Are you acontemporary art lover? We recommend a visit to the Villa Sauber National Museum during your stay in Monaco. Housed in a magnificent Belle Époque villa in the Larvotto district, it is open during temporary exhibitions. These exhibitions are dedicated to major artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the tranquil setting of this institution and its garden!
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Villa Sauber National Museum in the Principality of Monaco.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to the Villa Sauber National Museum worthwhile?
Yes, this museum, created in 1972, is well worth a visit! First and foremost, we appreciated its setting, characterized by an elegant garden opposite the Grimaldi Forum event center. The museum is housed in one of Monaco’s last Belle Époque villas, once owned by the Blanc family. This family played a significant role in the development of the Société des Bains de Mer, which still operates a number of sites in Monaco, including the Casino de Monte-Carlo. During our visit, we enjoyed an exhibition on the decorations that poet and artist Jean Cocteau created in his Villa Santo Sospir, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
With your Villa Sauber ticket, you can also visit Villa Paloma, the museum’s second exhibition space, opened in 2010. These tours are some of the best things to do in Monaco!
In the center Mauro Restiffe, Santo Sospir #64 (2018).
What you can see
Outdoor works of art
As soon as we enter the museum, you’ll come across this sculpture, topped by neon-painted writing. We were intrigued by this combination of contemporary and academic art. Indeed, the sculpture dates back to 1911, while the installation was installed in 2014! The labels didn’t give us much information, but we did learn that the nude was created by German sculptor Leopold Bernstamm, who worked at the Musée Grévin in Paris. The name “dapertütu strangei” (meaning foreigners everywhere) takes its name from a Turin anarchist group fighting racism. Claire Fontaine, an activist artists’ collective behind this neon painting, aims to raise visitors’ awareness of the migration issue.
A beautiful fig tree in Moreton Bay
After climbing the stairs, you’ll come across a Moreton Bay fig tree, also known as “ficus macrophylla”. We found it impressive, and with good reason! The circumference of its trunk measures 582 cm. This plant, typical of rainforests, seems to acclimatize well to the Monegasque environment, offering visitors pleasant shaded areas.
A rose garden
Next to the ficus is a rose garden. Inaugurated in 1976, it was redesigned in 2016. It features several famous rose varieties, including those dedicated to French actresses such as Line Renaud and Laeticia Casta. We went to the museum in October, so some roses weren’t in bloom yet, but we’re sure this rose garden will be resplendent in spring!
A Belle Époque façade
We were seduced by the museum’s Belle Époque façade. Although the date of construction of this villa is uncertain, it pre-dates the year 1900. In any case, it’s very elegant. The sunlight highlights the building’s rosy hues, in harmony with the cream color of the façade’s decorative elements (columns, balustrade, etc.). Inside, you can take advantage of the light streaming through the large windows to admire the works on display in the temporary exhibitions.
High-quality temporary exhibitions
The museum is only open during temporary exhibitions, which are organized regularly throughout the year. They are dedicated to artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. We were lucky enough to see some beautiful works by the poet and artist Jean Cocteau, in the “Santo Sospir” exhibition. Photographer Mauro Restiffe took numerous photographs of the Villa Santo Sospir (Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat), where Cocteau created a large number of drawings, sometimes on the walls themselves. We discovered them on the museum’s ground and first floors. We were also impressed by the Judith and Holofernes tapestry (1948/1985) designed by Jean Cocteau, who displayed it in the dining room of his villa.
An audiovisual room
In addition to the exhibition rooms, the museum features an audiovisual room. A film is shown at regular intervals to provide a better understanding of certain aspects of the current exhibition. For example, we were able to get a better idea of the layout of Jean Cocteau’s “Santo Sospir” villa. This enriched the focus of the exhibition, namely the confrontation of the artist’s works with photographs of the villa taken by Mauro Restiffe.
Access to the Villa Sauber National Museum in Monaco
Where is the museum?
- The museum is located in the Larvotto district of the Principality of Monaco.
- It’s a ten-minute walk from the famous Place du Casino.
Access by car and parking
You’ll find underground, pay parking lots (for parking longer than 1 hour) close to the museum. The “Grimaldi Forum” parking lot is a 5-minute walk from the museum. You can also opt for the “Parking des Moulins”, accessible in around ten minutes via a public elevator next to the museum entrance.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Public transport access
The Principality has an extensive bus network. You can easily reach the museum by taking lines 5 and 6 and getting off at the “Grimaldi Forum Villa Sauber” stop. If required, you can also join lines 4 and 1 by public elevator to Place des Moulins. To plan your itinerary, we recommend you visit the official transport network website here.
Access on organized tours
Do you like organized tours? We recommend a multi-stop bus tour of Monaco, with the museum as the 4th stop on the circuit. Book your tour now.
Visiting difficulties
The museum does not appear to be accessible to people with reduced mobility. To get there, you have to pass through the garden, which features several slightly uphill staircases. Once inside, we didn’t see an elevator to access the first floor.
Tips for visiting the Villa Sauber National Museum
Schedules and prices
Please note that the museum is only open during exhibition periods, at the following times:
- July and August: 11 am – 7 pm.
- Rest of the year: 10am – 6pm.
- Last entry 30min before closing time.
- Closed January 1, May 1, 4 Grand Prix days, November 19 and December 25.
Museum rates are as follows:
- Full price (including visit to the Villa Paloma National Museum): €6
- Free admission on all Sundays, and permanently for under-26s, jobseekers…
To see the full list of free beneficiaries, visit the official website here.
How long
Allow 30min to 1h for your visit, depending on your interest in contemporary art and whether or not you’d like to take a break in the garden.
Best moment
The museum is not very busy, but we still recommend that you visit in the morning to minimize the number of visitors, especially during the summer months. If you can, avoid Saturday afternoons when family visits take place. Then why not take advantage of the Larvotto beach?
Direction of visit
There’s no set order for visiting the museum, but we recommend you start on the first floor, where temporary exhibitions usually begin, before moving upstairs. You can then enjoy the bookshop and the pleasant garden terrace.
Visiting with children
If you’re a family, we recommend you visit the museum at weekends, as family workshops are regularly organized. During the school vacations, special workshops for young visitors are organized in conjunction with the temporary exhibitions. For further information, please consult the museum’s calendar of events on the official website here.
Eating out
The museum has no restaurant or refreshment bar. Eating and picnicking are also prohibited, even in the garden. However, it is located in the Larvotto district, with its many restaurants. Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Monaco in our dedicated article!
Hotels
The Larvotto district and the rest of the principality offer a wide range of hotels. To help you find your way around, here are our recommendations:
WHERE TO STAY IN Monaco
Option 1: In Monte Carlo
Discover luxury palaces in Monaco’s most sought-after district:
- Hotel de Paris – see prices, pictures and availability
- Hermitage Hotel – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Métropole – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: Larvotto
Close to Larvotto beach, you’ll find some splendid resort hotels.
We recommend..:
- Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort – view prices, pictures and availability
- Le Méridien Beach Plaza – view prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: At Port-Hercule
Boutique hotels, with superb views of the port and the Rock.
- Hotel Miramar – prices, pictures and availability
- Port Palace – see prices, photos and availability
