ASSOULINE Travel|Monte Carlo

A treasure trove of glitz and glamour awaits on an exclusive two-mile coastline along the Mediterranean Sea. High-rollers, professional athletes and international stars flock to Monaco in droves. Although packed with flashy sports cars, luxury apartments, super-yachts and unlimited entertainment, this rocky promontory does not lack for culture and history. The sovereign family ensures that the principality’s distinguished heritage is preserved and appreciated. And its over-the-top opulence is merely equal to its charm. The newly designed Foster + Partners Yacht Club de Monaco stands in stark contrast to the monumental baroque building housing the Musée Océanographique de Monaco. The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, which showcases the latest in contemporary art, is a complete 180 compared to the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, which dates to the twelfth century. Yet it all exists harmoniously within two hundred hectares of land.

The list of Monaco regulars reads like the guest list to the ultimate private party: Charles Leclerc, Grace Kelly, Sir Roger Moore, Tyra Banks, Frank Sinatra, Rudolf Nureyev, Bjorn Borg and Ringo Starr, to name a few. Whether enticed by the top-tier competitions (Monaco Grand Prix, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters), can’t-miss events (Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Monaco National Day), iconic Société des Bains de Mer properties (Monte Carlo Casino, Hôtel de Paris Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlo Beach) or Michelin-star restaurants (LeLouis XV, Rampoldi, Pavyllon Monte-Carlo), the world’s celebrities continue to return again and again. With exclusive images from the palace archives and a foreword by Prince Albert II of Monaco, Monte Carlo offers readers a front-row seat with VIP access to the jewel of the French Riviera.