Menton
The Last Town On The French Riviera Before Italy, Known For Its Mild Climate, Lemons And The February FêTe Du Citron · Menton, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
Menton is the last town on the French Riviera before the Italian border, squeezed between the sea and steep mountains that shelter it from northern winds and give it one of the mildest climates in France. Lemons grow here, and every February the Fête du Citron fills the town with huge sculptures made of oranges and lemons and with ticketed parades. The old town is a tight hill of pastel houses in ochre, yellow and pink, climbed by stepped lanes to the baroque Basilica of Saint-Michel and its mosaic square, and on up to a cemetery with wide views. Below lie the port, pebble beaches, a covered market and a museum devoted to Jean Cocteau. The Garavan side has villas and gardens planted by British and other foreign winter residents, such as Val Rahmeh and the Serre de la Madone. To be honest, Menton is a pleasant, slow-paced stop on a Riviera trip rather than a reason to travel, easily reached by train from Nice or Monaco, and it is quieter than its neighbours, with an older crowd.
Old town and Garavan, Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, Menton, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
The old town lanes, the seafront promenade, the port and the beaches are open at all hours. The Basilica of Saint-Michel usually opens during the day outside services, with a long midday closure in some seasons, and the neighbouring Chapel of the White Penitents keeps its own shorter hours; confirm locally. The Jean Cocteau museum usually opens most days with a weekly closing day and some holiday closures, and the wedding hall in the town hall decorated by Cocteau can be seen on weekday visits when no ceremony is on. The gardens, including Val Rahmeh, the Serre de la Madone and the Fontana Rosa, open on their own timetables, some only on certain days or by guided visit, and some close for part of the year, so check each before going. The covered market is a morning affair. The Fête du Citron runs for about two weeks in February: the citrus sculptures in the Biovès gardens can be seen with a ticket during the day and some evenings, while the parades on the seafront take place on set days and need seated or standing tickets bought ahead; confirm the programme and dates each year. Many restaurants reduce hours in late autumn.