New Year’s Eve 2026 in Nice

 

As the cultural heartbeat of the French Riviera, Nice stands out as a natural gathering point for LGBTQ+ life year-round—and New Year’s Eve is when the city truly comes alive. From lively bars and iconic clubs to pop-up parties and beachfront celebrations, there’s no shortage of ways to ring in 2026, whatever your vibe may be. Whether you’re planning a night that’s glamorous, laid-back, or delightfully chaotic, Nice offers the freedom to celebrate on your own terms.

New Year’s Eve in Nice isn’t just about one venue or one scene—it’s about movement. Many locals and visitors treat the night as a progressive adventure, starting with cocktails in Vieux Nice, drifting toward late-night parties closer to the Promenade des Anglais, and ending wherever the music, the people, or the sunrise happens to lead. The city’s compact layout makes it easy to bounce between spots without ever feeling rushed.

Another part of Nice’s appeal is its welcoming, international crowd. Expect a mix of locals, expats, and visitors from across Europe, all drawn by the city’s inclusive atmosphere and mild winter weather. Even in late December, terraces stay lively, conversations spill into the streets, and the sense of celebration feels shared rather than staged.

In no particular order, here are a few ideas to help guide your planning for the night ahead—whether you’re committing to one unforgettable party or letting the evening unfold organically, Nice delivers a New Year’s Eve that feels both effortless and electric.

Restaurant - The Taste

Restaurant/Cabaret - Le Sunset Nice

Cruising Bars

Le Code

Morgan Cruising Bar

Club Le 7

Nightclubs

Le Six

L’Omega Club

Glam

And many more options in between!
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New Year’s Eve 2026 in Monaco

 

Few places welcome the New Year with the confidence of Monaco. On December 31st, the Principality becomes a carefully choreographed mix of candlelit dining rooms, champagne rituals, late-night DJs, and fireworks over the Mediterranean.

Whether you’re planning months ahead or arriving spontaneously, New Year’s Eve in Monaco offers options for every style of celebration—ultra-luxurious, quietly refined, wildly festive, or completely free.

This guide breaks down how New Year’s Eve unfolds in Monaco, where to celebrate, and what to expect.

What to Expect on New Year’s Eve in Monaco

New Year’s Eve in Monaco is not a single event—it’s a progression. The evening typically begins with long, elegant dinners, transitions into live music and performances, and peaks around midnight with fireworks and nightlife that stretches well into the early hours.

Most restaurants operate on fixed New Year’s Eve menus, often paired with live entertainment. Dress codes lean formal or “elegant chic,” especially in casino-adjacent venues and nightclubs. Reservations are essential, and prepayment is common.

Fine Dining & Gala Evenings

For many visitors, New Year’s Eve in Monaco is about the table. The Principality’s palace hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants treat December 31st as their culinary showcase of the year.

The Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo anchors the luxury dining scene, offering multiple New Year’s Eve experiences—from haute gastronomy at Louis XV – Alain Ducasse to panoramic dinners at Le Grill and large-scale gala productions in its grand salons.

Nearby, the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo delivers a more Belle Époque atmosphere, pairing refined menus with live music and dancing. Expect multi-course tasting menus, champagne included, and service that extends well past midnight.

At the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, the mood shifts slightly toward contemporary elegance, with Michelin-starred dining alongside more relaxed but festive options, often featuring DJs and performers.

These dinners are ideal for couples, food-focused travellers, and anyone who wants the New Year to begin at the table rather than the dance floor.

Trendy Restaurants & Social Hotspots

Monaco’s modern dining scene comes alive on New Year’s Eve. Brasseries and nightlife-driven restaurants blur the line between dinner and party, making them popular with younger crowds and social groups.

Around Place du Casino, venues like Café de Paris set the tone with live music and an energetic atmosphere from early evening onward. Further into the night, celebrity-favoured restaurants turn dinner into a full celebration, with live bands transitioning to DJs and champagne flowing at midnight.

These venues are ideal if you want glamour without formality and prefer movement, music, and crowd energy over a seated tasting menu.

International Cuisine & Party Dining

New Year’s Eve in Monaco is also defined by its international influences. Mediterranean, Asian, and fusion restaurants often host themed nights, complete with DJs, dancers, and immersive décor.

Expect Omakase menus, sharing-style feasts, and late seating times designed to carry guests through midnight without changing venues. Many of these restaurants function as full party spaces after dinner, making them a popular choice for groups who want a seamless dinner-to-dance experience.

Hotel Celebrations

For travellers staying in Monaco’s major hotels, New Year’s Eve is often just an elevator ride away.

Large hotels host gala evenings with buffet dining, live performances, DJs, and entertainment, making them a strong choice for gatherings. At the same time, luxury hotel restaurants offer curated tasting menus for guests who prefer something more intimate.

These celebrations provide a structured, stress-free way to experience New Year’s Eve without navigating multiple venues.

Nightlife: Where the City Celebrates After Midnight

Once midnight passes, Monaco’s nightlife takes over.

Legendary nightclubs open late and run into the early morning, attracting an international crowd dressed for the occasion. Lounge bars and hotel bars offer a more refined alternative, often with live jazz or vocal performances continuing into the New Year.

If your plan is to dance into 2026, it’s worth securing nightclub entry or table service in advance—New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year.

Fireworks & Free Public Celebrations

Not everything in Monaco requires a reservation or a dress code.

Each year, Port Hercule becomes the centre of the public celebration, with open-access festivities organised by the city. DJs, live music, and food stalls animate the harbour, culminating in a fireworks display at midnight over the water.

It’s the most accessible way to experience the collective energy of New Year’s Eve in Monaco and a favourite option for younger visitors, families, and those celebrating spontaneously.

Practical Tips for Planning

• Book early: Many venues sell out weeks or months in advance.

• Expect prepayment: Fixed menus and deposits are standard.

• Dress the part: Elegant attire is the norm, especially after dark.

• Plan transport: Taxis and ride services are limited late at night—walking is often the easiest option in central Monaco.

• Decide your style first: Fine dining, party dining, nightclub, or fireworks—each offers a very different experience.

Final Thought

New Year’s Eve 2026 in Monaco is less about one perfect venue and more about choosing the right rhythm. Whether you’re counting down over a tasting menu, dancing under disco lights, or watching fireworks reflect across the harbour, Monaco offers a New Year’s Eve that feels intentional, celebratory, and unmistakably glamorous.

Vieux Nice: The Layered History of the Old Town by the Sea

 

Vieux Nice, the historic heart of Nice, is less a single neighborhood than a living archive. Its narrow streets, faded palazzi, baroque churches, and laundry-strung alleyways tell a story shaped by geography, trade, conquest, and cultural crosscurrents. Unlike many Old Towns that feel preserved behind glass, Vieux Nice remains stubbornly alive—noisy, aromatic, and deeply rooted in its past.

Greek Foundations and Roman Order

The story begins in the 4th century BCE, when Greek settlers from Massalia (modern Marseille) established Nikaia, named after Nike, the goddess of victory. The settlement sat strategically near the sea, serving as a trading post between the Mediterranean and inland routes.

Later, the Romans formalized the region’s importance by building Cemenelum (in today’s Cimiez), leaving Nice as a coastal satellite to a larger administrative center. While few visible Roman remnants survive in Vieux Nice itself, the city’s role as a port and crossroads was firmly established.

Medieval Walls and a City Under Siege

By the Middle Ages, Nice had shifted closer to the coastline, clustering beneath what is now Castle Hill (Colline du Château). Vieux Nice developed within defensive walls, its streets deliberately narrow and winding to confuse invaders and funnel movement.

From the 12th to the 18th centuries, Nice found itself repeatedly caught between competing powers—Provence, Savoy, France, and various Italian states. Control changed hands often, and the Old Town reflects this instability: fortifications, religious institutions, and tightly packed housing designed for both faith and survival.

The Castle, once a key military stronghold overlooking the Old Town, was destroyed in 1706 by order of Louis XIV, permanently altering the city’s skyline but opening the way for Nice’s future expansion.

Italian Roots, French Rule

For centuries, Nice was culturally and politically tied to Italy. Under the House of Savoy, the city shared language, architecture, cuisine, and customs with neighboring Liguria and Piedmont. This Italian heritage is still visible in Vieux Nice’s pastel facades, shuttered windows, baroque churches, and family-run food traditions.

Everything changed in 1860, when Nice was officially annexed by France following a controversial plebiscite. While French administration reshaped governance and education, daily life in Vieux Nice retained a distinctly Italian rhythm well into the 20th century. The Niçois dialect, a blend of Provençal and Italian, continued to be spoken in homes and markets.

Churches, Markets, and Everyday Life

Religion played a central role in shaping Vieux Nice. Landmarks such as Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate, Église du Gesù, and Chapelle de la Miséricorde reflect the wealth and influence of religious confraternities during the baroque period. These churches were not just places of worship but anchors of social life.

Just as important was Cours Saleya, the Old Town’s marketplace. Long before it became a postcard-perfect attraction, it functioned as the city’s pantry—supplying vegetables, fish, flowers, and olive oil. Even today, it remains one of the strongest links between historic Nice and modern daily life.

Decline, Survival, and Revival

By the early 20th century, Vieux Nice had fallen out of favor with elites who preferred the wide boulevards and Belle Époque architecture of newer neighborhoods. The Old Town became densely populated, poorer, and increasingly neglected.

Yet this marginalization helped preserve it. Large-scale redevelopment largely bypassed Vieux Nice, allowing its medieval layout and historic buildings to survive intact. In the late 20th century, restoration efforts, combined with renewed interest in heritage and tourism, sparked a gradual revival.

A Quiet History of Queer Life and Visibility

Like many historic European Old Towns, Vieux Nice does not announce its LGBTQ+ history through monuments or plaques. For much of its past, queer life existed quietly—woven into the fabric of everyday living rather than openly documented. Small apartments, shared courtyards, cafés, and bars provided discreet spaces where people could gather, socialize, and live outside rigid social expectations.

Nice’s long-standing identity as a port city and borderland fostered a degree of cultural flexibility. Sailors, artists, seasonal workers, and outsiders passed through regularly, creating pockets of anonymity that allowed LGBTQ+ individuals to exist with slightly more freedom than in rural or more tightly controlled environments. This was especially true in Vieux Nice, where dense living and mixed-use streets blurred the line between public and private life.

In the late 20th century, as LGBTQ+ visibility increased across France, parts of the Old Town naturally became informal meeting points. Bars and cafés—often not explicitly labeled as “gay” spaces—served as social anchors for locals long before rainbow flags became common. This understated integration remains characteristic of Vieux Nice today: queer life is present, normalized, and largely unsegregated from the rest of the neighborhood.

Rather than forming a distinct “gay quarter,” LGBTQ+ residents and visitors have historically blended into the wider social life of the Old Town. That quiet coexistence reflects both the limits imposed by history and the subtle resilience of communities that learned to carve out space without demanding visibility.

Vieux Nice Today

Today, Vieux Nice is a balancing act. It is home to long-established families, expat communities, artists, students, and an ever-growing number of visitors. Its streets are filled with the sounds church bells, conversations in multiple languages, and the constant hum of cafés and kitchens.

Despite pressure from tourism and short-term rentals, the Old Town remains deeply local at its core. Laundry still hangs from balconies. Neighbors still chat in stairwells. Markets still close when they feel like it.

Vieux Nice endures not because it has been frozen in time, but because it has adapted—layer by layer—without erasing what came before. It is a place where history isn’t curated; it’s lived.

From Cinecittà to the Victorine Studios: Three Icons, One Riviera Myth

 

In Nice, a new exhibition brings together Brigitte Bardot, Mylène Demongeot, and Michèle Mercier—three stars whose lives and careers became inseparable from the French Riviera’s golden age.

The French Riviera has always been more than a backdrop. It is a myth-making machine, a place where cinema, glamour, and freedom collided to create enduring legends. This summer in Nice, that mythology takes center stage once again with “The Little Darlings of the French Riviera,” a new exhibition devoted to Brigitte Bardot, Mylène Demongeot, and Michèle Mercier—three actresses whose destinies are forever intertwined with the Côte d’Azur.

Unveiled this past Saturday at the Lympia Departmental Cultural Center, the exhibition was opened by writer and curator Henry-Jean Servat, who frames the project as both a celebration and a reckoning. Running until April 12, 2026, the exhibition invites visitors to revisit a world of sun-soaked cinema, audacious femininity, and creative freedom—while acknowledging the distance between that era and today.

After previous tributes in Saint-Tropez and Villefranche-sur-Mer, Brigitte Bardot once again finds herself at the heart of a Riviera homage. But this time, she is not alone. Placed alongside Demongeot and Mercier, Bardot became part of a trio that collectively shaped the region’s cinematic identity—from international co-productions and Italian studios like Cinecittà to the legendary Victorine Studios in Nice.

Each woman represents a distinct facet of Riviera stardom. Bardot, the global symbol of liberated sensuality, transformed Saint-Tropez into an international icon. Mylène Demongeot, with her wit and cosmopolitan charm, bridged popular cinema and European sophistication. Michèle Mercier, immortalized by Angélique, embodied romantic adventure and historical fantasy, exporting a distinctly French glamour worldwide.

Described as an exhibition with “the allure of forbidden fruit and the scent of paradise lost,” The Little Darlings of the French Riviera does not indulge in simple nostalgia. Instead, it reflects on how these women navigated fame, desire, and public scrutiny at a time when the Riviera functioned as a laboratory for modern celebrity. Their images—sunlit, carefree, and endlessly reproduced—helped define an era, but also masked the personal costs of stardom.

Firmly rooted in the present, the exhibition invites a contemporary audience to reconsider what the Riviera represented then—and what it represents now. In revisiting these three careers side by side, it becomes clear that the French Riviera was not merely a setting, but an active force: shaping roles, amplifying mythologies, and projecting French cinema onto the world stage.

At Lympia, the past feels tantalizingly close. Not frozen in time, but alive—glimmering between memory and reality, just like the Riviera itself.

Princess Stéphanie Sets the Record Straight

 

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco has put an end to speculation about her future, firmly denying any plans to step back from public life. In an interview with Gala magazine, she clarified comments that had sparked rumors of retirement and reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Recently promoted to Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit on November 18—an honor presented by her sister, Princess of Hanover, at the Prince’s Palace—Princess Stéphanie spoke candidly about her role and responsibilities. Marking World AIDS Day on December 1, the president of Fight Aids Monaco reflected on more than two decades of advocacy.

Founded in 2004, Fight Aids Monaco remains at the heart of her work. “I use my public profile to advance the fight against AIDS and to challenge the discrimination that still surrounds this disease,” she told Gala. “Without that visibility, my voice would not be heard in the same way.”

La Fleur du Cap: The Riviera Villa That Became David Niven’s Home

 

For anyone that has walked on the seaside trail from Beaulieu-sur-Mer along the rocky edge of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, where the Mediterranean laps directly against stone terraces and the light seems permanently cinematic, stands a villa that quietly encapsulates more than a century of Riviera history.

Today known as La Fleur du Cap, the residence is best remembered as the long-time home of British actor David Niven, whose charm and wit were as much a part of the Côte d’Azur’s postwar glamour as the sea itself.

From Olive Groves to Belle Époque Retreat

The villa’s story begins in 1880, when Alfred Bounin, a Nice olive-oil merchant, purchased a small rocky promontory on the Cap-Ferrat shoreline. He built a modest waterfront house he named Lo Scoglietto—Italian for “the little rock.” Unlike the grand hillside villas of the era, this home embraced the sea directly, complete with a private landing point and bathing cabin connected by a narrow footbridge.

Over time, the house was gradually expanded, evolving from a simple seaside retreat into a refined Belle Époque villa that mirrored the rising prestige of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat itself.

 

A Magnet for High Society and Royalty

By the early 20th century, Lo Scoglietto had become a coveted address among Europe’s elite. In the 1920s, it was rented by Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough, one of the most famous—and famously reluctant—American heiresses to marry into British aristocracy.

Its reputation only grew. In the 1950s, the villa served as a temporary residence for King Leopold III of Belgium shortly before his abdication, reinforcing its status as a discreet haven for royalty seeking privacy on the Riviera.

Hollywood Arrives on the Cap

The villa’s cinematic chapter began in earnest in 1956, when Charlie Chaplin spent a summer there with his family. Photographs from the period show the silent-film legend enjoying the rocky shoreline and relaxed pace of Cap-Ferrat life—a striking contrast to the global fame he carried with him.

David Niven’s Riviera Years

The most defining era of the villa began in the early 1960s, when David Niven acquired the property. By then, Niven was one of Britain’s most beloved screen actors, known for his impeccable manners, dry humor, and an Academy Award–winning performance in Separate Tables.

Niven would live at the villa for over two decades, making it his primary European home. Far from retreating from society, he became an integral part of local life—walking into the village, playing pétanque, frequenting cafés, and entertaining friends that included actors, aristocrats, and figures from nearby Monaco.

The villa also made a rare on-screen appearance in 1983, when scenes from Trail of the Pink Panther were filmed there. The film became one of Niven’s final screen roles, permanently linking the house to his cinematic legacy.

A Lasting Tribute

Following Niven’s death in 1983, the village of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat honored him by naming the small square in front of the villa Place David Niven—a rare tribute that reflects how deeply he was appreciated not just as a star, but as a neighbor.

In later years, the property was carefully restored and expanded while remaining a private residence. Though its footprint has grown, the villa has retained its defining relationship with the sea—still appearing to rise directly from the Mediterranean.

In subsequent years, the villa was restored and expanded. In the late 20th century it was acquired by Ana Tzarev and Robert Chandler and lovingly maintained as a private residence.

Today, La Fleur du Cap stands as a discreet landmark of Riviera history: a house shaped by merchants, royalty, silent-film legends, and one of Britain’s most effortlessly elegant actors.

France Moves to Simplify Residency: Automatic Renewal for Long-Term Carte de Séjour Holders

 

For many foreigners living in France, few things inspire as much low-level dread as the residency renewal cycle. The appointments are booked months in advance, the prefecture paperwork, the uncertainty of waiting—sometimes for weeks or even months—just to receive a new card. That ritual may soon become a thing of the past for a large group of residents.

The French parliament has passed a bill that would make the renewal of long-term cartes de séjour automatic, a reform widely seen as a practical and long-overdue modernization of France’s immigration administration.

What’s changing?

Under the new legislation, foreigners who already hold long-term residency permits—such as multi-year or long-term cartes de séjour—will no longer be required to repeatedly prove their eligibility each time their card expires, provided their situation has not changed.

In practical terms, this means:

• No more routine renewal appointments for eligible long-term residents

• No repeated submission of the same documents year after year

• No risk of falling out of legal status due to administrative delays

The reform recognizes a simple reality: if someone has lived legally in France for many years, paid taxes, worked or retired legally, and complied with residency rules, forcing them through the same bureaucratic loop serves little purpose.

Who benefits most?

The biggest winners are long-term foreign residents who are already well integrated into French life, including:

• Retirees who renew the same permit again and again

• Professionals on long-term contracts

• Family members of French citizens or permanent residents

• Foreigners who have lived in France continuously for many years

For these groups, the change removes one of the most persistent sources of stress associated with life in France: administrative uncertainty.

Why now?

French prefectures have been under enormous strain in recent years. Backlogs, staff shortages, and the digitization of procedures—often unevenly implemented—have made residency renewals increasingly slow and frustrating.

By making renewals automatic for long-term residents, the government aims to:

• Reduce pressure on prefectures

• Free up administrative resources for first-time applicants and complex cases

• Bring France more in line with other European countries that already treat long-term residency as stable status rather than a recurring test

In short, it’s a move toward efficiency—and common sense.

What this does not mean

Automatic renewal does not mean a free-for-all. Authorities will still retain the right to review or revoke residency permits in cases involving:

• Serious criminal convictions

• Fraud or misrepresentation

• Loss of eligibility (such as prolonged absence from France)

The reform is about eliminating unnecessary repetition, not removing oversight entirely.

A small change with a big impact

For foreigners who have built their lives in France, this reform is more than administrative housekeeping—it’s a signal of trust and recognition. It acknowledges that long-term residents are not temporary guests endlessly on probation, but stable members of French society.

If fully implemented as intended, automatic renewal of long-term cartes de séjour could quietly become one of the most popular quality-of-life reforms for foreigners in France in years—saving time, reducing stress, and letting people focus on living their lives rather than managing paperwork.

The text will now move on to the Senate for review.

Église Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc in Nice: Faith, Modernity, and a Bold Architectural Vision

 

Rising above the Fuon-Cauda district of Nice, the Église Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc is one of the French Riviera’s most distinctive and unconventional religious buildings. Starkly white, unapologetically modern, and instantly recognizable, the church stands as a powerful example of how early 20th-century architecture reimagined sacred space. Both admired and debated since its construction, it remains a landmark that challenges expectations of what a church should look like.

The origins of Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc reflect the upheavals of its time. Construction began in 1914, led by local architect Louis Castel, who completed the foundations and crypt before the outbreak of World War I abruptly halted progress. The project remained unfinished for more than a decade. Work resumed in 1926 under Parisian architect Jacques Droz, later joined by René Lebel, and the church’s main structure was completed in 1933. Despite this, the building was not formally consecrated until 1965, underscoring the long and complicated journey from conception to full ecclesiastical recognition.

Architecturally, Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc is unlike any other church in Nice. Built almost entirely of reinforced concrete, a material still considered daring at the time, the structure embraces modern engineering rather than concealing it. Its defining feature is a series of oval and ellipsoidal domes — three large ovoid domes supported by eight smaller ones — that create a sense of fluidity and movement both inside and out. The forms appear almost organic, as if sculpted rather than constructed.

Perhaps the most striking external element is the campanile, rising to approximately 65 metres. Tall, slender, and angular, it contrasts sharply with the softness of the domes below. Often likened to a giant candle, the tower serves as a symbolic beacon of light and faith visible from across the surrounding neighborhoods.

The church’s brilliant white exterior once earned it the affectionate local nickname “la Meringue.” While the color and form initially provoked skepticism and even mockery, time has softened opinions. Today, the building is widely recognized as an important work of Art Deco and Art Nouveau–influenced modernism, blending decorative elegance with structural innovation.

Stepping inside reveals an entirely different atmosphere. The expansive curved surfaces of the interior are animated by frescoes created by Russian artist Eugène Klementieff, covering roughly 95 square metres. These murals draw from Cubism, Byzantine iconography, and early Italian Renaissance traditions, resulting in a vibrant visual language that contrasts with the austere geometry of the concrete shell. Color, movement, and spirituality coexist in a space that feels both monumental and intimate.

Beyond its religious function, Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc has long served the broader community. The lower levels once housed the cinéma Jeanne d’Arc, reflecting a period when churches were envisioned as social and cultural centers as well as places of worship. In more recent years, parts of the building, including the crypts, have been repurposed into a Centre d’Art Sacré, preserving religious artifacts, historic books, liturgical garments, and archival materials that trace the spiritual heritage of Nice and the surrounding region.

Official recognition has cemented the church’s importance. In 1992, it was designated a Monument Historique, and it also carries the “Patrimoine du XXe siècle” label, acknowledging its value as an outstanding example of modern architectural heritage.

From controversy to conservation, the Église Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc has followed an unconventional path. Once criticized for defying tradition, it is now celebrated as a bold expression of faith shaped by its era’s artistic and technological ambitions. Still an active parish church today, it stands slightly apart from Nice’s better-known landmarks, rewarding those who venture beyond the familiar routes with a powerful reminder that sacred architecture can be as daring and forward-looking as any modern masterpiece.

Monte-Carlo Monopoly Hits the Jackpot

 

Monaco has long been a playground for the glamorous, the lucky, and the strategically ambitious—and now, it has its own Monopoly board to prove it. The newly released Monte-Carlo Monopoly has quickly become an instant hit, delighting collectors, tourists, and board-game enthusiasts alike with its lavish tribute to the Principality’s most iconic landmarks, led by the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the legendary Hôtel de Paris.

Unlike traditional editions of the game, this version feels less like a rainy-day pastime and more like a miniature tour of Monaco’s golden square. The board replaces familiar streets with legendary addresses, transforming players into Riviera power brokers as they trade, build, and scheme their way across Monte-Carlo’s most prestigious real estate.

At the pinnacle of the board sit the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris, occupying the most coveted properties—an unmistakable nod to their real-world status. Landing on either is as financially perilous in the game as it can be exhilarating in real life, with eye-watering rents that mirror the exclusivity and prestige of these historic institutions. For many players, owning them is less about winning and more about bragging rights.

The attention to detail has been a major driver of the game’s success. From the elegant typography inspired by Belle Époque architecture to custom playing pieces reflecting Monaco’s luxury culture, Monte-Carlo Monopoly feels purpose-built rather than rebranded. Even the Chance and Community Chest cards have been cleverly localized, swapping generic mishaps for Riviera-themed twists—think yacht repairs, gala invitations, and unexpected casino winnings.

Collectors have been particularly quick to snap up the game. Limited initial availability and its strong visual appeal have made it a popular souvenir among visitors, many of whom see it as a stylish keepsake of their time in the Principality rather than just a board game. For locals, it’s a playful celebration of Monte-Carlo’s global image—luxury distilled into cardboard and dice.

The inclusion of the Casino and Hôtel de Paris has also struck a cultural chord. Both landmarks are more than buildings; they are symbols of Monaco’s identity, history, and economic engine. Their starring roles on the board reinforce how deeply entwined glamour, tourism, and chance are with the city’s story.

Early sales suggest Monte-Carlo Monopoly is already on track to become one of the most successful city-themed editions of the game. Its appeal lies in balancing nostalgia with aspiration—inviting players not just to pass “Go,” but to imagine themselves as temporary residents of a world where fortunes rise and fall beneath crystal chandeliers and palm-lined terraces.

In a place defined by high stakes and high style, it seems only fitting that Monte-Carlo has turned Monopoly into a game worthy of its name.

With limited availability, the game is sold at the Monte-Carlo Casino Boutique in the Casino Atrium and at the Monte-Carlo Drugstore, and is also available to order via retail@sbm.mc.

The Château de Madrid: A Riviera Castle Built on Fantasy, Light, and Forgotten Glamour

 

Perched high on the Saint-Michel plateau above Beaulieu-sur-Mer, the Château de Madrid is one of those Riviera landmarks that feels half-real, half-myth. It looks like a medieval fortress, yet it was born in 1931. It seems ancient, yet its story is firmly tied to the modern age of luxury tourism. And though many people admire it from afar, few know the strange and shimmering history behind its stone façade.

To understand the Château de Madrid, you have to return to a moment when the French Riviera was reinventing itself—when imagination, extravagance, and sunlight were the region’s unofficial currencies.

A Region Dreaming in Grand Hotels

At the turn of the 20th century, the Côte d’Azur was becoming Europe’s most fashionable playground. Aristocrats wintered here. Writers chased the light. Royalty mingled with millionaires. And everywhere—from Cannes to Menton—grand hotels sprung up like opulent mirages.

Several dazzling hotel projects were drawn up, some ambitious enough to rival the Carlton in Cannes or the Le Negresco in Nice. But one by one, these Riviera fantasies were abandoned, their blueprints left to gather dust.

Then, finally, one dream became reality.

1931: The Château de Madrid Rises

Completed in 1931, the Château de Madrid was deliberately theatrical—a pastiche medieval castle designed to charm, impress, and indulge the romantic fantasies of its guests. With crenellated towers, stone walls, and dramatic vistas in every direction, it traded historical accuracy for atmosphere.

From its terraces, visitors could take in both the Beaulieu harbor and the deep, luminous curve of the Saint Jean Cap Ferrat peninsula—views so expansive they seemed painted onto the horizon.

The hotel was expanded several times, modified to follow shifting tastes, and updated to meet the expectations of wealthier and more cosmopolitan travelers. But even as it evolved, it never lost its whimsical soul.

Guests Drawn to Sunlight, Solitude, and Secrets

While the Château de Madrid never reached the fame of the Riviera’s grandest hotels, it attracted a quiet and intriguing clientele—people who preferred discretion over glitter.

 The Incognito Novelist

In the 1930s, a well-known English novelist stayed at the Château under a pseudonym. He claimed the view from his suite made the Mediterranean look “as if it were listening,” and he drafted an entire chapter of a future bestseller from the terrace overlooking Cap-Ferrat.

The Escaping Heiresses

In the 1950s, two scandal-struck American heiresses fled New York society and hid at the Château for nearly a month. Staff recalled hearing them dancing barefoot late into the night, gramophone echoing down the stone corridors—determined to forget the headlines waiting for them back home.

The Painters Who Chased the Light

Several painters, attracted by the region’s unparalleled winter luminosity, set up small temporary studios inside the hotel.

These stories—half-whispered, half-documented—give the Château de Madrid the air of a place that kept its guests’ secrets safe.

Architectural Curiosities and Hidden Corners

 

The Château de Madrid also belongs to a unique architectural tradition on the French Riviera: buildings designed not simply to function, but to astonish. Like Villa Kérylos or the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, it blurs the line between art, and spectacle.

Secret Internal Stairways

The hotel contained several narrow service staircases, built so staff could move unseen. One hidden passage connected directly from the upper floors to a private garden terrace. Another is rumored—though never confirmed—to have once led toward a villa farther down the hill.

Vaulted Stone Cellars

Beneath the Château lie vaulted storage rooms shaped like medieval armories. During World War II, these cellars sheltered local families during air raids, quietly echoing the building’s “castle” identity.

From Grand Hotel to Private Residence

Over the decades, changing travel habits reshaped the Riviera, and the Château eventually retired from life as a hotel. It was converted into a private residence, its towers and terraces now quiet, its corridors no longer echoing with gramophones or typewriters or whispered dramas.

Yet the building endures—an elegant sentinel watching over two harbors, a reminder of a time when imagination ruled architecture and the Riviera treated fantasy as a design principle.

The Château de Madrid stands today as a tribute to what the region once dreamed of becoming—and to the people who came searching for light, reinvention, or simply a place to disappear for a while.