16 ° C
Profile

Day: 21 May 2026

Yacht Club de Monaco unveils redesigned Hemingway Cigar Lounge

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/05/2026

The Yacht Club de Monaco unveiled its newly redesigned Hemingway Cigar Lounge on Wednesday evening, in the presence of Prince Albert II, with a musical performance by world-renowned violinist Daniel Lozakovich — playing a Stradivarius — alongside concert pianist Hélène Mercier.

The two artists, whose album Lost to the World was released in March, provided the intimate accompaniment to an inauguration that set the tone for a lounge that is itself equally precise and refined.

A new identity rooted in the sea

The renovation was initiated by YCM Secretary General Bernard d’Alessandri and supported by YCM member Christophe Degoumois and Jahid Fazal-Karim, owner and chairman of Jetcraft. The interior design was entrusted to Andrea Zanetti, a young graduate of Chelsea College of Arts at the University of the Arts London, working through Monaco’s Mov’In Studio.

“I envisioned this Cigar Lounge as a port of call, a minimalist space inspired by the timeless elegance of vintage yachts and the marine world,” said Zanetti. “The idea was to create a luminous, airy atmosphere, where each space tells a story as well as offering an experience. Particular attention was paid to the use of natural and sustainable materials, as well as artisanal expertise to create a subtle dialogue between tradition, innovation and modernity.”

The result is a warm palette drawn from the world of cigars, balanced by lighter tones evoking sea and light, with natural materials and handcrafted details throughout. The lounge opens onto a terrace with views over the YCM Marina and the Rocher, and offers 87 private lockers alongside a curated selection from the finest cigar houses.

Prince Albert II, President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, alongside Hélène Mercier, internationally acclaimed concert pianist, and Daniel Lozakovich, world-renowned violinist. Photo source: YCM

A place for transmission

For d’Alessandri, the project reflects a broader ambition. “This area was conceived first and foremost as a place for transmission, one where the precision of the lines and quality of the materials are as important as their function. They are an integral part of Yacht Club de Monaco’s vision to promote dialogue between tradition, excellence and innovation at the service of a maritime art de vivre lifestyle anchored in its time.”

The evening also served as a celebration of emerging talent — both in Zanetti’s design approach and in the artistry of Lozakovich, one of the most celebrated young violinists of his generation.

The Hemingway Cigar Lounge is open to YCM members and their guests.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo source: YCM

 

 

World’s best showjumpers set to head to Port Hercule for €600,000 Grand Prix

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/05/2026
longines global champions tour monaco

Port Hercule transforms into one of the world’s most spectacular equestrian arenas from 2nd to 4th July, when the Longines Global Champions Tour – Jumping International de Monte-Carlo returns for its ninth stage of the prestigious international circuit.

Against a backdrop of superyachts, the Mediterranean and Monaco’s iconic architecture, the world’s finest horse and rider combinations will compete across three days of CSI5* competition, with the highlight being the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco on Saturday evening, carrying a prize fund of €600,000.

Founded in 1995 by Diane Fissore and integrated into the Longines Global Champions Tour since its creation in 2006, the Monte-Carlo event has established itself as one of the most demanding stops on the circuit — a technical track that consistently sorts the best from the rest.

Three days of competition

Thursday 2nd July opens with the GCL team competition over two rounds — the first at 1.60m qualifying for the Longines Grand Prix, the second at 1.55m. Friday 3rd July brings the Longines Pro Am Cup Monaco, before Saturday 4th July crowns the Grand Prix winner.

Last year, Simon Delestre and Cayman Jolly Jumper took victory, sounding the Marseillaise for the third consecutive year following Julien Epaillard’s win in 2023 and Inès Joly’s in 2024.

Monaco’s moment?

The Monegasque anthem has yet to ring out on a Saturday evening at Port Hercule — but 2026 may offer the best chance yet. Two Monegasque riders will contest the CSI5*, both with genuine credentials at the top level.

Anastasia Nielsen, just 19-years-old, won her first ever CSI5* Grand Prix at the Longines Global Champions Tour event in Rabat last October. A member of the all-female GCL team Cannes Stars powered by Iron Dames for the second consecutive year, she continues to confirm her considerable potential at every stage.

Iñigo Lopez de la Osa Franco, a long-standing presence at the highest level who represents the Monaco Aces in the GCL, will also be competing — with an added incentive: he is coached by none other than the reigning champion, Simon Delestre.

The Pro Am Cup

Friday evening brings the traditional Longines Pro Am Cup Monaco, conceived in 2010 by Charlotte Casiraghi. The format pairs an amateur rider with an international star on a relay course — the amateur tackling seven obstacles at 1.15m before handing over to their partner at 1.30m. Organised in support of AMADE, the event has become one of the most popular fixtures of the Monaco stop, offering young riders the chance to compete alongside their mentors.

Alongside the CSI5*, the programme includes 2* and national competitions, giving Monegasque riders the opportunity to continue building towards the highest level.

See also: 

Interview: Monaco’s show jumping prodigy Íñigo López de la Osa Franco

Image source: Longines Global Champions Tour

 

 

Princess Charlene appointed vice-president of Monaco’s Olympic Committee

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/05/2026

Princess Charlene has been appointed vice-president of the Monegasque Olympic Committee, further strengthening her long-standing commitment to sport and Olympic values in the Principality. The appointment was confirmed during the Committee’s recent General Assembly.

Before becoming Princess of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock was a competitive swimmer of the highest level. She represented South Africa at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, as part of the women’s 4×100 metres medley relay team, which placed fifth. She retired from competitive swimming in 2007.

In her new role, she joins her husband at the helm of the organisation. Prince Albert II has served as president of the Monegasque Olympic Committee since 1994 and holds several senior IOC roles, including deputy chairman of the Athletes’ Commission. The appointment creates what is believed to be a rare dual-Olympian leadership of a national Olympic committee — Prince Albert having competed for Monaco in bobsleigh at five consecutive Winter Games between 1988 and 2002.

In a statement released by the Prince’s Palace, Princess Charlene said: “Sport taught me discipline, respect, and self-improvement. Today, I wish to place this experience at the service of athletes. I approach this role with a deep sense of commitment. Sport carries within it not only the pursuit of excellence, but also the responsibility to unite, inspire, and pass on values.”

As vice-president, she will help support Monegasque athletes throughout their careers while contributing to programmes focused on high-level performance, inclusion and ethical sport.

The appointment adds to a growing portfolio of sporting leadership roles for the Princess. Since October 2024, Princess Charlene has presided over the Monaco Rugby Federation, whose development she has driven through the Sainte-Dévote Tournament — an international U12 rugby competition she founded in 2012 — and more recently through the first Monaco Sevens tournament, held at the beginning of May. She is also a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics.

The announcement comes days before the opening of the Mare Nostrum swimming meeting at the Albert II Nautical Centre in Monaco (23rd and 24th May) — an event the Princess holds close to her heart given her swimming background.

See also: 

Monaco Sevens makes successful debut with high-energy competition

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo credit: Michaël Alesi / Palais princier

 

Monaco warns supercar drivers: vehicles will be seized and held during Grand Prix weekend

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/05/2026

The Princely Government has again issued a warning to drivers of high-powered vehicles ahead of the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, announcing that any vehicle caught committing a traffic offence during the event will be immediately seized and held for 120 hours.

According to a statement released by the government, major events such as the Grand Prix attract significant concentrations of sports cars, which can give rise to dangerous driving, traffic violations and behaviour that disturbs public order. These gatherings are often unplanned and have previously resulted in serious incidents on public roads.

The measure — which means any offending vehicle will be towed and held for five full days — has been applied at previous editions of the Grand Prix and is being extended again for the 83rd Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco, running from 4th to 7th June. It applies immediately upon detection of any road code violation, with no grace period.

The government said the measure reflects its determination to protect the safety and tranquillity of Monaco’s residents during one of the Principality’s most high-profile weekends.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

 

Where are Monaco’s state housing homes concentrated?

by: Cassandra Tanti
21/05/2026

Monaco’s 2025 population census, published Wednesday by IMSEE, includes a detailed breakdown of the Principality’s 22,577 housing units — and the distribution of state-owned properties tells a revealing story about where Monaco’s public housing stock is concentrated and where it is almost entirely absent.

Across the Principality as a whole, 19.4% of all housing units — 4,380 homes — belong to the state. The remaining 80.6%, some 18,197 units, are in private hands. But those proportions vary enormously from one district to another.

Fontvieille leads, Monte-Carlo has almost none

Fontvieille has the highest share of state-owned housing of any district in Monaco, with 37.9% of its 2,280 units belonging to the state — 866 homes in total. It is a figure that reflects the district’s origins as Monaco’s industrial and working quarter, where affordable housing was built alongside the factories and workshops that shaped the area’s character.

Jardin Exotique comes second, with 29.3% state-owned housing — the highest absolute number of state units in any single district at 937 homes out of 2,852. La Condamine (29.1%) and Les Moneghetti (27.2%) also have roughly three in ten homes in state hands, reflecting their role as historically residential districts serving Monaco’s working population.

La Rousse sits in the middle ground, with 18.7% state-owned housing — 906 units out of 4,885.

Monte-Carlo and Larvotto: almost entirely private

At the other end of the spectrum, Monte-Carlo — Monaco’s most prestigious address and the district with the highest number of housing units overall at 5,365 — has a state-owned housing share of just 2.9%, or 172 units. It is the lowest proportion of any district after Larvotto, which has only 16 state-owned units out of 1,391 — a share of 1.1%.

Monaco-Ville, the historic old town perched on the Rock, sits at 6.9%, with 42 state-owned units among its 615 total dwellings.

The housing picture overall

The 2025 census recorded a 1.8% increase in total housing units year on year, with the sharpest growth in Les Moneghetti (+6%), Jardin Exotique (+5.3%) and La Condamine (+4%). Monte-Carlo was the only district to record a decrease in total units, falling 1.3% from 5,434 to 5,365.

The concentration of state housing in Fontvieille, Jardin Exotique, La Condamine and Les Moneghetti reflects decades of deliberate policy aimed at maintaining an affordable residential offer for Monegasque nationals and long-term residents — a policy that remains central to the National Housing Plan announced by Prince Albert II in 2019, and which the National Council has been pressing the government to update beyond 2028.

The full 2025 Population Census report is available at imsee.mc.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo credit: Benjamin Vergely, Monaco Tourism Department