Menton - Medieval city where Lemon is king!

 

Menton, this city of charms and mysteries is situated on the Franco-Italian border. The circus of abrupt mountains, including two extreme coasts down to the sea, earned the ancient city to be nicknamed in the XIXth century "The Pearl of France". Sheltered from winds, it enjoys an exceptional microclimate.

 

According to the legend, Eve expelled from Paradise with Adam, took a golden fruit. Adam, fearing the wrath of God, tried to convince Eve to cast this fruit away to a selected place. After a long journey, they saw the Bay of Garavan which reminded them of Eden garden; Eve buried the fruit, which gave Menton its famous reputation.

 

Menton was founded on the domain of the Counts of Ventimiglia, but as soon as the city was built, it got destroyed by the wars between Genoa and the Counts of Provence. In 1346, Menton became the property of the Grimaldis (Prince family of Monaco) and remained so until 1848, when the city rebelled against Monaco. In April 1860 the population participates in a plebiscite and votes its attachment to France. She became definitively French on February 2nd, 1861. From the XVIIIth century, Menton extends gradually to the west along the roman road and evolves in the Menton of the "Belle Epoque" with famous people visits such as Ferdinand de Lesseps, the Queen Victoria of England, the Empress Eugènie, Alexander of Russia, King Albert I of Belgium, Ferdinand Bac, Vicente Blasco Ibanez, Jean Cocteau, the French President René Coty, Katherine Mansfield, Queen Astrid of Belgium...

 

The seafront also known as the "Promenade of the Sun", the beach below the old town called "Les Sablettes", the old port, the numerous gardens, the Palace of Europe (former casino), the Town Hall, the Museum of Regional Prehistory, the Palace Carnolès (former summer residence of the Grimaldis), the Russian church, St. Michael's Church, the Museum Jean Cocteau, the Casino: There are many activities and places to visit in this small quiet town.

 

If you come to Menton in February / March, you will also be privileged to attend the Lemon Festival, unmissable event at that time, at the same time as the exhibition of orchids and the Carnival of Nice.