Menton on the French Riviera – The pearl of France

menton france

With its location on the French Riviera, nestled between the exclusive Monaco and the Italian border, Menton is in the middle of a lovely part of the Mediterranean coastline.

Menton, with its charming old town, attractive gardens, an excellent climate, and great restaurants, and with the nickname ‘The Pearl of France’.

Menton is often overlooked in favour of nearby Monaco or the towns of the Italian Riviera, just a few short kilometres away.

This is great for people who want to enjoy the French Riviera without the crowds, so consider Menton your next South of France destination!

Attractions and Festivals

The most popular attraction is an area, not a specific ‘thing’. The Old Town is very charming, and being compact and most pedestrianised, it’s easy to get around.

Set on the hillside, parts of the old town provide beautiful views, though the downside is a lot of walking uphill!

The gardens are another popular attraction. They include Jardin Serre de la Madone, the Exotic Botanical Gardens, the Maria Serena Garden, and Fontana Rosa.

The beaches are also great here, so bring your swimsuit!

lemon_festival_330

The Lemon Festival

Menton is famous for its annual Lemon Festival.

You’ll see many lemon trees and palms lining the streets, and the lemon festival takes place over several days in February each year.

Weather and climate

The climate is one of the main reasons this is such a great vacation place.

It’s been a tourism destination since the 19^th century and was popular with British and Russian aristocrats.

TB patients frequented Menton in the latter 19^th century who came here for the great climate to recover from the disease.

The reason for this is the town’s warm microclimate.

It’s still a Mediterranean climate but is a little warmer than nearby Nice, and it’s reputedly one of the sunniest places in France with 331 days of sunshine yearly.

Destination

Check-in date

Thu 28 Sep 2023

Check-out date

Fri 29 Sep 2023

I don't have specific dates yet

Hotel Napoleon, Menton

Hotels in Menton

Another indication of the size of this town is its hotels – while Nice has several hundred, it has less than fifty here. But what it lacks in quantity is made up for in the quality of the hotels!

Three 4-star hotels, including the famous Hotel Napoleon, right on the seafront, which has a cosmopolitan feel.

Princess Et Richmond

Numerous 3 star hotels are actually more impressive than you might expect, such as Princess Et Richmond and the palatial looking Le Royal Westminster.