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Month: December 2025

Monaco bounce back with win over Strasbourg

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
16/12/2025

AS Monaco Basketball returned to the top of the Betclic Elite table on Sunday with a commanding 88-74 victory over Strasbourg at the Salle Gaston Médecin.

The win was a timely response from Vassilis Spanoulis’ side after their frustrating EuroLeague collapse against Fenerbahçe two days earlier, when they squandered a 17-point lead. Even without key scorers Mike James and Nemanja Nedovic, Monaco never relinquished control, setting the tone early and imposing themselves at both ends of the floor.

Nikola Mirotic led the way offensively with 21 points, supported by Jaron Blossomgame’s 16 and 11 from Matthew Strazel. Yet it was Monaco’s defensive intensity that defined the contest.

Matthew Strazel and Terry Tarpey during the game, photo credit: AS Monaco Basket 

Suffocating defence led to frustration

Strasbourg’s backcourt was completely stifled. Marcus Keene, the league’s leading assist provider entering the game, finished with just two assists, while Gabe Brown, the Betclic Elite’s fourth-highest scorer, was held scoreless, missing all nine of his attempts. Frustration boiled over in the third quarter when Brown and Monaco’s Alpha Diallo were involved in a physical altercation, resulting in both players being sent off.

Monaco had already built a commanding advantage, leading by 14 points at the break. Strasbourg briefly cut the deficit to 10 in the third quarter through Mike Davis Jr, who top scored for the visitors with 22, but the comeback never gathered momentum.

The visitors’ discipline completely deserted in the closing stages. Jean-Baptiste Maille, William Pfister and Ben Gregg all fouled out, leaving Strasbourg severely short-handed as Monaco closed out the game comfortably.

The victory lifts Monaco to an 8–2 record, placing them back at the top of the standings ahead of Nanterre and Paris (both 8–3), following Lyon-Villeurbanne’s surprise home defeat to Cholet.

Monaco now face a tough week with back-to-back EuroLeague games, away to Baskonia in Spain on Wednesday and home to Bayern Munich on Friday, before returning to league action against Nanterre next Sunday.

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Main photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

Wannenes Monte Carlo auctions achieve €2 million in December sales

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/12/2025

Wannenes Auction House concluded its winter Monaco sales on 3rd and 4th December at the Hôtel Métropole, with jewellery, luxury handbags and collectible watches achieving combined hammer prices exceeding €1.95 million across the three sessions.

The jewellery auction on 3rd December drew competitive bidding for coloured gemstones and signed pieces, whilst the 4th December sessions featured Hermès handbags and high-complication timepieces from major manufactures.

Jewellery results

An important platinum ring set with a 13.10 x 12.95 x 7.95mm octagonal-cut Burmese ruby achieved €101,600, surpassing its estimate. The ruby, accompanied by SSEF certification attesting to Burmese origin with no heat treatment and minor oiling, anchored the coloured gemstone category.

A platinum ring featuring a 13.00 x 9.05 x 6.55mm octagonal-cut Colombian emerald with SSEF certification and old-cut diamonds sold for €88,900. A gold and silver ring set with a 14.25-carat colour-change sapphire from Sri Lanka, certified as untreated and changing from blue to violet, reached €19,685.

Signed pieces performed strongly. A Van Cleef & Arpels platinum, gold and diamond bandeau bracelet bearing the maker’s mark of Louis Maruzzi, the Italo-French jeweller active in Paris from 1911 to 1944, sold for €76,200. The bracelet, set with old-cut diamonds and numbered 29822, carried French platinum, gold and maker’s hallmarks.

A Bvlgari tricolour gold Tubogas bracelet-watch with 750 hallmark achieved €27,940, whilst a gold and diamond necklace signed M. Buccellati with brilliant-cut diamonds reached €13,335.

Additional results included a platinum ring with a 6.58-carat old-cut diamond (GIA certified, colour W/X, clarity SI1) selling for €34,290, and a pair of gold clip earrings with peridots, onyx and diamonds signed Marina B, France, which achieved €11,440. A pair of gold, natural pearl and diamond pendants with SSEF certification attesting the pearls as natural and formed in a saltwater environment sold for €23,495.

Luxury accessories session

The luxury handbags session on 4th December morning saw Hermès and Chanel models attract international bidders.

A 2024 Hermès Kelly Sellier 25 in Rose Extrême calfskin with palladium-plated hardware, new and unworn with original accessories, achieved €26,670. A Chanel Coco Handle handbag in burgundy faux fur and leather with gold-tone hardware sold for €5,588, whilst a Chanel Timeless Jumbo in pink python with silver-tone hardware and CITES certificate reached €6,350.

Watch auction highlights

The 4th December evening watch session produced the sales’ highest hammer price when an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Skeleton Ref. 25829PT in platinum from 2009 sold for €228,600, more than doubling its low estimate. The watch, numbered 214 with approximately 156 pieces believed produced, came complete with original box, guarantee and adjustment keys.

A Rolex Submariner Milsub Ref. 5517 from 1978 achieved €158,750, exceeding its estimate. These military watches, commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence with fixed bars, NATO straps and circled T marking, are rare in unrestored condition as many were destroyed or modified after decommissioning. The example offered included a second bezel for MilSub furniture.

A Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Big Red” Paul Newman Ref. 6263 in stainless steel from 1979 sold for €78,000. The watch, featuring a black dial and red “Daytona” inscription, bore “Phoenix Soleil” engraving on the case back, having been gifted by this insurance company to top agents.

From the Cartier selection, a Baby Bamboo Coussin Ref. 78110 in 18-karat yellow gold from circa 1975 achieved €36,830. The 21 x 27mm cushion-shaped watch with manual movement came on its original leather strap with gold deployant clasp.

The auctions drew participation through the Wannenes platform as well as LiveAuctioneers and Drouot portals. Founded in 2001, Wannenes Auction House operates offices in Milan, Genoa, Rome, Turin and Monte Carlo.

The overall total of the auction was €1,945,798, including €1,094,454 in jewellery and handbags, and €851,344 in watches.

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Images sourced from Wannenes

 

Espace Léo Ferré hosts final concert before 2026 transformation

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/12/2025

Espace Léo Ferré concluded its musical programming on Saturday evening with a nostalgic celebration of 1990s and 2000s hits, marking the end of an era before the venue undergoes a complete transformation.

The Monaco Town Hall organised the final event in partnership with Ten Production, bringing together artists who defined two decades of popular music. Presenters Charly and Lulu, known for hosting the television programme Hit Machine, guided the audience through an evening of era-defining tracks.

Artists and atmosphere

The lineup featured Zouk Machine, Las Ketchup, L5, Boris, Allan Théo, Colonel Reyel, and Leee John from Imagination, each performing their best-known songs. DJs Miko and Tino opened and closed the evening, keeping the dancefloor active throughout the celebration.

The event drew a capacity crowd eager to experience the venue in its current configuration one final time. The festive atmosphere reflected both the nostalgia for the music and the significance of the venue’s imminent closure for renovation.

Transformation ahead

Mayor Georges Marsan explained the choice of event for the closing night. “We wanted to offer a musical event in a very festive spirit. The public was able to sing and dance with the artists who defined the 1990s and 2000s,” he said. “And in a few months, after summer 2026, we will welcome the public to a completely new setting, Live by Léo Ferré.”

The renamed and redesigned venue will focus on live performance programming when it reopens in September 2026. Until spring, Espace Léo Ferré remains available for private event bookings before construction begins.

The transformation represents a significant investment in Monaco’s cultural infrastructure, with the new Live by Léo Ferré designed specifically to accommodate live entertainment in the Principality. Details of the renovation scope and the venue’s new capacity have not yet been announced.

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Photo source: Mairie de Monaco

 

Monaco launches MaPlacePMR app for real-time disabled parking

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
15/12/2025

Monaco has officially launched MaPlacePMR, a mobile application that shows people with reduced mobility which parking spaces are free in real time.

First announced on December 3rd during Handipact Day, the app was presented in detail during a press conference Monday morning.

For this project, magnetic sensors were installed in 68 street level disabled parking spaces to monitor occupancy and relay information instantly to users. MaPlacePMR is accessible through the YourMonaco app but also via a dedicated website at maplacempr.gouv.mc and is free to use.

“This policy of Handipact has the objective not to constrain but to convince and to bring as many people as possible along in this adventure,” said Christophe Robino, Minister of Health and Social Affairs.

The initiative brought together the Department of Social Affairs and Health, the Digital Services Department, the Urban Planning Department, Monaco Telecom, technology provider Urbiotica, and the Monaco Association of the Motor Disabled.

Smart Sensors that last a decade

The circular sensors, fixed to the road with four screws, detect the magnetic field of parked vehicles. When a car arrives or leaves, the sensor transmits the status change.

Georges Gambarini from the Digital Services Department explained: “This network doesn’t have the objective of sending enormous amounts of data. It has the objective of being capable of sending little data, but sending it with enormous reliability, and enormous stability in its signal.”

Interestingly, the battery powered sensors need no electrical connection and should last between three and ten years. Meanwhile, five remaining spaces, currently blocked by construction sites, will be equipped in early 2026.

More than just availability

Each parking space comes with photographs and detailed characteristics such as kerb positions, nearby posts or walls, whether parking is angled or perpendicular. These details matter when wheelchair users need to access their vehicle boot and a wall directly behind a space prevents the boot from opening fully.

Additionally, the application’s interface works for colour-blind users too, with available spaces marked green with a tick, and occupied spaces showing red with a cross.

Lionel Galfré, technical adviser for disability issues, further explained their approach: “MaPlacePMR is an idea that was born from the ground up. We want it to come from those affected, for those on the ground to be brought along with us.”

Users can also report problems through the app such as malfunctioning sensors and blocked access, with anonymous feedback sent to the relevant authorities.

Data that will shape future policy

The collected data feeds directly into the government’s data lake, revealing occupancy patterns and high-demand areas. Gambarini highlighted this dual purpose: “We’re really in this logic of digital technology that will allow us to make information accessible, but also digital technology that will be capable, through data processing and cross-referencing, of potentially enriching new decision making tomorrow for new PMR spaces or modifications.”

The new project complements the StreetNap app launched earlier this year, which helps people with reduced mobility navigate Monaco on the ground. Together they form part of the nine-pillar Handipact strategy.

“The question of disability is not something that only concerns people with disabilities,” Robino said. “We are all concerned, we must all participate, we must all bring our small stone to the edifice so that the objective is very clearly stated: that Monaco becomes a model city in terms of inclusion.”

During 2026, the system will expand to include real time availability in public car parks, starting with those already equipped with monitoring systems like Parc des Moulins and Louis Chiron, creating a complete view of accessible parking across Monaco

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Photo from YourMonaco app.

U Giru de Natale draws 1,900 runners for Monaco’s festive 10-kilometre race

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/12/2025

Monaco’s annual U Giru de Natale brought nearly 1,900 runners to the streets on Sunday morning for the 29th edition of the Christmas race. Organised by the Association Sportive de la Sûreté Publique (ASSP), the 10-kilometre event started at 10:30am from Boulevard Albert I at Port Hercule, marking the third-highest participation in the race’s history.

Rugby player Antoine Zeghdar signalled the start as runners set off on a route that included stretches of the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit and passed through La Condamine, Larvotto, and Monaco-Ville. The course, which began and ended at Port Hercule near the Christmas Market, featured the demanding elevation changes and iconic landmarks that have become signatures of the event.

Winners and festive atmosphere

Tom Maubert, a 21-year-old from Nice, won the men’s category with a time of 31 minutes 19 seconds. Italy’s Camille Magliano claimed the women’s title, finishing in 36 minutes 32 seconds.

Beyond competitive times, the race embraced the Christmas spirit with many participants wearing festive costumes, from reindeer antlers to Santa hats. The inclusive atmosphere welcomed runners of all abilities, from seasoned athletes to casual joggers, reinforcing the community nature of the event.

Race director Bastien Isaia celebrated the turnout, describing it as a strong recovery following challenging post-Covid years. “The goal has always been to combine safety, enjoyment, and the breathtaking views of Monaco for every participant,” he said, praising the 100 volunteers who supported the event. “They are the special ingredient behind the race, making sure every runner has a smooth and memorable experience.”

Event organisation

The event partnered with charity Be Safe, donating €2,000 to support their work. The organisation follows the race’s tradition of community engagement.

With the 29th edition complete, organisers have already begun planning for the milestone 30th U Giru de Natale in 2025, which promises new surprises for participants.

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Photo credit: Stephane Danna, Government Communications Department 

 

Monaco artist Philippe Pastor opens ‘North Pole’ exhibition in Milan

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/12/2025

Monegasque artist Philippe Pastor has inaugurated his latest exhibition, North Pole, in Milan, presenting works that explore the symbolism of ice, cold and polar regions threatened by climate change in a former industrial hangar near the Fondazione Prada.

The 2,000 square metre space at Robilant + Voena gallery showcases ten large-scale paintings that blend aesthetic beauty with environmental messaging, continuing Pastor’s 35-year commitment to raising awareness about ecological issues through art. The exhibition, hosted by one of Milan’s most prestigious galleries, demonstrates the artist’s ability to unite technical mastery with the transmission of urgent environmental messages.

Defending life through aesthetics

Pastor, who works from a 1,700 square metre studio in Spain, creates four-by-four-metre canvases from which he later extracts the compositions he considers most significant. His approach is guided by a search for truth through raw materials, eschewing artificial embellishments in favour of natural pigments, sometimes sourced from the Atlas Mountains.

“Every time Philippe Pastor begins a new series, he tackles a new environmental emergency,” explains Caroline Corbetta, curator of the exhibition. “Whether it’s the melting of the North Pole or ocean pollution, he constantly reminds us of the problems we humans are causing to our planet.”

The artist himself describes his philosophy simply: “What glitters is not authentic.” This conviction drives his work towards materials and themes that reflect genuine ecological concerns rather than superficial beauty.

Monaco roots meet global environmental commitment

Despite his international career, Pastor maintains strong connections to his homeland. “Monaco is above all my country, my roots, where I was born, but I realise that my life can only be in nature. In the middle of forests, in the wind. I need that connection to nature,” he says.

Since the beginning of his career, environmental protection has been the central theme of his artistic practice. His emblematic exhibition “The Burned Trees” left a lasting impression, offering a poetic yet poignant reflection on the fragility of natural ecosystems. This commitment aligns with Monaco’s own ecological initiatives, with Pastor serving as a cultural ambassador carrying the Principality’s values onto the international stage.

Immediate connection with Milanese gallery

Edmondo di Robilant, co-owner of the gallery hosting the exhibition, describes an immediate connection with Pastor’s work. “His sensitivity to these challenges, his use of natural pigments and his ability to create canvases that reflect the upheavals of our era make him an artist profoundly attuned to the contemporary world,” di Robilant notes. “His pictorial language touches the public because it speaks directly to the shifting atmosphere of the 21st century.”

The Milan exhibition showcases works of great gestural intensity, where environmental messaging blends with striking visual impact. Some pieces incorporate natural elements such as oak leaves, chosen for their ability to withstand the passage of time, creating a dialogue between artistic permanence and ecological fragility.

Art as vehicle for awareness

Pastor views his paintings as more than aesthetic objects. “My paintings are the medium through which the message is communicated,” he states. “There is an entire life in these paintings, a philosophy that emerges. That’s what interests me. Painting is an obsession. One must not try to do well, but do as one feels it must be done.”

This philosophy has earned Pastor recognition in prestigious international collections and established his position among the most followed contemporary artists. His works circulate across global markets, appealing to audiences drawn both to the singular aesthetic of his paintings and to the depth of his environmental commitments.

The “North Pole” exhibition represents a new chapter in Pastor’s journey, confirming the coherence and strength of his approach. By transforming ecological urgency into powerful visual statements, he creates spaces for dialogue between art collectors, environmental advocates and the general public, united around a shared concern for the planet’s future.

The exhibition remains open to the public in Milan, offering visitors an opportunity to experience how monumental art can serve as an environmental messenger, bridging aesthetic excellence with vital ecological awareness.

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Photos credit: Philippe Pastor Studio