Exploring Menton: The Cote d’Azur’s hidden gem

Menton is located in the extreme south-eastern corner of France. It is a hilltop and port town that comprises of a maze of medieval streets, luxury yet tasteful apartments and mouth-watering cuisine. In a way, it combines the very best of what France has to offer.

This sleepy town on the French Riviera border has distinct Italian influences and has been referred to as the “prettiest town in France.”

With famous gardens, a splendid Edwardian ‘Winter’ Palace, a quaint harbour and incredible views of the Mediterranean; Menton certainly is pretty, but is there enough to do in this small French town to keep holidaymakers entertained?

Take a look some great things to do in the unique town of Menton:

Enjoy the fabulous cuisine 

Being on holiday is all about experiencing delightful new tastes and great cuisine, right? If enjoying quality food is a priority when you are on holiday, then in Menton you are in the right place.

As The Guardian wrote, Menton is proving a favourite destination for foodies. Restaurants such as Mirazur – a two-Michelin-starred restaurant on the seafront which regularly makes it into the annual ‘world’s best 50 restaurants’ – boasts delicious dishes that are based on deceptively simple ingredients.

Exploring the Old Town

Laden with ancient buildings that have been beautifully restored that zigzag through a maze of narrow alleyways, you could be forgiven for spending hours meandering around Menton’s Old Town.

The town’s vibrant pedestrian area is brimming with interesting shops, characterful terrace cafes and quirky boutiques where shopping lovers will be in their element.

With numerable medieval-style buildings nestled around the St Michel Church and the Chapel de Penitents Blancs on the zenith of the hill, making the ascent to the top of the Old Town is well worth the effort.

The medieval Old Town was founded by pirates and the narrow streets still have the pirates’ names.

The Jean Cocteau Museum 

Described by The Telegraph as being Menton’s “cultural showpiece”, the Jean Cocteau Museum is set in a stunning ancient fort. The museum was funded by a donation given by the Belgian collector Severin Wunderman, who had purchased his first painting by Cocteau at the humble age of 19!

The museum comprises of a chronological display of Cocteau’s talents as an artist, designer, firm director and poet.

From lazing the day away under the boughs of a tree in the fabulous Parc de Pian or its neighbouring Botanical Gardens of Val Rameh after a delicious Italian-influenced lunch, to exploring an exceptionally quaint and pretty medieval Old Town, there is plenty to see, do and enjoy in Menton.