A new book published by Assouline explores the history, architecture and enduring glamour of the Casino de Monte-Carlo, one of Monaco’s most celebrated landmarks.
Far more than just a gaming venue, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is at the very heart of modern Monte-Carlo – an architectural masterpiece, a celebrated social destination and an enduring symbol of Monegasque elegance.
Conceived in the 19th century, the Casino played a defining role in transforming Monaco into one of the world’s most prestigious destinations. A new book from Assouline, Casino de Monte-Carlo: The Grand Art of Gaming, traces this remarkable evolution and celebrates the visionaries who understood that its success would depend on much more than the turn of a card or the spin of a roulette wheel.
The Grand Art of Gaming © Assouline x Monte-Carlo SBM
Led by businessman and property developer François Blanc, the ambitious project helped establish an entirely new art of living in Monte-Carlo. Grand hotels, magnificent gardens and glamorous festivities grew around the Casino, creating a destination that would attract royalty, celebrities and international society for generations.
Inside an architectural icon
Written by Charlotte Lubert-Notari, Heritage Manager at Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, the book takes readers behind the doors of some of the Casino’s most remarkable spaces.
From the monumental Atrium and the impressive Salle Europe to the Salon Rose, Salle des Amériques and Salle Blanche, each room reveals another chapter in the building’s extraordinary history.
Over successive generations, leading architects, artists, sculptors and decorators have contributed to the Casino’s richly detailed interiors. The result is a building that has continually evolved while preserving the grandeur and character that have made it one of Monaco’s most recognisable landmarks.
From Monte-Carlo to the silver screen
Video via Captain Darrow on YouTube
The Casino’s distinctive interiors and unmistakable atmosphere have also made it a natural setting for cinema. Its rooms have appeared in major international productions including Ocean’s Twelve (2004), while its enduring association with James Bond includes appearances in Never Say Never Again (1983) and GoldenEye (1995).
Historical photographs drawn from the archives of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer provide another glimpse into the Casino’s past, capturing the glamorous and cosmopolitan atmosphere that characterised Monaco throughout much of the 20th century.
Contemporary photography brings the story into the present, revealing a landmark that continues to welcome visitors from around the world while remaining an integral part of life in the Principality.
Courtesy Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer on Instagram
Celebrating a Monte-Carlo legend
Casino de Monte-Carlo: The Grand Art of Gaming is both a visual celebration and a journey through the history of one of Monaco’s most famous institutions.
Through architecture, art, photography and archival material, the book explores the vision and elegance that have shaped the Casino de Monte-Carlo for more than a century – and the important role it continues to play in defining the identity and international appeal of Monaco.
Published by Assouline, Casino de Monte-Carlo: The Grand Art of Gaming is priced at €120.
The book is available from the Casino de Monte-Carlo and Drugstore Monte-Carlo boutiques, as well as through Assouline boutiques and the Assouline website.
Orders may also be placed by email at retail@sbm.mc
Le Grand Art du Jeu © Assouline x Monte-Carlo SBM
The book is also available in French – « Le Grand Art du Jeu »
VENUE DETAILS
Casino de Monte-Carlo
Place du Casino
98000 Monaco
Tel: +377 98 06 21 21
PHOTO CREDITS
- Lead image © RIVIERA BUZZ
- All other images as credited
- Video and Instagram posts as credited
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