The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco
(NMNM) showcases the heritage of the Principality of Monaco and promotes
contemporary works of art through temporary exhibitions at its two locations:
Villa Paloma and Villa Sauber. This approach is rooted in a unique country
whose history has always been characterised by a dialogue between artistic,
scientific and cultural disciplines, and support for designers, thinkers and
researchers.
A little history
Villa Sauber is one of
the last Belle Epoque villas in Monaco. Its precise date of construction is not
known, but it is well established that it belonged to the Blanc family in the
early 1900s. The family played a key role in the development of the Société des
Bains de Mer and the Casino de Monte-Carlo.
At
that time, the area which bordered the waterfront was known as the Quartier des
Bas-Moulins, and Larvotto Beach did not yet exist. The newly acquired property
extended down to the path which runs alongside the sea. The painter Robert
Sauber purchased the villa from Edmond Blanc in 1904. Given the similarities
between this building and the Opera House constructed during the same period by
Charles Garnier, there has often been a temptation to attribute the villa to
the famous Belle Epoque architect.
Sauber, originally from
London, set up his studio in the villa’s west wing. He and his wife would
continue to own the property, now known as Villa Sauber, for 10 years. They
sold it shortly before war was declared in 1914. It then passed through several
hands before the Saubers bought it back in 1925.
In
the early 1930s, the by then elderly Sauber couple bequeathed the villa to the
Court Funds of the City of London Police.
The
Court Funds retained ownership of the villa for around 15 years until it was
purchased by Miss Nora Mac Caw in 1952. Miss Mac Caw sold it to the Société
Immobilière de l'Avenue Princesse Grace in 1957, from which Monaco’s Société
Immobilière Domaniale finally purchased it in 1969. The house and garden have
remained the property of the State of Monaco ever since.
Open daily during
exhibitions :
- 10 am to 7 pm from 1st of june to 30th of september
- 10 am to 6 pm from 1st of october to 31st of may
-
Closed on 1 January, 1 May, the four days of the
Grand Prix, 19 November and 25 December
Admission:
-
Adults: NMNM ticket (Villa Paloma +
Villa Sauber): €6
-
Group ticket: €4 (min. 15 people)
- "Cercle A" card holders : €4
- Entrance is free on Sundays
-
Free for under 26s, school and children’s groups, Monegasque nationals, ICOM
and CIMAM members, jobseekers (with identification), people with disabilities.