The document provides an overview of attractions and activities in Monaco, including: - The Casino de Monte-Carlo, known for gambling and as a backdrop for James Bond films. - The Monaco Grand Prix auto race that takes place each spring on the narrow city streets. - Luxury yachting with the annual Monaco Yacht Show displaying the largest superyachts in the world. - Historical sites like the Saint Nicholas Cathedral where Princess Grace was married and buried. - High-end restaurants such as Louis XV and Joël Robuchon serving French cuisine with Michelin stars.

1. VOLUME 6, ISSUE 4
DECEMBER 2012/JANUARY 2013
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2. hiLuxury December 2012/January 2013 122
the
Monaco
Mystique
Fast cars, regal royals and elegant entertainment—the diminutive
country is all about living large.
by Whitney K. Bacon
Glitz, glamour, casinos,
yachts, luxury and fine
cuisine are generally
what come to mind
when you think of
Monaco. While this is all true, there is more
to Monaco beyond being a playground to
the rich and famous—it is a place that holds
a very unique history. The luxe locale is
interestingly the second smallest country in
the world packed into one square mile and
it is the principality of an independent con-stitutional
monarchy. Perfectly nestled along
the beautiful French Riviera and located in
the Western part of Europe, with stunning
views of the Mediterranean Sea, Monaco
has been a go-to destination for centuries.
Main Attractions
The centerpiece of Monte Carlo—cer-tainly
a must-see and -do—is none other
than the famous Casino De Monte-Carlo
(www.montecarlocasinos.com). It is a
night of entertainment like never before, a
playground for gamblers and those new to
experiencing the thrills of the high-roller
lifestyle. It is no wonder it has been the
backdrop to multiple James Bond films. All
of its sumptuous accouterments make it the
biggest draw in Monaco—as it has been for
over a century. The Casino De Monte-Carlo
is made up of the Grand Théâtre de Monte
Carlo, and the office of Les Ballets de Monte
Carlo. The casino is legendary around the
globe for its prestigious architectural design
and its lush interiors, made up of stun-ning
marble and bronze. Its many offerings
include slot machines and table games from
European roulette, Punto Banco all the way
to good ol’ blackjack. You’re guaranteed to
find yourself amongst a diverse range of
international jetsetters—ironically enough,
citizens of Monaco are forbidden to enter
the gambling rooms. You may also recognize
it from Bond flicks, Never Say Never Again
and GoldenEye, (it also served as inspiration
for the casino described in the Bond novel
Casino Royale). Needless to say, it may tempt
you to have your drink “shaken, not stirred.”
Come springtime, it’s all about the
motors, as the Monaco Grand Prix (www.
grand-prix-monaco.com) takes to the
streets. Easily one of the most prestigious
automobile races in the world, this Formula
One motor race takes place each year on the
Circuit de Monaco. The race is also one of
the most difficult races to complete as well
as dangerous due to the tight corners, eleva-tion
changes and a tunnel that the pilots are
faced with each year. The race takes place
on a narrow course throughout the small
streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine.
Not all the fun takes place on land.
Yachting in Monaco is unique from any
other place in the world. You will see some
of the most lavish and astounding yachts
in one place; all of which offer the ultimate
luxury experience. It is no surprise that
yachts are a staple for Monaco, given its
beautiful and convenient waterfront loca-tion.
The Monaco Yacht Show (MYS, www.
monacoyachtshow.com) is a four-day event
Experience . Voyage
The Casino de Monte-Carlo
dressed up for the holidays.
(Monaco Press Centre photo)

3. Clockwise from
above: The Prince’s
Palace of Monaco is not
just a tourist attraction;
it’s also a fully function-ing
palace and head-quarters
for Monaco’s
government. Seen here,
the palace’s throne room
and the palace at night;
Superyacht Bella Bri at
the Monaco Yacht Show;
Culinary refinement
awaits at Le Louis XV
– Alain Ducasse. photo
credits: (clockwise from
top left) 1) Monaco Press
Centre photo; 2) Monaco
Press Centre photo; 3)
courtesy Monaco Yacht
Show; 4) ©T. Dhellemmes
hiLuxury December 2012/January 2013 124
held every year at the end of September in
Port Hercules Marina and is considered the
most prestigious pleasure boat show in the
world. More than 500 exhibitors are on hand
to show off their latest and greatest. It is an
ideal place for yachters to network as the MYS
provides a unique opportunity to mingle with
the industry’s leading international super
yacht companies. Also, this event promotes
up-to-date information of the latest products
and technologies. MYS showcases some of the
most luxurious and larger-than-life vessels,
showcasing such amenities as 3D cinemas,
helipads and tennis platforms. MYS grows
each year; in fact the 2012 show featured an
all-time record of six megayachts that by
far outshined the rest—some measuring
up at a length of 263 feet, twice the size
of a superyacht. The longest yacht in the
harbor is the Atlantis II. It’s so large that
it is visible from space on Google maps.
Megayachts are becoming popular and
can be chartered for vacations and rented
for events such as business endeavors.
Fans of Princess Grace Kelly and history
buffs should take a trip to the Saint Nicho-las
Cathedral or Monaco Cathedral (www.
cathedrale.mc). The Cathedral is purely mag-nificent
and the architecture is stunning.
It was dedicated in 1875 on the site where
the first parish church in Monaco was built
in 1252. Here is where the story of Princess
Grace’s life in Monaco is bookended: this is
where the church ceremony for her wed-ding
to Prince Rainier III took place, and it
is also where they are both entombed. Other
artifacts of note include the Altarpiece of
St. Nicolas that dates to 1500, Altarpiece of
Saint Devote, Altarpiece of the Pietà Cure
Teste and several one-of-a-kind 16th cen-tury
paintings throughout the cathedral.
Say Bon Appétit!
Look no further than the award-winning
restaurant Louis XV if you’re seeking an
unforgettable fine dining experience. Moné-gasque
chef Alain Ducasse (www.alain-ducasse.
com) opened the doors to Louis
XV in 1987 showcasing his authenticity and
culinary elegance to the world. His excel-lence
stretches beyond Monaco with his
three-Michelin-star restaurants in Monaco,
Paris and London. The dining room is the
epitome of elegance, set in light and gold
and very much Versailles-inspired. What
makes this timeless restaurant unique is
that all the hands on the clocks are stopped
at 12 o’clock. This is a reminder that time is
of no essence and that you can truly escape
in the enchanting ambience with interior
that is said to be one of the most spectacular
in the world. The menu is just as elegant—
serving up exquisite Mediterranean cuisine.
To accompany such a wide range of
Experience . Voyage

4. hiLuxury December 2012/January 2013 126
excellent dishes and flavors, the perfect wine
to complement your dish should be avail-able,
as the wine cellar houses more than
400,000 bottles of wine. Impeccable service,
along with the divine dishes combine to
create a culinary experience of a lifetime.
Another dining venue that should
tantalize your taste buds is the restaurant
Joël Robuchon, which offers a fine array
of gastronomic French style cuisine. It is
located in the award-winning Hotel Metro-pole
(www.metropole.com). The head chef
is Christophe Cusac, who is partnered
with Joël Robuchon. Robuchon is one of
the world’s most acclaimed chefs and has
won numerous awards; he holds the record
of Michelin Stars, holding down 28 and
counting. The restaurant’s interior provides
a warm and inviting ambience, with its
open teppanyaki-style kitchen, the guests
and the chef can share a rare relationship.
The menu is eclectic and you will find
anything from lobster in an iced velouté of
avocado, spicy oil and burrata to foie gras
of duck served with white grape confit.
Retail Therapy
Shopping is essential in Monaco,
and the Le Metropole Shopping Cen-ter
(www.metropoleshoppingcenter.
com) is where to head for some retail
therapy. It is a three-story shopping
mall, and just like everything else in
Monaco, this place is pure luxury with
its stunning marble floors, columns and
the spectacular chandelier lighting.
Trendsetters can find anything
from fashion and jewelry to cosmet-ics,
home goods, shoes and acces-sories
at this posh complex.
The Golden Circle is a very popular
and legendary shopping attraction located
on the southern side of the casino gar-dens
and spreading through the Avenue
Monte Carlo, Avenue des Beaux Arts and
Allées Lumières. Here you will see haute
couture including Chanel, Louis Vuit-ton
and Christian Dior to name a few. It
is definitely worth having a stroll down
luxury row whilst visiting Monaco.
Love the Nightlife
The Cocktail Bar at Columbus (www.
columbushotels.com) is the place to
unwind and enjoy a drink or two within
an intimate environment. Overlooking
the Princess Grace Rose Gardens they
have paid homage to Princess Grace by
launching a cocktail called—you guessed
it—Grace, which is infused with rose
liqueur and floral scents. If you are looking
to dance the night away then Jimmy’Z’s ( fr.
jimmyzmontecarlo.com) premier nightclub
is the place to be! Don’t be surprised if
you see celebrities and models wander-ing
about—in fact, U2 frontman Bono and
’80s pop icon Boy George are regulars.
Educated Guest
If you are after a history experience
with a twist, then visit the Oceanographic
Museum (www.oceano.org), which is home
to a plethora of species of sea fauna. Take
a gander at sea horses, jellyfish, sharks,
and lobsters, just to name a few, in skeletal
form and stuffed. Due to its position set on
the cliff tops in the Monaco Ville, Oceano-graphic
Museum also offers up beautiful
views. It is a very popular museum amongst
tourists and is quite fascinating. Along-side
the interesting exhibitions of the sea
fauna, you will find an aquarium located
in the basement of the museum, where
over 4,000 species of fish can be seen. .
Clockwise from above:
Annual festivities include the
Concours International de Feux
d’ Artifice Pyromélodiques de
Monaco, a four-day competition
(founded by the Monaco Town
Hall in 1966) for the best choreo-graphed
pyrotechnics display as
well as the International Circus
Festival of Monte-Carlo (created
by Prince Rainier III) at Chapi-teau
de Fontvieille; The ultimate
in retail therapy awaits at Le
Metropole Shopping Center;
The Monte Carlo Beach Hotel
overlooks the Mediterranean
Sea. photo credits: (clockwise
from above-right page) 1) Monaco
Press Centre photo; 2); Monaco
Press Centre photo 3) courtesy Le
Metropole Shopping Center;
4) Monaco Press Centre photo
Experience . Voyage