Villa Sauber (NMNM)

This elegant Belle Époque villa facing the sea is one of the two sites of the New National Museum of Monaco, along with Villa Paloma up the hill. It bears the name of the English painter Robert Sauber, who lived here. It is one of the last villas of its kind to survive in the district, as Monte Carlo filled with apartment blocks during the twentieth century. For a long time it housed a charming collection of dolls and automatons that delighted children. The national museum used to stage temporary exhibitions here on art, architecture, design and the history of the principality. The villa is currently closed for restoration and extension works; the museum’s exhibitions are held at Villa Paloma. From the street, admire the ornate facade, a reminder of the days when wealthy European winter visitors came here for the mild Riviera climate. Check the museum’s website before you go.

History

The exact date this villa was built is unknown, but we do know that in the early 1900s it belonged to the Blanc family, who played a key role in the rise of the Société des Bains de Mer and the Monte-Carlo Casino. At the time the area was called the Bas-Moulins, Larvotto beach did not yet exist, and the garden ran down to the path along the sea.

In 1904 the London painter Robert Sauber bought the villa from Edmond Blanc. He sold it in 1914, shortly before the war, then bought it back with his wife in 1925. In the early 1930s the couple left it to a relief fund of the London police courts. After several owners, it was acquired in 1969 by the Société Immobilière Domaniale and became the property of the Monegasque State. In 1972 it became the National Museum of Monaco.

Art and architecture

The Villa Sauber is one of the last Belle Époque houses in Monaco, a survivor on a seafront now covered with buildings. Its ornate façade, elaborate roofs and garden sloping towards the sea recall the Monte-Carlo of wealthy winter visitors.

Its resemblance to the Monte-Carlo Opera, built at the same period by Charles Garnier, has often tempted people to attribute it to the famous architect. But nothing confirms this, and the museum itself remains cautious on the point. Robert Sauber set up his studio in the west wing, where the light came in generously.

Anecdotes

Robert Sauber, born in London in 1868 and trained at the Académie Julian in Paris, was a painter and illustrator. During the First World War his London studio was bombed and much of his work was lost, which makes the villa bearing his name all the more precious to his memory.

From 1972 to 2008, the villa housed Madeleine de Galéa’s collection of dolls and automatons, bequeathed to Prince Rainier III by her grandson Christian de Galéa. Generations of children remember it. The collection was then placed in storage, and in 2009 the villa presented its first temporary exhibition, devoted to Serge Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes.

What to look for

From the pavement, take time to study the façade and the garden, which give an idea of this shore before the tall buildings. Compare it in your mind with the Monte-Carlo Opera, and you will see why Garnier’s name comes up so often. Notice too the west wing, once the painter’s studio.

Practical

The villa is at 17 Avenue Princesse Grace, right next to the Grimaldi Forum. Bus line 5 stops at Grimaldi Forum / Villa Sauber. Please note: according to the museum’s website, the Villa Sauber is currently closed for renovation and extension work. In the meantime, the Nouveau Musée National’s exhibitions are held at the Villa Paloma, on Boulevard du Jardin Exotique. Opening times and prices are given on nmnm.mc.

Nearby

Take the opportunity to discover the Villa Paloma, the museum’s second site, built in the early 20th century and opened to the public in 2010, near the Exotic Garden. On Avenue Princesse Grace, the Japanese Garden and the Grimaldi Forum are a few steps away. The website nmnm.mc presents the museum’s collections, its history and past exhibitions, including those devoted to Monaco’s architecture.

Test yourself

Sources

• NMNM : Villa Sauber (histoire)
• NMNM : histoire du musée
• Wikipédia : Robert Sauber
• NMNM : horaires et tarifs
• Wikipedia: New National Museum of Monaco

Information checked on 30 September 2026.