Au Cœur de Monaco 2026: Final Guided Tours Explore Monte-Carlo and Mareterra

MONACO – Monaco’s cultural summer programme is entering its final stage with the last appointments of “Au Cœur de Monaco”, the series of guided tours organised by the Institut du Patrimoine to explore the Principality’s history, architecture and urban development.

After the tours dedicated to Monaco-Ville and the Rocher, the 2026 programme concludes with two itineraries focusing on Monte-Carlo and Mareterra, two very different areas that are nevertheless essential to understanding the evolution of the Principality.

The final appointments will take place on Wednesday 12 August in French and Wednesday 19 August in English. Both tours will begin at 4 pm at Place du Casino and will end at approximately 6 pm.

Monte-Carlo and Mareterra: two eras in Monaco’s history

The itinerary organised by the Institut du Patrimoine brings together two decisive moments in Monaco’s urban development.

On one side is Monte-Carlo, the district that played a crucial role in transforming the Principality into an international destination during the 19th century. On the other is Mareterra, the new waterfront district created through one of the most ambitious urban development projects in contemporary Monaco.

The tour therefore offers a way of reading the city through its transformations, from the birth of international tourism in the 19th century to the modern strategies used to expand Monaco’s extremely limited territory.

Monte-Carlo and the birth of international Monaco

Monte-Carlo takes its name from Prince Charles III, whose reign marked a profound economic and urban transformation of the Principality.

The construction of the famous Monte-Carlo Casino was one of the key milestones in this process. During the second half of the 19th century, Monaco made international tourism a central part of its economic strategy, developing infrastructure and services designed to attract visitors, aristocrats and prominent figures from across Europe.

With the arrival of the Belle Époque, Monte-Carlo gradually became synonymous with elegance, sophistication and cosmopolitan life. Grand hotels, prestigious buildings, gardens, theatres and new infrastructure helped create the international image that still defines the district today.

The guided tour, however, goes beyond the Casino and the history of gambling. Its aim is to show how architecture and urban planning contributed to the development of Monaco’s tourism and cultural identity.

Mareterra: Monaco’s new urban frontier

From Monaco’s 19th-century heritage, the itinerary moves towards one of the Principality’s most recent transformations: Mareterra.

The new district was created through a complex land reclamation project that added approximately six hectares to Monaco’s territory.

Officially inaugurated in December 2024, Mareterra represents a new phase in the Principality’s urban development and is located between Larvotto and the Grimaldi Forum.

The project includes residential buildings, commercial spaces, public areas, green spaces, pedestrian routes, a new seafront promenade and a harbour.

The development therefore goes far beyond the construction of new buildings. It represents the creation of an entirely new district designed to integrate into Monaco’s existing urban fabric.

International architecture and landscape design

Mareterra brought together several leading figures in contemporary architecture and landscape design.

Among those involved are Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Valode & Pistre Architectes and landscape architect Michel Desvigne.

The project places particular emphasis on the quality of public spaces, vegetation, pedestrian mobility and the relationship between architecture and the marine environment.

Its construction also required highly complex engineering solutions to create new land over the sea while protecting the marine ecosystem throughout the different phases of the project.

Mareterra is therefore also an example of Monaco’s unique urban challenges: with extremely limited land availability, the Principality has had to develop innovative solutions to accommodate the city’s growth.

From the 19th century to the 21st century: a city in constant transformation

The contrast between Monte-Carlo and Mareterra is perhaps the most significant aspect of the itinerary.

Monte-Carlo represents the Monaco of the 19th century and the Belle Époque, when the Principality established its international reputation through tourism, architecture and high society.

Mareterra, by contrast, represents Monaco in the 21st century, creating new urban space through a technically complex project closely linked to contemporary architecture, environmental considerations and sustainable development.

Two districts separated by time and radically different in character, yet united by the same challenge: adapting Monaco to new demands while preserving its identity.

Au Cœur de Monaco 2026: final appointments on 12 and 19 August

Visitors wishing to take part in the final events of the summer can join the Monte-Carlo & Mareterra tour on two dates.

On Wednesday 12 August 2026, the tour will be conducted in French, while Wednesday 19 August 2026 will be available in English.

Both tours will start at 4 pm from Place du Casino and will last approximately two hours.

Participation is available by reservation. Admission is free for Monegasque citizens, children under 12 and people with disabilities, with free admission also extended to one accompanying person.

The itinerary includes long stretches on foot and several changes in elevation. Participants therefore need to be able to walk comfortably, and the tour cannot guarantee accessibility for people with reduced mobility. It is advisable to check the specific accessibility conditions when making the reservation.

A summer programme designed to discover Monaco beyond the landmarks

The appointments on 12 and 19 August will bring the 2026 edition of Au Cœur de Monaco to a close, offering a unique perspective on the Principality through its history, architecture and urban transformations.

The summer programme has connected two different sides of Monaco: the Rocher and Monaco-Ville, the historic and institutional heart of the Principality, and Monte-Carlo and Mareterra, two areas representing the emergence of Monaco as an international destination and its vision for the future.

The guided tour is therefore an opportunity to understand how a small and densely developed territory has repeatedly reinvented its relationship with space over more than a century.

From the Belle Époque glamour of Monte-Carlo to the waterfront city of Mareterra, Monaco continues to evolve without losing sight of its history.

For information and reservations, visit the official Institut du Patrimoine website: culture.mc.