Menton, France ()
When you think of the French Riviera what comes to mind? Many people think of Nice, Cannes and Monaco. Not many people know of Menton and its Fête Du Citron. So, when my husband and I decided to spend a week in Menton to celebrate my birthday, I knew we were in for a real treat. Menton is located close to the Italian Border, for us it is only five hours away from Vicenza, Italy.
You can easily walk through Menton’s Old Town and explore the Old Port. The port is home to the Bastion Museum which was restored and converted by artist Jean Cocteau between 1958 and 1963. You will see Jean Cocteau’s name in quite a few places around Menton as he loved the city very much.
Menton’s Old Town has a myriad of narrow lanes that wind up the hillside between tall and colorful houses. You’ll find one of the longest streets there called Rue Longue which is approximately 270 meters from Place Saint Julien to Place du Cap. Monaco’s princes would use Traverse Des Diaments to get to the shore from a nearby palace. Saint Michel’s Bell Tower is a must and a peek inside the church will fill you with splendor. Once we were inside, the beauty was quite overwhelming. Pay attention to the ceiling as you come in.
Perhaps my favorite part about exploring Menton is the famous yellow staircase and the colorful houses that make photography fun!
You’ll want to get up early to take in the sunrise on the Mediterranean. As the sun comes up it casts a beautiful glow against the hillside. It’s worth hanging out by the Old Port to take in the sunset. There is a path that goes behind the wall of the port. You can easily sit and watch the sun go down peacefully.
Large winding outdoor staircase in Menton, France (Kimberly Kephart)
While planning for this trip I stumbled upon Food Tour Riviera, which is run by a local expert named Patricia. She will take you to some of the greatest places in Menton. You’ll learn about the various citrus varieties in Menton and get to know all about olives. You’ll have a chance to visit some popular restaurants and taste food from various stalls at the market. She also runs tours to Provence, Monaco and Nice. This was a higher-end tour but well worth it for the company and run down of the history of Menton.
House of Citrus: Maison Gannac
I signed up for this tour on the Menton Riviera and Mervellies website. You’ll need a car to get to this destination as it is up in the hills of Menton. You’ll get a world-class tour through their Pepiniere led by an employee of Maison Gannac. Here they will take you around their hillside nursery that has bergamot, mandarins, kumquats, and the famous Menton Lemon. They’ll explain the ideal climate for their orchard, what goes into harvesting the citrus and why the Menton Lemon has an Protected Geographical Indication Status or IGP. You’ll finish with a tasting of the citrus fruits, where they will encourage you to try the rind of the lemon as the Menton Lemon is not like other lemons. You’ll be able to sample some liqueurs, jams and spreads made from the fruit! If you are lucky, you may even run into the owner, Laurent Gannac, who was there when we were visiting!
Boxes of citrus fruit (Kimberly Kephart)
If you are into hiking, you can easily hike the GR52 Trail which starts from the coast and runs to Mercantour Park. This trail takes you to Les Granges de Saint Paul and the Plan du Lion. You’ll see over 700 meters of coastline. Menton, Cap-Martin Peninsula and Monaco are all viewable from this point. I’m told this is a very family-friendly hike!
Menton Is dog-friendly and there is even a dog park that is on the beach. Bring your furry little friends with you so they can get in on all the fun. Just remember to always keep them on a leash and make sure you follow all local regulations.
Kimberly is a travel blogger, and you can read more about her adventures at www.kimberlykepharttravels.com.
