Menton, located near the Italian border on the Côte d’Azur, evolved from a small Ligurian settlement into a 13th-Century Genoese town. It later came under the control of the Grimaldi family before ultimately being annexed by France in 1861.
By the 19th century, Menton had transformed into a fashionable Belle Époque winter resort, celebrated for its mild microclimate and flourishing lemon groves. Aristocrats and artists flocked here to escape harsher northern winters, drawn by the promise of sunshine and scented gardens.
Today, Menton is renowned for its distinctive twist on carnival tradition. What began in 1928 as a modest initiative by Riviera hoteliers who decorated their gardens with huge bouquets of flowers and citrus to impress their wealthy winter guests; soon evolved into a municipal celebration showcasing the region’s prized produce… the Lemon of Menton.
In 1934, the festival was officially named the Carnaval de Menton, a glorious spectacle second only to the Nice Carnival on the French Riviera calendar.
Each February, monumental citrus sculptures rise within the Jardins Biovès, while the streets come alive with themed parades of fruit-covered floats. Together, the colour, the rhythm and that unmistakable scent of lemon, makes this carnival utterly mesmerising.
Interestingly, much of the citrus used today is sourced from Spain. Menton’s own lemons are now prized for their exceptional quality rather than volume, having earned Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) status — a recognition of their unique terroir and heritage.
