Behind the elegant trompe-l’oeil façade currently covering the
legendary Monte-Carlo Casino, an ambitious restoration project is
bringing one of Monaco’s most iconic landmarks back to its former Belle
Époque glory.
The historic building, owned by the Société des
Bains de Mer (SBM), is undergoing a €2.5 million renovation that will be
completed just in time for the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. With
thousands of visitors expected to descend on the Principality for race
weekend, the timing could not be more significant.
To preserve the visual elegance of the famous Place du Casino during construction, SBM installed an extraordinary 1,500-square-meter decorative tarp printed with a full-scale replica of the casino’s Belle Époque façade. Created using drone photography, the covering conceals nearly 80 tons of scaffolding erected in January, ensuring that tourists seeking Monte Carlo’s famous luxury experience are met with only minimal disruption.
“We couldn’t imagine doing it any less well
than this,” said Luc Leroy, Director of Construction and Built Heritage
at SBM, emphasizing the high standards expected for a project involving
one of Monaco’s most treasured architectural jewels.
Behind the temporary façade, dozens of craftsmen are working meticulously to restore the building’s exterior, tackling everything from masonry and paintwork to the marble entrance staircase and the grand canopy above it. The project also includes the restoration of four statues—two in copper and two in plaster—the two glazed-tile domes and their lightning rods, as well as the architectural lighting that helps define the casino’s unmistakable nighttime presence.
Built in
1863, the Monte-Carlo Casino has been the centerpiece of Monaco’s luxury
identity for over a century. While it has undergone smaller maintenance
works over the years, this marks one of the most significant
restoration efforts ever undertaken on its main façade.
According
to SBM, the work is part of a larger heritage preservation campaign that
began in 2018, with restoration projects scheduled outside of the
summer season and extending across multiple sides of the building over
several years.
The renovation comes after major transformations around the casino district, including the redevelopment of Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, One Monte-Carlo, the Jardin des Boulingrins, and the entire Place du Casino.
“It is essential that we preserve
our heritage,” Leroy explained. “SBM has a very rich history; it’s part
of our DNA, and that’s what sets us apart.”
Years of sun, rain,
sea spray, pollution, and time had left visible marks on the
structure—peeling paint, weather-worn façades, blackened statues,
weakened ornamentation, and occasional roof leaks all signaled the need
for deeper intervention.
Now, with the world’s eyes set to return to Monaco for Formula 1’s most
glamorous race, the crown jewel of Monte Carlo is preparing to shine
once again.
Photos courtesy of Justine Meddah / Nice-Matin
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