sporting Club

With exotic architecture, set amidst palm trees, lit by the stars of the Mediterranean sky, the Monte Carlo Sporting Club can be used for business conventions or fairytale gala evenings. Famous events like the Red Cross Gala Ball and the Rose Ball are held here.
This is truly an enchanting place. Its capacity can be increased by erecting sumptuous marquees in the gardens, thus enabling the organization of exceptional exhibitions.