Updated on October 05, 2026
For more than 160 years, the Casino de Monte-Carlo has stood at the heart of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s history. Through this exclusive collaboration with Assouline, its remarkable heritage and striking architecture take centre stage in a beautifully crafted book, an invitation to discover, or rediscover, an icon whose enduring allure has captivated the world for generations.
Monte-Carlo or by order at [email protected]. You can also purchase it on the Assouline website and in Assouline boutiques.
“Ah! That Casino! It looks like a confectioner’s masterpiece made of sugar; it looks like a train station where tickets are sold only for unknown destinations; above all, it looks like a first-class spa. In short, it looks exactly like what it is, since people come here to cure a most surprising ailment.” - Sacha Guitry, French stage actor and film director
The place that shaped Monaco
The Casino de Monte-Carlo is far more than a legendary gaming house. It is the place from which modern Monte-Carlo emerged: an architectural landmark, a social stage, and an enduring symbol of Monegasque elegance. Conceived in the nineteenth century and designed by Charles Garnier, the Casino helped transform the Mediterranean town into one of the world’s most celebrated destinations. Casino de Monte-Carlo: The Grand Art of Gaming tells the story of that transformation and of the visionaries who understood that the Casino’s success would depend on much more than the turn of a wheel. Under businessman and real estate developer François Blanc, it became the center of a new way of life, surrounded by grand hotels, gardens, performances, festivities, and refined leisure.
From grand rooms to the silver screen
Written by Charlotte Lubert-Notari, Heritage Manager at Monte-Carlo’s Société des Bains de Mer, the book leads readers through the building’s most remarkable spaces, from the monumental Atrium and the Salle Europe to the Salon Rose, Salle des Amériques, Salle Blanche, and beyond. Each room reveals a different chapter in the Casino’s history, shaped by generations of architects, artists, sculptors, and decorators. Together, they form a richly layered interior that has evolved with the times, while being immortalized through films such as Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and the James Bond classics Never Say Never Again (1983) and GoldenEye (1995). Through these pages, we invite you to discover the Casino de Monte-Carlo as few have seen it, exploring the details, stories and heritage behind one of Monaco’s most emblematic landmarks.
A living legend, past and present
Historic photography from the archives of the Société des Bains de Mer encapsulates the glamorous international atmosphere of Monaco throughout the twentieth century, and contemporary images bring the story into the present, showing a living landmark that continues to welcome visitors from around the world. Casino de Monte-Carlo: The Grand Art of Gaming celebrates the vision, beauty, and sense of possibility that made the Casino de Monte-Carlo legendary, and the role it continues to play in shaping the identity of Monaco.
About the author
Charlotte Lubert-Notari is the author of The Grand Art of Gaming, published by Assouline for the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, where she now heads the Heritage Department. In 1997, the young Monégasque, trained in bookbinding and the visual arts at the Pavillon Bosio, discovered an unusual office beneath the Casino de Monte-Carlo’s rooftop. Over the next thirteen years, she explored the building’s archives, ornaments, hidden staircases, underground galleries, and secret passages, developing an intimate understanding of its architecture and history. Drawing on her fieldwork and previously unpublished documents, she assembled the Casino’s defining moments into this volume.
You might also like…
The Watch: A Timeless Object of Desire
For several years, the watchmaking world has been committed to reviving its heritage through creations that reinterpret its legacy. Never before has retro style exercised such an intense fascination over watch enthusiasts. Carrying deep values and often captivating stories, these watches draw their inspiration from the iconic models of yesteryear while integrating contemporary precision and technical innovations. They thus offer an elegant and nostalgic plunge into the heart of the golden age of High Watchmaking. Here is a selection of new releases that reinvent timeless design with elegance, combining modern audacity and technical mastery.
The Resort’s iconic creations
Discover our emblematic Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer products, from accessories and decorative objects to jewellery and exclusive collaborations.
Monopoly Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer: the legendary game reinvented
Découvrez l'édition collector du Monopoly Monte-Carlo, une création exclusive qui met en lumière l'excellence, le patrimoine et l'art de vivre unique de la Principauté.
