Prince Albert II visited the newly completed Village Charlot in Beausoleil on Saturday morning, touring the facility with Mayor Gérard Spinelli before attending its official inauguration ceremony at 11am.
The visit underscored the close ties between Monaco and Beausoleil, where the €25.5 million project has transformed a 19th-century domain into what organisers describe as “an extra room” for both residents.
A two-decade vision
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, which brought together the project’s numerous partners and funders, Mayor Spinelli reflected on the two-decade journey from initial concept to completion. “Today, we are opening a place that brings us together and reflects who we are,” he said. “A place that welcomes our stories, our voices, our dreams. A place that belongs to everyone.”
The Village Charlot spreads across multiple levels and more than 800 square metres, housing a multimedia library, digital fabrication workshop, social services hub, artist residency spaces, and a participatory restaurant called Les Petites Cantines. Surrounding gardens of 1,300 square metres complete the complex.
Prince Albert’s visit came at the invitation of the city, marking what officials describe “a simple but powerful gesture, faithful to the close relationship between Monaco and Beausoleil.” Following the private tour and ceremony, partners and funders explored the various spaces that their contributions had helped create.
Built through collaboration
Designed by architect Marc Barani, the facility connects the restored Villa Chêne with contemporary glass extensions. Mayor Spinelli praised the architect’s vision during his address: “Behind each stone, each light, each breath of this building, there is your way of listening, observing, understanding what has not yet been formulated, and translating an intention into space.”
The mayor also explained the collaborative process that shaped the project, particularly the consultation sessions with local schoolchildren. “We spent entire mornings in each CM1 and CM2 class,” he explained. “The children told us what they wanted to read, discover, and experience here. Part of the library’s collection was born from their choices.”
The complex takes its name from a proverb Mayor Spinelli has long believed in: “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” Its logo inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s iconic character, incorporates shapes from five continents converging to a single face: a symbol of unity.
Saturday’s inauguration marked the beginning of a phased opening. The Village Charlot open its doors to the general public on December 6th.
See more in the video reel below…
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Main photo credit: Monaco Life.