With thousands of sparkling lights, an enchanted forest and a miniature world of chocolate delights, Monaco’s most prestigious hotel invites guests into its Christmas Garden at the heart of Monte-Carlo.
Wander into the courtyard of the famed Hôtel de Paris to discover a forest of green fir trees filled with cheeky elves of all personalities – the dreamer, the mischievous and the prankster.
Indulge in a delicious hot chocolate created by the Alain Ducasse chocolate factory or a glass of champagne before buying some beautiful handmade Christmas decorations or gifts in the glasshouse.
Then dive into the world of sweet delights at the next glasshouse boutique, where Monegasque chefs have prepared beautiful gingerbread houses, cinnamon stars, chocolate trees and festive sweets, unique creations to be enjoyed on the spot or to take away.
The collection has been created by Chef Philippe Joannes, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, with his teams at Monte-Carlo Catering; incredible desserts and chocolates made by chefs Ken Thomas and Cédric Campanella, and pastries made by chef Thomas Subrin, Meilleur Ouvrier de France.
Order on site or by phone at least three days in advance. To see the catalogue, click here.
Click on the gallery below, all photos by Monaco Life…
Members and friends of the Club Suisse de Monaco came together on Thursday 8th December for a traditional Christmas dinner at the beautiful Salle Excelsior of the Hôtel Hermitage in Monaco.
Along with plenty of cheer, laughter and delicious food, guests had the honour of listening to a Christmas speech by Swiss Honorary Consul Urs Minder. It was also an opportunity for the President of the Club Suisse de Monaco, Dr. Arik Röschke, to welcome and introduce new members.
The evening also featured violinists for a party that continued late into the night.
The Club Suisse de Monaco was founded in 1949 and is a social club that connects the local Monegasque, Swiss, and international communities and unites them for events throughout and around the Principality.
Future events organised by Club Suisse the Monaco include the Galette des Rois on 12th January and the Soirée Raclette on the 23rd February 2023. Visit Club Suisse de Monaco’s website for more information www.club-suisse-monaco.com.
A Classic Christmas: free choral concerts in Monaco
For a more traditional Christmas experience, why not attend one of Monaco’s classical concerts? Monaco Life presents free choral events taking place in the Principality this December.
The magic of Christmas is taking over Monaco and the countdown is on for the Big Day. In the lead-up, take a journey across three different locations and celebrate the birth of Christ at four different classical performances, where beautiful choral voices pair with tradition.
This Wednesday 14th December, join the students of the Rainier III Academy at their free Christmas concert held at the Rainier III Auditorium from 8 pm. The concert is free to attend, however guests must register their attendance online via the Monaco Town Hall. To register and for more information, visit the website located here.
For the next performance, we move to the impressive stage set at the Monaco Cathedral. Since 2011, the Department of Cultural Affairs has been organising annual Baroque performances in collaboration with the Diocese of Monaco. Directed by Jean-Sébastien Beauvais and with the promise to take the audience on a “musical journey close to the wonders of Christmas where the figure of the Virgin Mary and the woman intersect”, the Surge Propera! concert by the La Chambre ensemble this Friday 16th December at 8pm will include key musical works by some of the great masters of the Renaissance including Roland de Lassus, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestine. No prior registration is necessary.
Also taking place at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée de Monaco, but this time on Sunday 28th December at 6pm, our third performance sees the ethereal voices of the Monaco Boys Choir complemented by the talented musicians of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Directed by Peter Szüts and Pierre Debat, the concert promises to deliver nine stunning performances of classical scores composed by masters such as Mozart, Handel, and Bach and performed by some of the most talented artists in Monaco. The Monaco Boys Choir will also be performing at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at the Cathedral. Further details can be found here.
Photo source: Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco/Facebook
Photos: Last month to see ‘100 years of concerts in Monaco’
The exhibition ‘Monaco On Stage – 100 years of concerts in Monaco’ will be open exceptionally for two nights this December, before the stage is packed up for good at the end of the year.
Monaco has had a special relationship with music for almost a century. Famous names such as Tom Jones, Cher, Ray Charles, Lady Gaga and Prince have all performed on Monte-Carlo’s legendary stages.
The immersive exhibition features corridors lined with photographs, many signed by the artists themselves, including Edith Piaf, Cher, Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Liza Minelli and Elton John. There’s a photo of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III with Frank Sinatra, and another of Sammy Davis Jr posing on the steps of the Hôtel de Paris.
The exhibition, at the Salle d’Exposition on Quai Antoine 1er, has been created by the Department of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with Monte-Carlo SBM, which has operated the Principality’s legendary concert halls for decades. It has been curated by Alex Jaffray, a composer, producer aand music journalist, and Rudy Sabounghi, a set designer for major European theatres.
Visitors are able to listen to guitars playing iconic riffs, go behind the scenes into dressing rooms of the stars who have performed in Monaco, and experience the magic of going on stage.
The exhibition opened on 15th October and runs until 31st December, and for two exceptional evenings, on 13th and 20th December, it will remain open until 9pm for a unique, nighttime experience.
Click on the gallery below to see more pictures from the ‘Monaco On Stage – 100 years of concerts in Monaco’ exhibition, all photos by Monaco Life…
The Monaco Ambassadors Club Christmas Gala took guests to the Upper East Side of New York, with great live music, plenty of dancing, and a very exciting announcement from Club President Christian Moore.
It was in the Salle Belle Epoque of the luxurious Hôtel Hermitage where Monaco Ambassadors Club (MAC) members and guests gathered for the annual Christmas party on Friday 2nd December.
The night began with champagne and picture-taking next to a giant sparkling Christmas tree, where guests were able to catch-up, network, and reflect on the year gone by.
For the MAC, it has been an eventful 12 months. The club, created in 1973 at the encouragement of Princess Grace to promote the values of the Principality of Monaco throughout the world, was this year able to return to hosting many exciting events, under Honorary President Prince Albert II, after years marked by Covid.
“I look upon you all here tonight and I see such a diversity of cultures, religions and ethnicities, and it doesn’t matter what you believe, the idea always being that this world is an amazing place and we have to take care of it,” MAC President Christian Moore said in his speech. “And with the influence that we have, and the clubs that we are creating reciprocal memberships with, we hope to increase the message of sustainability around the world, emulating what HSH Prince Albert works so hard to achieve, and provide not only wonderful events but certainly a message that is worth carrying on.”
The Monaco Ambassadors Club Christmas Gala 2022 at the Hôtel Hermitage
Guests were treated to a delicious four-course meal prepared by Hermitage chefs and headed by SBM’s Director of Culinary Events Philippe Joannes before a raffle sponsored by Monaco artist Daria Usova, who donated a collage personalised with pictures of past MAC events in honour of the Year of the Rabbit.
It was also an opportunity for Christian Moore to make an exciting announcement to club members:
“2023 promises to be a wonderful year for the club. For sometime now, we have been working on some ideas to deliver something special next year, which will mark our 50th anniversary,” he said. “I am proud tonight to announce that next year we will have a physical club house for the MAC!”
The clubhouse will be located in what is currently the Stars ‘n’ Bars Star Deck, which is due to close in late January. It will feature a restaurant, bar and club reserved especially for MAC members, and it will mark an exciting achievement in the club’s history.
Christian Moore also announced that Monaco Life Publisher Eric Brundage has been elected to the MAC Board of Directors.
The MAC Board of Directors at the Christmas Gala 2022
Monaco Life was a proud sponsor of the evening, alongside Barclay’s Monaco Private Bank, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary year, represented by Gérald Mathieu, Managing Director Head of Private Bank Europe and Middle East CEO.
“This year, the MAC Christmas Gala took its inspiration from the New York Upper East Side party scene in honour of Monaco Life and our new member of the board, Eric Brundage,” said event organiser and MAC General Secretary Alessandra Sparaco. “I wanted to have an intimate feeling, but provide a true party ambiance to celebrate the Holiday Season in an international way and I believe we achieved that.”
Guests were treated to a jewellery show and gifted a velvet bag by the Monte-Carlo boutique of Vhernier Milano, represented by Grassi Claudia, a tailor-made skin treatment by Richmont Monaco, MAC-branded socks donated by Sock Laboratory International, represented by Romanian entrepreneur Ilie Pana, performances by the talented dancers at MC Performers, represented by Rosin Wittstock, and a live show by the Sons of Guns, a band organised by Nico Timmermans of Lion Stone Events, who got everyone up and dancing.
The Monaco Ambassadors Club is now taking membership for 2023. Click here for details: https://mac.mc
See a video compilation of the night here, and scroll down for more pictures…
Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have kicked off Christmas festivities in Monaco, turning on the lights in Casino Square and launching the Christmas village at Port Hercule.
The Princess was joined by Charlotte Casiraghi, the daughter of Princess Caroline, while her husband Prince Albert was in Dusseldorf, being presented the German Environmental Prize at the German Sustainability Awards.
The Princely Family inaugurated the Christmas celebrations in Monte-Carlo, alongside SBM CEO Jean-Luc Biamonti and SBM Director Stéphane Valéri, which include a new roller rink, seasonal treats in the Chalet de Café de Paris, and regular visits by Santa Claus.
SBM’s ‘Like a Child’ holiday programme runs until 8th January. For more information, click here.
The Princely Family inaugurated the Monaco Christmas Village at Port Hercule alongside Monegasque dignitaries. Photo source: Mairie de Monaco
Meanwhile, Princess Charlene, the twins and Charlotte Casiraghi officially opened Monaco’s Christmas Village, which this year is themed around the “Explorer Prince”, Prince Albert I, in a tribute to the centenary of his death.
The village therefore features several animated scenes from the Arctic, including a walrus, polar bear and penguins, as well as festive favourites such as big wheel, 21 food stalls, 21 gift chalets, and an eight-metre-high Christmas tree.
