A surprise awaits visitors to Monte-Carlo this summer: Monaco has used the winter months to completely redesign the world-famous casino square. By far the most popular photo motif of the Principality can hardly be recognized – and millions of pictures taken in the past few decades by the Place du Casino have only historical value.
The grassy hill, which the locals have fondly called “Camembert”, has disappeared, as has the roundabout around it. Instead, an extensive esplanade now stretches in front of the casino – lined with 20 palm trees that can be moved at any time thanks to a system of mobile paving stones. This will be necessary above all if the now much narrower road has to be widened for the Formula 1 race.
With the new design, the Monaco Casino Square is now supposed to “remind of the original architecture of 1850”, as mentioned in the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. Only the “sky mirror” of the artist Anish Kapoor has been preserved, which continues to reflect the magnificent Belle Époque buildings of the Hôtel de Paris, the Café de Paris and the casino.
In any case, Monaco is ready to boost tourism again after the two-month corona lockdown: the casino has reopened as well as a majority of the hotels. The rest will follow by 08 July at the latest. Shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and museums can welcome guests again since 02 June. Bathing in the sea and stays on the beach are also permitted if a minimum distance of 1.5 meters is observed.
Visit the Visit Monaco website
This is what the Place du Casino used to look like:
And this is how it presents itself today:
Photos: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
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