Monte-Carlo Sporting

You are on Avenue Princesse Grace, at the eastern end of Monaco, in front of the Monte-Carlo Sporting. This complex stands on a peninsula entirely reclaimed from the sea. It was built in 1973 and 1974 by the Pastor group, renovated in 1999, and belongs to the Société des Bains de Mer. Its heart is the Salle des Étoiles, a concert hall surrounded by large windows. Its name is more than an image: it has a retractable roof which, on summer evenings, opens the sky above the stage. According to the Société des Bains de Mer, Josephine Baker inaugurated it in 1974. Since then many international artists have performed here. Every year the hall hosts major events of Monegasque life, such as the Rose Ball and the Red Cross Ball, as well as the Sporting summer festival. It is sometimes called the Sporting d’été, the summer Sporting, to distinguish it from the former Sporting d’hiver near Place du Casino. Look at the low architecture turned towards the sea, then head back to Larvotto along the promenade.

History

In the early 1970s Monaco was expanding eastwards. At Larvotto, a peninsula was created from scratch on the sea. There, in 1973 and 1974, the Pastor group, founded by Gildo Pastor, built the Monte-Carlo Sporting for the Société des Bains de Mer, which owns the site. Today the complex stands next to the Monte-Carlo Bay.

The Sporting partly took over from the Sporting d’hiver, near Place du Casino, where many galas used to be held. Hence its nickname, the Sporting d’été, or summer Sporting. The building was renovated in 1999.

This project was part of a wider transformation of Larvotto. After the Second World War, Gildo Pastor acquired much of the land in the district, and in 1966 Prince Rainier III authorised high-rise buildings. Residences and hotels then followed one another along Avenue Princesse Grace, while the Sporting peninsula, about 5.5 hectares, was entirely reclaimed from the sea.

Art and architecture

The complex has a low, elongated architecture turned towards the sea, quite different from the Belle Époque palaces of central Monte Carlo. Its centrepiece is the Salle des Étoiles, covering 973 m². It is lined with floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto the view.

Above all, it has a retractable roof. On fine evenings the roof slides open and the audience dines or listens to a concert under the sky, hence the hall’s name, the Hall of Stars. Set up for dinner, it can seat up to 802 guests.

Anecdotes

According to the Société des Bains de Mer, the Salle des Étoiles was inaugurated in 1974 by Josephine Baker, a figure closely linked to Monaco and Princess Grace. Since then a great many international artists have sung here, in styles ranging from French chanson to rock, jazz and electro.

The hall is also the setting for the principality’s major charity evenings. The Rose Ball and the Monaco Red Cross Ball are held here every year, as is the Sporting summer festival. The complex also houses a well-known nightclub, Jimmy’z.

What to look for

From Avenue Princesse Grace, look at the horizontal outline of the building and imagine the roof opening above the hall. Walking along the shore, you realise that all this land was reclaimed from the sea: the original coastline lay further back. On the same peninsula you can see the Monte-Carlo Bay, another establishment of the Société des Bains de Mer. Between the buildings, palm trees and gardens almost make you forget that this whole landscape was created in the second half of the 20th century.

Practical

The Sporting is at 26 Avenue Princesse Grace, about 10 minutes on foot from Larvotto beach. The exterior can be seen freely from the avenue. The interior is open only for shows, dinners and events; the programme and conditions are on the official website of the Société des Bains de Mer.

Nearby

Nearby: Larvotto beach, the Grimaldi Forum and the Japanese garden. Continuing east, you reach Monaco’s border with the French town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

Test yourself

Sources

• Wikipédia : Sporting Monte-Carlo
• Wikipedia: Monte-Carlo Sporting
• Monte-Carlo SBM Meetings : Salle des Étoiles

Information checked on 30 September 2026.