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Day: 2 April 2025

Top Marques Monaco reveals line-up for landmark 20th edition

by: Niki Borisova
02/04/2025

Top Marques Monaco is gearing up for its 20th edition with world premieres, rare classics, luxury watches, and a €14 million Ferrari.

Monaco Life attended the press conference for the 20th edition of Top Marques Monaco, held on Tuesday 2nd April at the Café Rotonde in the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Organisers confirmed that the 2025 event will take place from 7th to 11th May at the Grimaldi Forum and will feature a programme designed to mark two decades of supercars, innovation, and high-end luxury.

“This year is very special for us,” said Emeric Garcia, Director of Top Marques Monaco. “We are celebrating our 20th anniversary—20 years of supercars in the heart of Monaco, 20 years of world premieres with over 110 launches, 20 years of innovation and new technology, and 20 years under the high patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, whom I would like to thank.”

World premieres and vintage icons

The 2025 edition is expected to host over 30,000 visitors across 10,000m² of exhibition space, showcasing more than 120 vehicles. The line-up includes 13 new models—10 world premieres and three Monaco-firsts.

These include the global debut of Aston Martin’s Vanquish Volante, presented as “the fastest and most powerful roadster in the world”, as well as new models from Laffite Automobili, Rubau, Saoutchik, Brabus, Mansory via Stars Monte-Carlo, and Topcar by EliteWrap. Klassen will also unveil a bespoke luxury van.

Among the Monaco premieres are the Ferrari 12 Cilindri Spider and Rolls Royce Spectre 2025, presented by BPM Exclusive, and the Lamborghini Temerario, revealed by Groupe Segond Automobiles.

Classic cars will also have a prominent place, including the €14 million Ferrari 250 Spyder California, exhibited by Boutsen Classic Cars.

Thierry Boutsen, former Formula 1 driver and founder of Boutsen Classic Cars, said at the conference, “I’m proud to be part of Top Marques once again, especially for this landmark 20th edition. It’s a unique platform that brings together the past and future of automotive design, and we’re honoured to showcase some of the most exceptional classic cars ever built.”

See more: Interview: Thierry Boutsen shares his secrets to success in the aviation and classic car industries

Other vintage displays include American models from Fast N Classic, collections from RM Autosport, Kiaba Anton, DPM Motors, Antunes Automobiles, and a dedicated section on Mercedes and Ferrari by Top Classics.

To mark the occasion, the Collection of Cars of the Prince of Monaco will present a special collaboration with the National Automobile Museum of Mulhouse, showcasing Peugeot vehicles, including Sébastien Loeb’s 2016 Dakar Rally car and a Peugeot F1 co-piloted by Martin Brundle.

Watches, art, awards and more

Beyond cars, the show will also feature luxury watches and jewellery brands such as Bemon, C.C. Watches, Astrea, Infiniti Jewels, Sandra Bérété, and Terzihan. A retrospective exhibition will look back at Top Marques’ 20-year history, while artist Stefano Cigana will present a monumental work titled Le Sillage du Temps.

The event opens officially to the public on 8th May, with a VIP avant-premiere cocktail at the Grimaldi Forum on 7th May at 8pm, sponsored by zondacrypto.

Other features include a conference by Zondacrypto, a sponsor lunch at the Mairie de Monaco, and a cocktail at Le Deck, Monte-Carlo Beach Club.

The Carspotter Awards, in partnership with Need For Touring, will take place on 10th May at 3pm, with two grand prize winners each receiving an iPhone 16 Pro. On 11th May, finalists of a children’s design contest will be recognised, followed by a book signing at 3pm by car influencer GMK, Top Marques’ ambassador and a key part of the event since 2022. A competition, run in conjunction with Zondacrypto, to give away a Porsche 911 Carrera S 2024, valued at around €150,000, has been postponed, it was revealed during the press conference.

Ravel Hall will feature marques such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, McLaren Monaco, Porsche, Pagani, Bentley, Maserati, Audi, and Morgan, along with specialists in electric mobility, custom builds and high-performance tuning.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo by Monaco Life.

Courts uphold decision to block four private beaches in Menton from reopening this summer

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/04/2025

The battle over the fate of four private beaches in Menton took a turn on 31st March when the Administrative Court of Appeal in Marseille upheld a previous suspension of the popular seaside spots in light of procedural irregularities in how their contracts were awarded. As a result, all four venues will remain closed for the summer season.

Four popular private beach clubs in Menton—La Pergola, La French Plage, Caesar Plage and Calabro Beach Club—received the worst possible news at the end of March when a judge at the Administrative Court of Appeal in Marseille upheld a previous ruling preventing them from opening for the summer 2025 season.

This final decision came on 31st March, with the judge confirming that the public service delegation contracts for the four mentioned private beaches in Menton had been suspended. The ruling reaffirmed a previous judgment by the Nice Administrative Court that cited procedural irregularities in how contracts for these beaches were awarded.

For three of them—La Pergola, Caesar Plage and Calabro Beach Club—the selection process failed to adhere to the requirement of “prioritised criteria”, while La French Plage faced a different issue: the accepted bid lacked a proper financial guarantee. According to coverage of the court process by the French press, the application relied solely on owner Thibault Martin’s personal guarantee, which, according to the court, did not meet the condition of obtaining a bank guarantee or equivalent.

Martin has defended his position on social media, explaining, “An unregistered company cannot obtain a bank guarantee at the time of application. The requirement was therefore, from the outset, incompatible with the reality of a start-up company. The consultation regulations allowed for an equivalent alternative, such as a personal guarantee recognised by the Public Treasury. We complied with the terms as stated, with the support of a reliable third party.”

He went on to say the court’s ruling is a consequence of an administrative dispute between the Mairie de Menton and the Prefecture des Alpes-Maritimes rather than wrongdoing by the business owners who “acted in good faith.”

SETBACKS FOR MENTON BEACHES

The decision marks yet another setback in an ongoing battle between Menton’s municipal government and the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture, which had flagged potential irregularities in seven of a total nine private beach contracts.

For some beach operators, the ruling has been the final blow; the managers of Caesar Plage and Calabro Beach Club are understood to have decided to abandon their beach club plans entirely, citing the uncertainty surrounding the case.

Menton’s Mayor, Yves Juhel, has also expressed frustration over the outcome.

“We are disappointed by this appeal; it’s incomprehensible,” he told France 3 Côte d’Azur. “I feel sad for the beach attendants who invested their time and money. Jobs have been lost, and no one took that into account.”

Juhel also pointed fingers at the Assistant Maître d’Ouvrage (AMO), the advisory body responsible for helping define, manage and oversee the project.

“AMO should have guided the community properly to ensure criteria were clearly defined and prioritised,” continued the mayor in his comments. “Instead, the court found ‘serious doubts’, which suggests a major failure on their part.”

WHICH BEACHES WILL BE OPEN?

Despite the closures, some good news emerged for other private beach operators. Les Sablettes and La Dolce Vita, which had been under review, are now cleared to open from 15th April. The Prefecture has officially withdrawn its complaints, and the Nice Administrative Court has confirmed that all litigation regarding these two beaches is now closed.

However, uncertainty still looms over La Cabane Beach, which remains under scrutiny by the authorities despite not being suspended. The owners are reportedly waiting for further clarity before deciding whether to reopen.

In a separate but related move, the Mairie de Menton recently notified the operators of two additional beach lots that their allocations had been revoked. While these locations were not part of the court battle, city officials cited legal uncertainties as the reason for restarting the selection process.

“To avoid any legal risk, we are reopening the competition for Lots 1 and 9,” confirmed Mayor Juhel, adding that the process will begin after the municipal council meeting in late May or early June. He also noted that the suspended beach clubs may be able to reapply.

As the legal drama continues, beachgoers and business owners alike are left wondering what the future holds for Menton’s famous and popular private beaches. While some will be open for the season, others remain caught in an administrative storm that shows no signs of clearing up anytime soon.

Read related:

Menton’s new beach clubs outraged over forced winter closure

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo credit: Jennifer Guerin / Ville de Menton

Monte-Carlo Television Festival to present actress Robin Wright with top honour

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/04/2025

Acclaimed actress, director and producer Robin Wright will receive one of international television’s highest honours, the Crystal Nymph Award, at the upcoming 64th edition of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.

The Monte-Carlo Television Festival has officially announced that American actress Robin Wright will be recognised for her extraordinary career and lasting impact on the television industry with this year’s Crystal Nymph at the Golden Nymph Awards Closing Ceremony on 17th June at the Grimaldi Forum. Prince Albert II of Monaco is expected to attend the ceremony, adding further prestige to the occasion.

Best known for her performances in the 1987 cult classic The Princess Bride, the multi-award-winning House of Cards and as Kelly Capwell on the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara, Wright has captivated audiences for decades, earning her a Golden Globe and multiple Emmy nominations. Beyond acting, she has carved out a successful career as a director and producer, making her a Hollywood all-rounder.

Laurent Puons, General Director of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, has praised the star’s contributions to the industry, saying, “Robin Wright is a remarkable actress whose talent, elegance and artistic commitment have deeply impacted the history of television and cinema. We are proud to present her with the Crystal Nymph Award in recognition of her exceptional career and her enduring influence on the audiovisual industry.”

The Crystal Nymph Award, created in 2013, is presented to a television actor or actress “whose career has made an outstanding contribution to the television world” and is a highlight of the Golden Nymph Awards Ceremony. Other past A-list recipients of this exclusive prize include Michael Douglas, Donald Sutherland, Patricia Arquette and Dame Helen Mirren.

“It’s truly a privilege to be recognised with the Crystal Nymph Award,” says Wright. “I’ve had the chance to live an incredible career in television, and I am deeply honoured to receive this distinction. I’m really looking forward to coming to Monte-Carlo in June to share this moment with those who, like me, love and respect the work we do.”

The 2025 Monte-Carlo Television Festival will run from 13th to 17th June. For more information about the event, click here.

Read related:

Monte-Carlo Television Festival launches ‘Tell Me A Story’ pitch contest for young creatives

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

 

Photo via Monte-Carlo Television Festival

Highs and lows for the Riviera’s Michelin starred addresses in 2025 Guide

by: Elsa Carpenter
02/04/2025

While Monaco revels in its Michelin star successes, the story is somewhat different over the border on the French Riviera, where some of the region’s most recognisable names in dining have been downgraded by the 2025 Guide or have closed entirely. Nevertheless, some incredible South of France restaurants have been rewarded, including Mareluna at the Château de Théoule and Auberge Quintessence to the north of Monaco.

Some 68 restaurants across France are celebrating the awarding of one, two or three Michelin stars in the 2025 edition of the famous guide.

The two at the top, Hugo Roellinger’s Le Coquillage in Cancale and Christopher Coutanceau in La Rochelle, have claimed an impressive three stars each. One is a former officer in the merchant navy, while the other describes himself as a “chef-fisherman”. Both have deep connections to the sea, which plays out in the cuisine served in their Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes and La Rochelle restaurants.

More locally, the “sun-drenched” cuisine of Chef Fanny Rey and Jonathan Wahid’s L’Auberge de Saint-Rémy in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence has earned two Michelin stars, setting the restaurant among just nine addresses to be awarded such an accolade in the 2025 Guide. Another is L’Abysse Monte-Carlo in the Hôtel Hermitage, the brainchild of Chef Yannick Alléno and Sushi Master Yasunari Okazaki.

See more: Michelin Guide 2025: L’Abysse debuts with two stars, Elsa reclaims its place and Les Ambassadeurs retains its status

Among the 57 new one-star restaurants in France, a healthy portion of them are in the Côte d’Azur and the wider southern reaches of the country.

On the coast, Cannes’ La Palme d’Or picked up a star, as did Théoule-sur-Mer’s Mareluna under Chef Francesco Fezza, Saint-Tropez’s Arnaud Donckele & Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton and Marseille’s Belle de Mars.

The look and feel of La Palme d’Or in Cannes reflects its glamourous setting on the City of Film’s Croisette. Photo source: Hotel Martinez

Further inland, Roubion’s Auberge Quintessence, around an hour and 45 minutes to the north of Monaco, is also celebrating a new star, along with Chez Jeannette in Flassans-sur-Issole in the Var. Aix-en-Provence’s Étude and Barbentane’s Ineffable, both in the Bouches-du-Rhône, have earned one star in the latest edition of the guide, as well as JU – Maison de Cuisine in Bonnieux, Vaucluse.

Meanwhile, a number of well-known culinary establishments in the south of France have disappeared from the Michelin Guide altogether. While Le Saint-Martin in Vence has suffered the worst by losing its star, La Table de Patrick Raingeard in Èze and Ceto in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin have been shuttered for good. The General Director of the Maybourne Riviera, the former home of Ceto, has reportedly described the closing of the restaurant as a “natural evolution”, while Chef Patrick Raingeard has left the five-star Hôtel Cap-Estel on good terms after 13 years to “explore new horizons”.

Read related:

Michelin Guide 2024: New stars awarded to French Riviera restaurants

 

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Main photo of Mareluna Théoule-sur Mer, credit: Cedou Cedou via Château de Théoule

Prince Albert II joins President Macron at SOS Ocean Summit in Paris

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
02/04/2025

With just over two months to go until world leaders, policymakers, scientists, and advocates descend on the Côte d’Azur for the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, French President Emmanuel Macron has outlined the strategic objectives and goals he hopes can be achieved at the event. Speaking at the SOS Ocean Summit, which was also attended by Monaco’s Prince Albert II, Macron stated, “UNOC 3 must deliver on its promise of nature restoration and protection of the living.”

The potential outcomes of the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) in Nice this coming June were put under the microscope at the SOS Ocean Summit hosted by Paris’ Musée de l’Homme and the Musée de la Marine on 30th and 31st March.

The goal of this Paris-based event was to act as a stepping stone to a successful UNOC 3 by addressing the key issues and challenges faced by the world’s oceans in advance of the event, allowing stakeholders to prepare and initiate important discussions at local, national, and international levels.

Among the international figures from the spheres of politics, business, and science to attend the SOS Ocean Summit was Monaco’s Prince Albert, who stepped up to speak on stage about a subject close to his heart: the protection of ocean ecosystems and marine biodiversity. Nice’s long-time mayor, Christian Estrosi, was also present at the event.

Macron also delivered a rousing speech, saying, “The subject of our seas, of our oceans is dear to me… This is the first United Nations conference that France is hosting on its soil since COP21 in 2015. UNOC 3 must deliver on its promise of nature restoration and protection of the living.”

The French president touched on the ratification of the High Seas Agreement, which has been signed by 110 countries but ratified by just 21—Monaco was notably the first nation in Europe to sign. The goal now, said Macron, is to secure at least 60 ratifications by the Nice conference.

See more: Monaco first in EU to ratify UN High Seas Treaty on protections outside national jurisdictions

The French President also called for the wider adoption of sustainable fishing practices, citing, “Between 10 and 20% of fish production comes from illegal fishing, which is obviously unacceptable.”

He urged ratification of the World Trade Organization agreement to end subsidies for illegal fishing as another key target for the conference, while calling on nations around the world to collectively expand marine protected areas from the current 8.5% to at least 11 to 15% of exclusive economic zones by the time of the conference. “France will do its part, first with the creation of new marine protected areas,” he promised, before noting that France already manages two of the world’s 10 largest marine protected areas.

The fight against plastic pollution also features prominently in Macron’s objectives, and he mentioned the upcoming negotiations related to a global plastic treaty in Geneva as one example of collective efforts.

“Let’s be clear, the last major international meetings have been disappointments,” he said. “When plastic reaches the sea, it is already too late. Microplastics are a disaster for our biodiversity and our health.”

See more: Prince Albert II calls for global participation at Blue Economy and Finance Forum in June

Macron also spoke about the International Maritime Organization’s goals for carbon neutrality by 2050 and outlined the need for massive investments in sustainable fuels, port electrification, and fleet transformation.

Additional objectives highlighted by the French president included new financing mechanisms for a sustainable blue economy, climate change adaptation for coastal regions, and defense of science-based ocean policies.

He closed the event by saying, “No one will find the solution for us. Basically, it’s about collective intelligence, the ability to cooperate, and willingness.”

UNOC 3 will take place in Nice between 9th and 13th June.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Prinicer de Monaco

Napoleon auction stuns in Paris as treasures from Monaco’s Grimaldi collection fetch top prices

by: Cassandra Tanti
02/04/2025

Artcurial’s highly anticipated auction, Napoléon(s): Imperial Collections of a Great Connoisseur, held on 1st April in Paris, has exceeded expectations, amassing over €1 million in sales and drawing the attention of collectors and institutions from around the globe. Among the standout lots were rare and historically rich items from the prestigious Grimaldi collection of Monaco, adding extra allure to an already exceptional event.

The showstopper of the day was a luxurious double-barrel hunting rifle once owned by Emperor Napoleon I. Crafted by the famed gunsmith Le Page and previously exhibited at the 1900 Exposition Universelle, the rifle sparked a dramatic seven-minute bidding battle before being sold for €177,120—well beyond its initial estimate of €50,000 to €80,000.

Rare double-barrel hunting rifle of Emperor Napoleon I and the imperial hunts. Exhibited at the 1900 World’s Fair.
Sold for: €177,120

Several other pieces with direct ties to the Principality through the Grimaldi collection also caught the attention of bidders. Among them was a pair of elegant full-length portraits of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie, attributed to the workshop of renowned artist Franz-Xaver Winterhalter. These commanding works sold for €81,344. A drawing case used by Napoleon I during his military training in Auxonne, another item of historical importance, was acquired for €31,488, far surpassing expectations.

One of the most symbolic items in the sale, a model 1804 flag from the 1st Battalion of the 111th Infantry Regiment, more than doubled its high estimate, achieving €97,088. A fragment of lambrequin from the decor of Notre-Dame Cathedral, used during Napoleon’s coronation, also found a new home for €22,304.

Full-length portrait of Emperor Napoleon III in the undress uniform of a divisional general and full-length portrait of Empress Eugénie. Sold for: €81,344

France’s leading cultural institutions were quick to act. The Musée du Second Empire at the Château de Compiègne exercised pre-emption rights on two pieces, while the Musée de l’Armée in Paris added a commemorative box tied to the Return of the Ashes by Prince de Joinville to its collection for €7,609.

Many of the highlights from this auction had a deeper connection to Monaco’s imperial past. Several of the Napoleonic items once belonged to Prince Louis II and were sold over a decade ago by the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. They were later acquired by a private collector, whose estate was the basis of Artcurial’s April sale. Before making their journey to the auction room in Paris, these treasured artifacts were once again displayed in Monaco, offering the public a final glimpse of their historical significance within the Principality.

Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Main photo source: Artcurial