A landmark for the entire jet set, pied-à-terre
for the ultra-rich, the Principality of Monaco is nonetheless a vacation spot popular with
couples and families in search of tranquility. While the Hôtel de Paris and the Hôtel Hermitage
are still popular in Monte-Carlo, families particularly appreciate the chic and relaxed,
contemporary and timeless spirit of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort.
We’ll take a look in a moment. It was in one of the hotel's suites that we
met Antoine Van Eecke, Artistic Director of the LXH brand. We will then head to the Allée François Blanc where the new Vacheron Constantin boutique
has made a remarkable appearance. We meet Annabelle Kleiber, who will present
an ideal apartment for singles or young couples. And then finish off at the BLUE BAY restaurant
where the starred chef Marcel Ravin created a home made dinner for us. But for now, the focus is on the hotel. The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is a destination
of choice for all lovers of nature, pleasure and well-being with a Cinq Mondes Spa,
a bar and a casino. From the bedrooms, the Mediterranean stretches
as far as the eye can see. Outside, there’s a little taste of paradise Located on a peninsula, its 4 hectares of
gardens which combine waterfalls, solariums, swimming pool and sandy turquoise lagoon,
give it the appearance of a generous oasis. An oasis of freshness, that's how we might
define the newcomer to the international fashion scene. LXH has made headwear its specialty. Antoine Van Eecke, Artistic Director of the
brand, today unveils part of his collection and talks to us about the origins
of the brand based in Marseille. LXH was created in 2017 with my best friend.
For us, it was the challenge of making a cap that we like and that will reach many
people who share the same values as us. The values are precisely this sport-chic side Today, we can dress casually while being chic and that was what we bet on, we wanted to
take a product that has a rather sporty connotation and we are going to try to bring it into rather
premium environments. We want the LXH cap to be found in restaurants
and schools. It is a fashionable object that conveys a lot of messages through its materials,
its technicality and its colors and variations. It is a product that seems very simple; but
it still has a lot of details: anti-deformation membrane, 3D embroidery,
junction bands, anti-perspiration bands. We made it with noble materials,
such as suede, corduroy, silk velvet. It is a sport product with luxury codes. But while the cap remains its flagship product by far, LXH has not hesitated to play the diversity card. Hats, berets, bobs, the variations of headwear are numerous, and always with a desire to sublimate a look. Since it is a fashion accessory, both men
and women can match it to their outfit or even their car And in Monaco, needless to say it's a great point... Speaking of looks, the famous Place du Casino
has recently been sporting a new one. Organized around a central body of water,
where the very contemporary mirror sculpture of Anish Kapoor sits enthroned, this square
now offers a space for strolling, bordered by palm trees facing the historic Monte-Carlo Casino. An island where you can enjoy the magnificent
terrace of the Café de Paris. Facing it, adjoining the gardens of La Petite
Afrique, are the Jardins des Boulingrins. Relocated in 2013, during the construction
of the One Monte-Carlo project and the restructuring of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, they reappeared
in June 2019 after six years of work. Another project that was recently completed,
is one that gave life to a new Mecca of watchmaking, Allée François Blanc. After Hublot and Richard Mille, we come to a small beautiful boutique entirely devoted to one of the favorite
brands of the greatest collectors: Vacheron Constantin. In the windows, the Harmony, Métiers D’art, Malta and historical collections. Not to mention
the iconic Overseas models. A shop that revolves around 2 spaces. And while the exhibition of timepieces is mainly upstairs, the private lounge located in the basement
invites us to explore in more detail. Fans of the Maltese cross brand will recognize the “FIFTYSIX complete calendar”, heir to a 1956 model, which is adorned with an 18k rose gold case, and even a precise moon phase, accurate over 122 years. Its openwork caseback reveals an aerial oscillating
weight in 22k gold inspired by the Maltese cross. As for the watch we are looking at, here it is, a “Patrimony Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Flat”. Larger, with a diameter of 41mm versus 40mm for the Fiftysix, this 18k rose gold watch
contains a movement that is 4.05mm thick, requiring no adjustment until 2100. The moon phase in 18k gold features
a sky in champlevé enamel and 2 hand-decorated moons. A moon that you can admire peacefully
from your terrace thanks to Lorenza von Stein. Now, we are leaving the Golden Square, and heading to Fontvieille
where Annabelle is waiting for us, a negotiator for one of the most famous real estate agencies
in the principality, headed by Angela Kleiber, her mother! With more than 120 real estate agencies on
the Princely Rock, the competition is stiff. At Lorenza Von Stein, they don't just put
customer A in contact with customer B. Assistance, advice, investment and trust have
become essential values for building a lasting relationship between the agency and its clients. It should be noted that one of those clients has also placed this superb apartment for
sale on the market…. Directly facing south, the place has some
nice surprises in store. The price of this cozy little nest is 6,650,000 euros. The day is drawing to a close, it’s time
for us to get back to the hotel and get ready for dinner. This evening, starred chef Marcel Ravin
will cook us a few dishes, mixing Caribbean and
Mediterranean flavors. In his dishes, we always find a little of
his native Martinique. Here, fish, Castagnole served in a purslane velouté. Dried naturally, burnt with a blowtorch flame,
squid ink soup, garden tomato broth in purslane saladine and achiote oil… there is something for everyone. Settling down at Marcel's table, it’s a very nice conclusion to our stay in the Principality.
