Médiathèque Caroline: Monaco Opens a New Cultural Hub Dedicated to Knowledge and Community

Monaco enriches its cultural landscape with the official opening of the Médiathèque Caroline, a new space designed to welcome, inspire and connect people through knowledge, art and creativity. Located in the Pasteur block, the venue was inaugurated by H.S.H. Prince Albert II and H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover, in the presence of numerous figures from the Principality.

The Princely Family was welcomed by Mayor Georges Marsan, Deputy Mayor Camille Svara, in charge of the municipal media library, and Béatrice Novaretti, Head of the Médiathèque Caroline. The ceremony was also attended by Charlotte Casiraghi, Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy and representatives of Monaco’s institutions.

The inauguration featured the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, the blessing of the premises, and a theatrical guided tour created by the BAL d’Arts Légers company. This artistic performance, designed to highlight the identity of the venue, will also be open to the public in the coming months.

After more than fifteen years of planning and development, the Médiathèque Caroline becomes the new cultural reference point envisioned by the Municipality of Monaco. Three long-established services — the library, video and audio library, and games library — are now brought together under one roof, across 2,500 square metres on three levels, in bright, welcoming and fully accessible spaces.

The project is built around the idea of a free and shared place, where knowledge can be explored in many forms. The themed areas include the Monaco Collection, dedicated to the history and current affairs of the Principality; a green and solidarity space focused on ecology and sustainability; a digital room for workshops and training in new technologies; and an arts area devoted to music, film and listening experiences.

Particular attention is given to younger audiences, with a youth area offering books, comics, board games and reading corners, a games library designed for families, a space dedicated to manga and video games, and the Louis Notari Room, conceived as a study area for secondary school students.

The venue also features an auditorium and foyer with 118 seats, which will host a wide-ranging cultural programme including author talks, screenings, concerts, readings, creative and philosophical workshops, solidarity initiatives and moments of cultural relaxation such as “musical siestas”. A heritage exhibition highlighting the Monaco Collection will be organised each year.

“The Médiathèque Caroline aims to make knowledge accessible in all its forms,” said Mayor Georges Marsan. Camille Svara added that “the spaces were designed for everyone, from children to seniors, so that each person can find their place within the building.”

To mark the opening, French artist Benoît Varaillon (Béno) created an inaugural artwork inspired by the Japanese mokuhanga printmaking tradition, now on display at the Médiathèque. A bust of Prince Pierre has also been placed at the entrance, symbolising the link between culture and memory.

With over 200,000 documents, 300 cultural events per year, 36 staff members and 80 seats, the Médiathèque Caroline positions itself as a new cultural heart of Monaco, set to become a daily meeting place for residents and visitors alike.