Fondation Flavien will host the 12th edition of the Monaco Trott’n’Roll later this month at the Les Jardins d’Apolline, raising awareness and funds in the fight against pediatric cancers. It forms part of Septembre en Or, the international childhood cancer awareness campaign.
Since launching Monaco Trott’n’Roll in 2014, Fondation Flavien has used the event to bring families together while supporting its wider mission of advancing pediatric cancer research. The foundation says its work has since extended beyond the local level, with research projects reaching significant scientific milestones in recent years.
The event will be held on Saturday 19th September and will open to the public at 9am, with activities running throughout the day. The AS Monaco Kids Tour will join this year’s edition with football-related activities, while a scooter course and temporary skate park will be available for a symbolic fee of €2. Transformers and clowns will also roam the site throughout the day.
From 10am, bikers, motorcycles, and high-performance vehicles will take part in runs on Monaco’s Formula 1 circuit. The official inauguration will follow at 11am in the presence of representatives from the Principality, with the Monaco Fire Department also taking part and remaining on site throughout the day. A parade is scheduled for 2:30pm, followed by the event’s raffle draw at around 4pm.
Inflatable attractions, face painting, and merchandise stands will add to the day’s activities, while refreshments and snacks will be available from the Péché Mignon fairground team, alongside homemade hot dogs.
The event will come to a close at 6pm, following a full day of family entertainment celebrating Fondation Flavien’s mission of raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Visitors are encouraged to wear gold or orange in recognition of the cause and Septembre en Or.
Cannes will launch the surface-level redevelopment of La Croisette in mid-October, once the MIPCOM trade fair has cleared the boulevard, marking the start of the most extensive remodelling of the seafront promenade in over 60 years.
Preparatory operations will begin in mid-September before construction starts between rue Macé and boulevard Alexandre III. Four work fronts will operate simultaneously, with the sections included in the current programme scheduled for completion by the end of 2028.
Originally planned to run from November 2024 until the end of 2025, the project was postponed after contractor bids exceeded the city’s estimates and new state levies placed additional pressure on municipal finances.
In November 2024, the Ville de Cannes estimated that the measures would remove €18 million from its finances by the end of the current municipal mandate. Rather than increase local tax rates, the municipality chose to revise the construction timetable and launch a new tender process.
According to the city, the new procurement process will allow the same project to proceed for €15 million less than the initial bids.
Birds-eye view of the new Croisette design
Wider footpaths, more trees and a continuous cycle route
The winning design was unveiled in September 2022 following an international architectural competition. It was developed by the Atelier d’Urbanité Roland Castro and Snøhetta, working with WSP, Observatoire International, JML Water Feature Design, Manifesto, Transitec and Cronos Conseil.
The project will widen pedestrian areas and introduce new paving inspired by the red tones of the Estérel massif and the historic Le Suquet district. Art Deco-influenced “Spotlights” will mark key points along the boulevard, while new benches, shaded structures, lighting and landscaped spaces will be installed.
A three-metre-wide, two-way cycle track separated from road traffic will run from the Palais des Festivals to La Roseraie. Once connected with the existing route to Palm Beach, it will provide 3.1 kilometres of continuous cycling infrastructure.
Pedestrian crossings will be widened and raised, the northern pavement will be enlarged and additional LED lighting and video surveillance will be installed. The Croisette’s familiar blue chairs will be retained.
Source: Atelier d’Urbanité Roland Castro and Snøhetta
By the end of the scheduled works, the redeveloped sections are expected to contain 692 trees planted in the ground, including 295 new plantings. Seventy palms removed during preparatory works will be kept in a nursery before being replanted on the boulevard.
The municipality also plans to use groundwater collected beneath the Lamy municipal car park to irrigate the landscaped areas, reducing the use of drinking water.
The wider master plan includes the Miroir des Lauréats, a reflecting pool at the foot of the Palais des Festivals, and an open-air Théâtre de la Mer at Square du 8-Mai-1945. These elements form part of the broader long-term vision for La Croisette rather than the initial construction section beginning in October.
According to the Ville de Cannes, the objective is to preserve the boulevard’s identity while improving accessibility, safety, mobility and comfort throughout the year.
The redevelopment plan for the Croisette. Source: Atelier d’Urbanité Roland Castro and Snøhetta
A redevelopment under way since 2017
The wider transformation of La Croisette has progressed through several stages since 2017. The first phase expanded 1.4 kilometres of beach between Zamenhof and Macé using 80,000 cubic metres of sand. That work ran from November 2017 to March 2019, followed by a further 33,500 cubic metres added to the two public beaches between September 2019 and March 2020.
A separate programme to renovate the boulevard’s 22 private beach establishments was carried out between September 2018 and March 2020.
Underground works followed from January 2022 until spring 2024, replacing drinking-water, wastewater and sanitation networks serving the hotels, residences, shops and beachfront establishments.
A marine thermal-energy network is also being installed across seven work areas in the city centre and eastern Croisette. The project, developed by the Cannes Lérins Agglomeration, is expected to begin entering service from October 2027 and will eventually provide heating and cooling to more than 50 buildings, including the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, using energy recovered from the Mediterranean.
Square de Verdun. Source: Atelier d’Urbanité Roland Castro and Snøhetta
Construction organised around Cannes’ events
The surface redevelopment will be completed in two principal stages while maintaining access to hotels, businesses and residences.
From autumn 2026 to summer 2027, work will focus on the southern carriageway between rue Macé and rue du Canada and the northern carriageway between rue du Canada and boulevard Alexandre III. The section between rue Pasteur and rue du Docteur Zamenhof will be incorporated into the second stage.
Between autumn 2027 and the end of 2028, construction will switch to the opposite sides of those sections. Work will also extend to both sides of the boulevard between the Palais des Festivals and rue des Serbes.
Traffic will be maintained in the west-to-east direction, with temporary lane changes introduced according to the area under construction. A diversion will operate between rue Macé and rue Latour-Maubourg from mid-October.
The most significant pavement works will be concentrated during winter, while construction will stop during May to accommodate the Cannes Film Festival. Subsequent phases will address Pointe Croisette, Square de la Roseraie and the Port Canto gardens.
Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
All images are provisional project renderings, subject to change. All heritage features will be preserved. Image credit: A’U Roland Castro & Snøhetta/MIR
Institut Audiovisuel de Monaco season to kick off with Jacques Tati’s masterpiece
The 23rd season of Tout l’art du cinéma will launch on Tuesday 22nd September at 7pm at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, opening with Jacques Tati’s monumental comedy, Playtime.
Shown in French with subtitles, the 125-minute film takes viewers into a futuristic Paris made of glass buildings, wide halls, and busy bus routes. The story follows a group of American tourists arriving from Orly airport and Monsieur Hulot, who gets lost in a tall office building filled with elevators while trying to meet a busy boss.
The pinnacle of visual satire
Film critic Patrice Blouin said that Playtime stands as Tati’s greatest and most important work. While his earlier films—such as Jour de fête, Les Vacances de monsieur Hulot, and Mon oncle—are remembered for their charming and innocent style, his later work introduces a much sharper, clearer vision. In Playtime, Tati uses 1960s industrial design and modern architecture to turn a simple physical comedy into a completely new way of looking at the urban world, moving far beyond standard social satire.
From sportsman to cinematic visionary
Organised by the Institut Audiovisuel de Monaco, the screening also shines a light on the unique background of the filmmaker himself. Long before stepping behind the camera, Jacques Tati was an accomplished sportsman who excelled at rugby, tennis, and horse riding. He discovered his comedic talent early on, entertaining friends before moving smoothly to music-hall stages and becoming a recognised mime.
A rare and enduring legacy
His transition into cinema broke all the traditional rules of the era. He directed his breakout film, Jour de fête in 1948, by shooting entirely on real locations using non-professional actors, paying little attention to heavy dialogue or complex plot lines. This bold approach proved that cinema could be both deeply artistic and immensely popular. Though he directed only six feature films in total, Tati permanently changed the language of visual comedy by embracing new sound design and creative spatial styling.
Ticketing and practical information
Tickets for the opening night cost €8 for standard admission and €4 for people under 25 or DASO cardholders. Complete booking details and further information can be obtained directly through the Institut Audiovisuel de Monaco.
The Monegasque Association for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease (AMPA) will bring sport and solidarity together for a weeklong campaign from 15th September to 21st September in support of World Alzheimer’s Day as part of #BougeMonaco. The initiative will be held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II.
World Alzheimer’s Day is observed annually on 21st September to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
At the heart of the campaign are seven days of sport and solidarity, offering seven different ways to exercise the brain. Each day will feature a different form of physical activity designed to highlight the connection between movement, brain health, and Alzheimer’s awareness. Research has shown that staying physically and socially active may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
The week will begin on Tuesday with cardio and strength training at Port Hercule. The following day will focus on cognition and reflexes through paddleboarding and sea rescue. Afro Jazz at the Yacht Club of Monaco will then bring a focus on rhythm and energy, followed by an aquagym session centred on energy and lightness.
Saturday’s meditation, Qi Gong, Zumba, and yoga will emphasise balance and harmony, while Sunday’s aquathon initiation will showcase coordination and transitions. The programme will conclude on Monday 21st September with movement and endurance during the Alzheimer’s Walk Monaco. Beginning at Place Anne-Marie Campora in Larvotto, the path will take participants between Larvotto and Mareterra before returning to the starting line. Held on World Alzheimer’s Day itself, the walk is free and open to all.
Beyond the sporting elements, the event aims to bring the Monegasque community together around the prevention of cognitive decline through social connection and physical activity. Education is also a key objective, with partnerships focused on awareness sessions in Monegasque schools.
Monaco’s own Valentin Vacherot, currently ranked world No. 23 in tennis, is the patron of this year’s campaign. With local roots and a strong presence in the Monaco community, Vacherot can bring greater visibility and awareness to the cause.
To participate in the campaign, AMPA bracelets can be purchased online from https://ampa-monaco.com/ for €15. The funds raised will benefit the Rainier III Centre, an essential partner in the campaign whose teams are also involved in its awareness and prevention initiatives. Participants can then reserve places for their chosen activities before collecting their bracelets and taking part. Wearing the bracelet is mandatory for participation.
A unique F.P.Journe chronograph will be auctioned in Singapore this November to raise funds for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, after being unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Club on Monday by the watchmaker François-Paul Journe in the presence of Prince Albert II.
The one-off timepiece — a classic chronograph from the Geneva-based manufacture, created specially in support of the Foundation’s environmental work — will go under the hammer at the Foundation’s ‘Voyage Extraordinaire’ gala dinner on 25th November. F.P.Journe said it had wanted to place haute horlogerie at the service of philanthropy, in support of the Foundation’s efforts to protect the environment.
A gala in Singapore
The auction forms part of the outreach led by the Foundation’s Singapore branch, chaired by Jacky Deromedi, which works to rally supporters and partners across the region. Established by Prince Albert II in 2006, the Foundation supports projects worldwide focused on endangered species, freshwater ecosystems, the sustainable blue economy and younger generations.
A watch made for the cause
The Foundation welcomed the gesture, describing the watch as a meeting of craftsmanship and a shared commitment to the planet. “We would like to express our most sincere gratitude to François-Paul Journe and his Manufacture for this exceptional creation, designed in support of the Foundation,” said Romain Ciarlet, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. “This support highlights the importance attached to our commitments and will help strengthen the work we carry out, alongside our partners, to protect the environment.”
Monaco Life is written by qualified journalists, writing original content. Sign up for our free newsletter, listen to our podcasts on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.
Photo source: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
Fairmont Monte Carlo to host charity pilates on the rooftop for Make-A-Wish
To mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, the Fairmont Monte Carlo is joining the international ‘Move for Wishes’ campaign by hosting a charity pilates class on its rooftop pool deck on Tuesday 22nd September.
Running from 8:15am to 9am beside the Amù pool, the 45-minute session is open to all fitness levels, with every cent of the proceeds going directly to Make-A-Wish. Participants will also enjoy a complimentary wellness break following the workout, with mats provided.
A global movement for wellness and charity
The initiative forms part of a broader global rollout by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, with over 90 properties worldwide participating in the campaign to raise funds while championing the brand’s ‘Wellness Without Walls’ philosophy. The effort builds on Fairmont’s ongoing global partnership with Make-A-Wish, which includes year-round options for ALL Accor loyalty members to donate reward points to the charity.
Granting life-changing wishes
Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish is the world’s leading children’s wish-granting organisation, having fulfilled more than 650,000 wishes across nearly 50 countries. With a child diagnosed with a critical illness every 25 seconds, these experiences help restore a stolen childhood and support physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. Powered by generous donors and over 27,000 volunteers globally, the organisation helps families experience the transformative power of a wish when they need it most.
Places for the morning workout are strictly limited, and those wishing to secure a spot can do so with a €35 donation via Eventbrite or by emailing spa.montecarlo@fairmont.com.
