The border town of Menton is located on the eastern slope of the Alpes-Maritimes. Its climate is favorable for citrus crops: the city is surrounded by plantations of lemons, mandarins and oranges. Menton went down in history in the 13th century as the city where King Charles I of Anjou stayed. In 1456, Senor Lambert Grimaldi, who owned the city at the time, was declared heir to the Prince of Monaco. Not without the help of the Duke of Milan, he crushed the rebellion of his subjects and annexed Menton to Monaco. The city was part of the Principality until 1848, and in 1860 its inhabitants voted for the accession to France.
The most significant monument of Menton is considered to be the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, built in the 17th century. The church contains a retablo by Andre Mancello (16th century), as well as a painted wooden statue of the Archangel Michael (18th century) and many other works of church art. The Chapel of the Blessed in White and the City Hall, in which the marriage hall is decorated by the famous artist, poet, and playwright Jean Cocteau. The 16th-century Bastion, equipped as a Jean Cocteau museum, displays carpets, drawings, pastels and gouaches of great artistic value.
The exotic botanical garden with its abundance of Mediterranean flora also deserves attention.
During Carnival, Menton is the center of all sorts of events, which attracts many tourists. The main event is the Lemon Festival: a grand exhibition of citrus fruits is held in the Jardin de Beauves. It has a theme and competes with each other in imagination and skill. A festive parade of cars, decorated only with lemons and oranges in winter and summer, moves along the Fron de Mer promenade.
