Menton is a town and a canton of the department of Alpes-Maritimes, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region. Close to the Italian border, Menton is part of the “Eldorado” of the south east of France. This city of 28 926 inhabitants is located not only in the arrondissement of Nice, but also just 10 km from Monaco. The annual Lemon festival is the second most popular and well-attended event on the Riviera after Nice Carnival, just beating the Monaco Formula 1! It is a very picturesque and colourful town, with some incredible viewpoints and lots of little areas to explore. The Val Rahmeh Botanical Gardens are magnificent and around 100 years old. The Jean Cocteau museum was established in 2011 and houses Cocteau’s collection of film, photo and graphic art. Saint-Michel Basilica is worth a visit, as is the cemetery where Menton’s medieval chateau once stood. If you are a rugby fan, you may wish to visit the gravesite of William Webb Ellis.
Plage des Sablettes is a beautiful beach just beneath the basilica. Many sports and activities are on offer, especially water sports such as sailing, fishing and kite surfing. The beach is sandy and clean with good facilities, restaurants and seaside cafes. If you don’t mind a slight drive, you can visit Cannes, which is located 64 km away. Cannes is perhaps one of the most popular destinations on The Riviera, with its combination of luxury, beauty and glamour. The Croisette famously offers luxury shopping, exclusive bars and restaurants and exquisite sandy beaches. Nice on the other hand is located around 29.5 km away via the A8 motorway. The famous Promenade Des Anglais (Walkway of the English) is a wonderful place to walk, cycle or run and see the beautiful city on one side and the calm, picturesque ocean on the other. Do as the locals do and sit at a café and people watch, or sit in the perfectly placed seats and benches and gaze out over the endless Mediterranean ocean. The Old Town is a must-see, with its numerous historical sites, cafés, quaint restaurants and the famous flower market selling not only a bright array of blooms, but fruit, vegetables, spices and other Provençal delicacies.
The train station in town links to Nice or Monaco. 1 hour by motorway to Nice Airport.
