A bronze statue rubbed for good luck, a newspaper dug up from 1909 and a bottle of brandy more than 200 years old. These are just a few of the greatest secrets uncovered in the Hôtel Hermitage and Hôtel de Paris, owned by the Société des Bains de Mer in Monaco.
For around 20 years now, Charlotte Lubert has spent her days searching nooks and crannies in the buildings owned by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. In charge of cultural heritage, every day it is her mission to try and uncover new hidden treasures.
Mesmerising Ceilings
“During the recent renovation of the Hôtel de Paris, we found a newspaper dating back to 1909, hidden under the roof of the building,” enthuses Charlotte Lubert, as she explains that it has become a tradition for some employees to leave behind a trace of their work. “In 2018, we asked the builders to put one of the daily papers and a 2 euro coin underneath one of the building’s domes.”
High above Le Grill restaurant, a cosmic decor of constellations adorns this open ceiling: a feature that has allowed guests to stargaze at the real Milky Way since 1957. It was “one of Aristote Onassis’ ideas, head of the company at the time,” explains Charlotte Lubert. However, in 1976, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace preferred to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in a different setting: the wine cellars. Here, bottles of brandy line the shelves, distilled as long ago as 1800.
Asked to fill a bath full of champagne or cook crayfish in Nantua sauce at 5am, hotel staff here have heard it all. For over a century they have encountered all types of extravagant requests from guests, including cleaning up the aftermath of 60 broken magnum bottles, each smashed against marble columns in the dining room of the Hôtel de Paris: an enthusiastic toast to say the least!
A Surprising Superstition
Saddled on his bronze horse, Louis XIV has been welcoming visitors at the entrance to the Hôtel de Paris since 1910. “As a result of so many superstitious gamblers rubbing it, the horse’s hoof has started turning green over the years,” says Charlotte Lubert. “People say the statue brings them good luck…”
“Before 1906, guests would arrive to the Belle Époque dining room at the Hôtel Hermitage in a horse-drawn carriage, which would later take them to the aile du Midi where they were to sleep. Now, the Galerie des Princes connects the two together,” says Joël Ricard, a member of the hotel management. Along this lavishly decorated corridor, the arched openings of the old stables are still visible.
Walking just a few metres further and guests come to the Jardin d’Hiver. Here, an iron structure, created in the style of Gustave Eiffel, complete with a glass roof decorated with sunflowers, provides incredible acoustics. “Lots of musicians come here to play the piano, double bass or the harp,” explains Joël Ricard. As they enjoy a breakfast in the Jardin d’Hiver, below a magnificent chandelier, embellished with gold flowers and glass petals, soft musical melodies will often accompany guests’ start to the day.
About Société des Bains de Mer
The company was established in 1863, on the basis of a sovereign ordinance issued by Prince Charles III, and entrusted to a French businessman, François Blanc, who was given the mission of developing the gaming and hotel industry in Monaco.
In order to achieve this goal, the Société des Bains de Mer embarked on the construction of a new district: Monte-Carlo. Chosen as a tribute to Charles III, the name later became a trademark owned by the Société des Bains de Mer.
Thanks to the building of a luxury hotel (the Hotel de Paris, opened in 1864), a brasserie (the Café de Paris, opened in 1868) and an opera house (built by Charles Garnier, the architect behind the Paris Opera House, and officially opened in 1879), Monte-Carlo very quickly became a leading international destination for gaming, recreation, hotels and luxury.
For more information please visit: www.montecarlosbm.com
EuropeanLife Magazine, 2021