Société des Bains de Mer: a history of luxury at the heart of Monaco

The history of the Société des Bains de Mer (officially the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer) is inextricably linked to that of the Principality of Monaco.

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.

As the Principality’s leading employer and the primary operator responsible for its appeal to tourists, the Société des Bains de Mer today manages a huge number of businesses.

In addition to the four luxury hotels cited above, it owns four casinos, thirty-three restaurants and bars (including several which have been awarded Michelin stars), nightclubs, four spas, a performance venue, a golf club, a tennis club, around sixty meeting rooms and many luxury shops, enabling it to offer its clientele an experience unlike any other in the world.