Home to some of the Principality’s tallest high-rises as well as traditional buildings of yesteryear, the La Rousse neighbourhood in the east of Monaco is an interesting mix of the old and the new.
La Rousse-Saint Roman, as it used to be known, overlooks the Larvotto coastal district and is bordered by the Boulevard d’Italie, the Saint Roman interchange and the boundary shared with France.
It is primarily a residential and office district with a population of 7,087 – the second highest density after Monte-Carlo – and is where you will find some of the most emblematic recent real estate developments in the Principality.
MODERN ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS
At 170 metres high, the Tour Odéon is the Principality’s tallest structure and the second tallest building on Europe’s Mediterranean coast, after the Gran Hotel Bali in Benidorm, Spain.
Construction started on the building in 2009, under the watchful eye of Prince Albert II himself, and was completed in 2105. It has 259 flats, including a penthouse of over 3,500m2, restaurants, office spaces, a fitness centre, spa and swimming pool, and 10 floors of parking that can securely store almost 550 vehicles.
Another amazing building in the quartier is the Testimonio II complex. The entire site is set to be completed by the end of 2024, though much is already finished and sold. It houses 378 state-owned apartments, a 50-space crèche, 56 private residences and five villas
The building is also where the new International School of Monaco will be located, which will welcome and educate 700 students in a gorgeous, light and bright space replete with a state-of-the-art gym and auditorium. Some of the classrooms even have sea views!
MONTE-CARLO COUNTRY CLUB
Being right on the border with France and the commune of Roquebrune Cap Martin, La Rousse also has excellent proximity to the famous Monte-Carlo Country Club, which is where the annual Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament takes place. World-renowned players such as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who incidentally lives in Monaco, have graced this court in the past.
La Rousse is certainly a quieter part of town, but with its impressive seascape views and peaceful streets, it is a perennial favourite with residents looking to settle down. Great access to the beach thanks to the many lifts and escalators, restaurants such as MoNa and good transport networks complete its appeal.
Check out all the other Monaco neighbourhoods covered so far in this series:
Getting to know Monaco: Monte Carlo, the centre of glamour and opulence
Getting to know Monaco: The lively La Condamine, a favourite with locals
Getting to know Monaco: Fontvieille, a neighbourhood reclaimed from the sea
Getting to know Monaco: Exploring the Jardin Exotique neighbourhood
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