Casino Grand Cercle

Casino Grand Cercle (also written Casino Grand-Cercle) is a casino and entertainment establishment located in Aix-les-Bains, in the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. It occupies the Palais de Savoie, a major architectural ensemble in Savoie that is inscribed and classified as a monument historique and that also contains an Italian-style theatre. The casino was inaugurated in 1850 by King Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, with the building designed by the Chambéry architect Charles-Bernard Pellegrini, in order to strengthen the recreational appeal of the spa town and attract European high society and artists to Savoie. The original building comprised a central ballroom flanked by two salons, one for gaming and one for reading and correspondence. Thirty years later the casino expanded with two lateral pavilions, and in 1899 it gained a 900-seat theatre equipped with wooden stage machinery, the Théâtre du Casino Grand-Cercle. Four works by the painter Di Credico were placed in the traditional gaming room, which hosts games such as boule, roulette and blackjack. During the First World War the establishment was requisitioned: on 28 August 1914 the casino administration made the Grand-Cercle and the Villa des Fleurs available to the municipal coordination committee to receive wounded soldiers, and in the night of 12–13 September 1914 eighty-five wounded were convoyed there, with 200 additional beds improvised in the gaming room and the café and theatre halls, plus two operating rooms. In spring 1915 the mayor requested the release of the building, and evacuation began on 12 November, finishing on 15 January 1916. Over its long history the casino has welcomed numerous personalities, including the actor Raimu, Queen Victoria and King George I of Greece; Raimu is said to have worked for a season as a croupier at the casino. Today the Casino Grand Cercle operates as a modern leisure destination combining gaming with dining and events. Its official website promotes a varied programme: a back-to-school game promotion in September, the exceptional opening of Les Chalets du Casino on the terraces, the Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains poker festival, a charity brioche distribution weekend in October, and the casino's Christmas markets gathering more than 60 local creators, artisans and designers. The site also publishes jackpots won, listing total winnings for August 2026 and individual payouts such as €40,000 on 9 August 2026 and €32,000 on 27 August 2026. Dining and bar venues include Le Carré d'As, a restaurant-bar lounge with baroque decoration at the heart of the casino, and Le Lounge Bar, described as a cosy spot within the establishment.

The Casino Grand-Cercle was inaugurated in 1850 by King Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, in order to reinforce the recreational dimension of the spa town of Aix-les-Bains and thereby attract European high society and artists to Savoie. The building inaugurated by the king was designed by the Chambéry architect Charles-Bernard Pellegrini. At that time its central part comprised a ballroom flanked by two salons, one for gaming and the other for reading and correspondence. Thirty years later the casino grew and was enlarged with two lateral pavilions. In 1899 the building acquired a 900-seat theatre equipped with wooden stage machinery: the Théâtre du Casino Grand-Cercle. Four works by the painter Di Credico were placed in the traditional gaming room, which hosted games such as boule, roulette and blackjack. During the First World War the establishment was put to military use. On 28 August 1914 the casino administration made the Grand-Cercle and the Villa des Fleurs available to the municipal coordination committee in order to receive wounded soldiers of the First World War. In the night of 12 to 13 September 1914, eighty-five wounded were also convoyed there. The same day, the Grand-Cercle ambulance improvised 200 additional beds in the gaming room and in the halls of the café and theatre. In the small room against the bridge room and the north-west gallery, two operating rooms were installed. In spring 1915, although the war continued, life behind the lines had resumed. Thus at the end of May the mayor of the town officially requested the authorities to release the Grand-Cercle of Aix-les-Bains, which since the start of the war had become what was commonly called the convalescent depot hospital. The town's first magistrate explained that: 'At the moment when Savoie is opening up, it is absolutely necessary for us to give our visitors and bathers the maximum possible of amenities.' After examination of the request, the evacuation of the Grand-Cercle building began on 12 November and was completed on 15 January 1916. The following year, some hotels were also released, allowing the reception of spa guests. Over its history the casino has welcomed numerous personalities who came to be entertained there, among them the actor Raimu, Queen Victoria and King George I of Greece. An anecdote records that the actor Raimu worked for a season as a croupier for the casino. The casino is installed in the Palais de Savoie, which constitutes a major architectural ensemble in Savoie, comparable to the casino of Évian, a building that also testifies to the desire of the House of Savoy to figure among the great European princely families. The site is inscribed and classified as a monument historique and also comprises an Italian-style theatre. In the contemporary period the Casino Grand Cercle operates as a leisure destination with gaming, dining and a busy events calendar. Its official website advertises a back-to-school game promotion in September, the exceptional opening of Les Chalets du Casino on the terraces, the Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains festival, a charity brioche distribution weekend in October, and Christmas markets bringing together more than 60 local creators, artisans and designers. The site also publishes jackpots won, with total winnings for August 2026 and individual payouts including €40,000 on 9 August 2026 and €32,000 on 27 August 2026. Its food and beverage venues include Le Carré d'As, a restaurant-bar lounge with baroque decoration in the heart of the casino, and Le Lounge Bar, presented as a cosy spot within the establishment.

• 2026

  Official website promotes September back-to-school promotion, Les Chalets du Casino opening, Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains, October charity brioche weekend and December Christmas markets.

• 1916

  Evacuation of the Grand-Cercle completed on 15 January.

• 1915

  In spring the mayor requests the release of the building; evacuation begins on 12 November.

• 1914

  On 28 August the casino is made available to receive First World War wounded; in the night of 12–13 September 85 wounded are convoyed there and 200 extra beds are improvised.

• 1899

  A 900-seat theatre with wooden stage machinery, the Théâtre du Casino Grand-Cercle, added.

• 1880

  Casino enlarged with two lateral pavilions (about thirty years after inauguration).

• 1850

  Casino Grand-Cercle inaugurated by King Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy; building designed by Charles-Bernard Pellegrini.

Historic spa-town casino and entertainment destination combining gaming, dining, theatre and events in a listed architectural setting.

• Traditional gaming (boule, roulette, blackjack)

• Poker festivals (Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains)

• Théâtre du Casino Grand-Cercle

• Le Carré d'As restaurant-bar lounge

• Le Lounge Bar

• Christmas markets

1. 1Casino Grand Cercle official websitecasinograndcercle.com
2. 2Wikidata: casino Grand Cerclewikidata.org
3. 3Wikipédia: Casino Grand-Cerclefr.wikipedia.org