Monte Carlo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The history of this location began in 1856 when Charles III of Monaco granted a concession to Napoleon Langlois and Albert Aubert to build a sea-bathing facility and a German-style casino. Although an initial casino opened in La Condamine in 1862, it was unsuccessful until relocating to the "Les Spélugues" area of Monte Carlo. Success arrived slowly due to inaccessibility, but the installation of the railway in 1868 brought an influx of people and wealth. The municipality of Monte Carlo was created in 1911, encompassing La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins, and Saint Michel, before merging with other municipalities in 1917 to become wards. Today, the quarter faces the Mediterranean Sea, bordered to the west by Ravin de Sainte-Dévote and to the east by La Rousse and Larvotto.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere of Monte Carlo is defined by its hot-summer Mediterranean climate, featuring hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The cultural heart beats within the Salle Garnier, inaugurated on 25 January 1879 with a performance by Sarah Bernhardt dressed as a nymph, followed by Robert Planquette's Le Chevalier Gaston on 8 February 1879. The Hôtel de Paris, established in 1864 by Charles III, stands on the west side of Place du Casino, offering 106 rooms and 74 suites grouped by view and luxury. In October 2014, a renovation project began to create a garden courtyard, add a new spa, fitness and pool area, exceptional suites, and a "rooftop villa" with a private garden and pool.

Reader's Guide

Monte Carlo serves as the setting for numerous films featuring its famous casino, including Rebecca (1940), To Catch a Thief (1954), The James Bond films Never Say Never Again (1983) and GoldenEye (1995), and Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012). Beyond cinema, the quarter hosts significant sporting events such as the ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament (though technically held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin), world championship boxing bouts, and the European Poker Tour Grand Final. It also features most of the Circuit de Monaco for the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix. While the Monte Carlo Rally is a respected event starting the World Rally Championship season from 1973 to 2008 and again from 2012, it takes place mostly on French roads outside the quarter.

Did You Know?

• The railway installed in 1868 brought an influx of people that caused Monte Carlo to grow in wealth.
• Salle Garnier was inaugurated on 25 January 1879 with a performance by Sarah Bernhardt dressed as a nymph.
• The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500, while the quarter is about 15,000.
• Monte Carlo has an area of 28.14 hectares (0.28 square kilometers or 69.19 acres).
• The Monte Carlo Rally takes place outside the Monte Carlo quarter and is run mostly on French roads.