Menton Fête du Citron is all about lemons. In fact, this famous annual event on the French Riviera which takes place at the end of February is also known as the Menton Lemon Festival.
Living our expat life in Europe opens up opportunities to experience unique regional events. We took advantage of this by squeezing in a day trip to Menton during Nice Carnival. Efficient trips are key to our part-time travel lifestyle and we managed to squeeze both festivals into a long weekend.
Nice has its streamers, confetti, and flowers for Carnival, but Menton, located less than an hour away by train near the Italian border illustrates that when life gives you lemons (and oranges!) make lemonade (or orange juice?)
Festivals are a great excuse to visit off-the-beaten-path places and we jumped at the chance to take a day trip from Nice to Menton to get a nice dose of Vitamin C and plenty of beautiful French pictures.
Let’s take a closer look at our delightful day trip on the French Riviera!
Menton Fête du Citron: The Sculptures in Biovès Gardens
Menton’s Fête du Citron has a theme each year. When we visited, the lemon festival theme was Cinecittà harkening back to the cool glamour of Italian cinema in the 1950s and 1960s.
This seemed like an interesting choice given that Menton is actually in France, but hey, they are quite close to the border so I can see the Italian cultural influences.
The sculpture garden with its eye-catching array of citrus patterns was definitely the highlight of our day trip. We handed over 10 EUR each and were admitted to a wonderland of movie scenes come to life and all fashioned out of citrus fruits!
Things to See in Menton: The Town
Menton itself is lovely. We took a break after our stroll through the citrus sculpture garden to dine al fresco on Place aux Herbes.
There was no sun to lift our spirits while we were fueling ourselves with steak and potatoes and sea bass. We had to rely on the guitarist quietly playing behind us and this gray-jowled dog to do the honors. Festival aside, Menton has a lovely atmosphere.
The Menton Lemon Festival Golden Fruit Parade
The Menton Lemon Festival golden fruit parades are similar to the Carnaval de Nice parades. As in Nice, the festivities in Menton feature a ton of streamers and confetti, just a lot more citrus fruit as well.
We could smell the essence of oranges in the air as the floats rolled past, each new creation bringing another smile to our faces.
Climb in Menton
After the parade, we took the opportunity to explore Menton’s nooks and crannies. We spotted a delightful switchback staircase and made our way to the top for sweeping views of the sea.
Visit Menton’s Harbor
Menton’s harbor was also a lovely spot for a walk. The harbor was packed with docked sailboats and as we looked up, this slowly gave way to a jumble of buildings on the hillside. Magnifique!
| SIDEWALK SAFARI SPOTLIGHT: Interested in other day trip ideas from Nice? You can take the bus from Nice to Monaco and spend a day living like a high roller in Monte Carlo. |
Menton Lighthouse
A short breakwall leads from Menton’s harbor out to a lighthouse, another great spot to get some views of the Mediterranean and listen to the soothing sounds of crashing waves. This is where we spent the rest of our time in Menton before hopping on the train back to Nice.
Is the Menton Lemon Festival Worth The Trip?
After experiencing the unique spectacle of the Menton Fête du Citron as a day trip from Nice, my answer is a resounding yes.
The Menton Lemon Festival is the perfect excuse to take a day trip from Nice during Carnival. While Nice Carnival offers streamers, confetti, and huge flower battles, Menton gives you that perfect dose of Vitamin C-infused fun. We found that the two events paired well together.
Festival aside, Menton is a lovely place, but there is probably not enough there to justify a dedicated trip. If you are already on the French Riviera for Nice Carnival, get on the train and go to Menton. It’s easy, it’s beautiful, and I guarantee you’ll have a memorable, one-of-a-kind experience. Don’t miss out on some fruity fun!
Where to Next?
Did you enjoy this post about the Menton Lemon Festival? Sharing is caring…