New National Museum of Monaco – Villa Sauber, Monte-Carlo

The New National Museum of Monaco – Villa Sauber (The Nouveau Musée National de Monaco) is a museum that highlights the cultural heritage of Monaco and showcases contemporary art through temporary exhibitions at two locations: Villa Paloma and Villa Sauber. This approach is deeply rooted in the history of Monaco, a unique country known for its longstanding connections between art, science, culture, and support for creative individuals.

Villa Sauber stands as one of the few remaining Belle Epoque villas in Monaco. While the exact date of its construction is uncertain, it is well-documented that it was owned by the Blanc family in the early 1900s. The Blanc family played a significant role in the development of the Société des Bains de Mer and the Casino de Monte-Carlo.

In 1904, the artist Robert Sauber bought a villa from Edmond Blanc, and this led to some people wondering whether it was designed by the famous architect of the Belle Epoque era, Charles Garnier. The reason for this speculation was the striking resemblance between the villa and the Opera House, which Garnier had designed. Sauber used the villa as his studio for about ten years, but in 1914, he decided to sell it. Afterward, the villa went through several different owners. It's worth noting that today, the property is under the ownership of the State of Monaco.

Villa Sauber was transformed into the Musée National de Monaco in 1972. From then until 2008, it housed the Madeleine de Galéa’s collection of dolls and automatons. Since 2009, it has been a venue for temporary exhibitions, just like Villa Paloma since 2010, together forming the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco.