Menton Travel Guide

Menton is located on a small strip of Frence between Monaco and Italy in the French Riviera. Menton was founded by the Counts of Vintimiglia, it belonged to Grimaldi family of Monaco from 1346 till 1848, and on the 2nd february 1861 officialy became french.

From the 18th century, Menton attracted a lot of celebrities : Ferdinand de Lesseps (the guy that built the Suez Canal), Queen Victoria, the empress Eugénie, the Tsar Alexander, king Albert of Belgium. They came here for the atmosphere, the unique location and the sunny climate.

The main sights of the city are to be found in the old town which looks a bit like an opened amphitheatre. Only two of the old gates remain; those of St Julien and St Antoine. The Square Saint-Michel is right in the centre. It is made of little white and grey stones representing Grimaldi coat of arms. The construction of the Saint-Michel church began in 1640 and terminated in 1675. The bell tower was constructed in the 18th century and the front in 1819 in baroque style.

The Bastion dominates the town and was constructed from 1636 to 1639 by Honore II of Monaco to defend the town. In 1957, restored it to put his work of arts. Le Palais Carnolés is the old summer residence of Princes of Monaco. It was constructed in 1717 and is also known as the little "Versailles". It now houses a museum with a good collection of paintings.

There are many exquisite gardens in Menton you can visit. The Val Rahmeh Botanical Garden was created in 1905 by Lord Radcliffe, ex-governor of Malte. La Serre de la Madone was designed between 1919 and 1939 by major Lawrence Johnston, in english style. Today, it contains a collection of rare essence brought back from Asia. The Villa Maria Serena which belonged to the De Lesseps family and was constructed in 1880 has a beautiful garden too.

The old cemetery is worth a visit. There are many graves from the 19th and early 20th centuries, representing many European nations. Menton was a popular destination and final resting place for sufferers of Tuberculosis and other fatal diseases. It also gives you a nice view over the town.