Search Hotels


Check-in date

Check-out date

 
 
 
 

Money Exchange

Calculate

 

About Menton

French Riviera, France

Menton has the more attractive nickname of ‘La perle de France’ (the pearl of France)with the town centre lying just three kilometres from the Franco-Italian border. The town is located at the northernmost tip of the French Riviera, or Côte d’Azur, and has a population of nearly 30,000 residents. Its microclimate is very conducive to the growing of citrus fruits and the area is renowned for its lemon, orange and tangerine groves while Menton itself benefits from both Italian and French influences where cuisine is concerned. The town is easily accessible either by train, having a station which connects the town with the rest of the Riviera, and the main A8 autoroute lying just to the north which connects Menton with other major towns on the Riviera including, Nice, Toulon and Marseille.

A short history of Menton

With its proximity to the Italian border it is not surprising that much of Menton’s history relates more to Italy than it does France. Early signs of mankind date back as far as the Paleolithic era and Menton is ‘famous’ for the discovery of ‘Grimaldi Man’, one of the earliest human remain found in the area. The town was first populated as far back as the 12th century and was ruled either from Genoa in Italy, as part of Sanremo, as a protectorate of the King of Sardinia or as part of the principality of Monaco. It was only in the latter part of the 19th century that Menton finally fell under French rule after the Treaty if Turin in 1860.

tourist attractions in Menton

One of the greatest attractions of Menton, predominantly as a result of its wonderful climate, is its gardens, of which Le JardinBotaniqueExotique de Menton, JardinSerre de la Madone, Fontana Rosa and Maria Serena are the best known.  Le JardinBotanique is also known as ‘Le Val Rahmeh’ was laid out in 1905 by the Englishman, Sir Percy Radcliffe, who had moved to the French Riviera, while the Fonatana Rosa gardens are attached to the Villa Fontana Rosa, which was built by the Spanish novelist, Blanco Ibanez. The French artist Jean Cocteau spent many years living in Menton and his legacy includes the decorations in the wedding room in Menton’s Hotel de Ville and the stone bastion located in Menton’sharbour wall. Unsurprisingly, there is also a museum in Menton which is dedicated to the works of Jean Cocteau.

festivals and events in Menton

February and March are the two months which see the extensive Fête du Citron in Menton which is a complete celebration of the fruit grown in the region, with special events taking place during both the day and in the evening, the festival having started some 80 years ago. August sees the commencement of the Festival de Musique de Menton which has been going for over sixty years and which attracts an international array of classical artists. June is a special month in the equestrian calendar with the annual Mediterranean and Arab countries pure-bred Arab horse championships, while in both June and July, there are four day carnivals devoted to both the music and dance of the Tango.

GASTRONOMY in Menton

Food plays an important cultural role in the region and Menton is no exception when it comes to celebrating local produce. At the end of May each year they hold ‘La Semaine de la gastronomieMentonnaise’ which involves both the public, but also the participation of many restaurants and businesses in Menton.The week includes ‘workshops’ from some of the towns established caterers, including the secrets of a master patissier, Jam and olive oil making and demonstrations of traditional Mentonnaise cooking, many of the dishes centred around citrus fruit desserts and cakes.

recommended restaurants in Menton
La Cantinella 8 r. Trenca F - 06500 Menton
Phone: +33 4 93 41 34 20
Paris Rome 79 Porte-de-France F - 06500 Menton
Phone: +33 4 93 35 70 35
Mirazur 30 av. Aristide-Briand F - 06500 Menton
Phone: +33 4 92 41 86 86
Your restaurant here? Please contact us
villa rentals in the Menton area
The Frogs House

Looking for an unforgettable experience in a typical French village, 15km from Nice and the French Riviera ? Come to enjoy our 7 cosy bedrooms with views to the sea and over the surrounding hills.

  • www.thefrogshouse.fr/
  • Villa Belmonte "Villa Belmont" is a brand new luxury villa in the beautiful old village of Biot in the South of France.
  • www.antibesvilla.co.uk
  • Your villa here? Please contact us
    car hire
    Avis www.avis.com
    Your company here? Please contact us
    real estate
    Nice Properties www.nice-properties.com
    Your company here? Please contact us
     

     

     
    Reasons for choosing us
    Low rates
    We do all we can to control our costs so we can offer you the absolute lowest cruise prices. Our website is designed for simple, quick, online booking..
    Maximum choice
    We offer the widest choice of hotels, from budget to deluxe, relaxed to lively, family friendly to child free properties. We also offer a large number of upgraded and refurbished rooms within not available through any other tour operator.
    Satisfied guests
    To achieve the guest satisfaction we aim at, we need to live according to a strong and very clear set of values. And we do. Our approach to customer service is simple. Everything we do has one purpose: Making People Feel Special
    We speak your language
    Our staff is multilingual and speaks English, Spanish, German, French and Dutch
     
    back to top