Monte-Carlo Casino Undergoes a Major Restoration Ahead of F1 Grand Prix

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