‘Pearl of the Riviera’ that’s the warmest town in the region has 300 days of sunshine and lemon festivals
MOST Brits flock to either Nice or Cannes when going on holiday to the French Riviera, overlooking another large town.
Located on the border between France and Italy, the seaside town of Menton has been dubbed the “Pearl of the Riviera” by holidaymakers.
Home to pastel-coloured buildings, quaint streets, a picturesque harbour and vast lemon groves, Menton is a picture perfect.
Before officially becoming part of France in 1860, Menton had been part of Sardinia and Monaco.
In the middle of the 19th century, Menton broke away from Monaco after heavy tax impositions were imposed on its lemon trade, which was its main industry.
Every year, the town holds a lemon festival to celebrate the production of citrus fruits in the seaside town.
Menton is the last large town on the border with France and Italy, which means there several attractions geared towards tourists.
Travel Blogger Sophie wrote: “Menton is the pearl of France because of its sheer beauty.
“It’s the kind of destination that you’ll be thinking of for years to come after departure and is often touted by visitors as one of the towns that they would most like to return to along the French Riviera.”
Boasting over 300 days of sunshine per year, Mention is said to be the warmest town along the French Riviera.
The largest beach in Menton is Les Sablettes Beach, which is a mixture of fine gravel and sand.
Its shallow waters are ideal for younger holidaymakers, with showers and toilets also found at the beach in the summer months.
The promenade is lined with palm trees, pergolas and water fountains, providing holidaymakers with plenty of spots to relax in the shade.
Nearby are a number of restaurants, shops and cafes.
Menton is also home to Marché Beach, which stretches from the Jean Cocteau Museum to Menton Casino.
The pebbled beach also has showers and there are several entrances to the beach, making it easier for those holidaymakers who have limited mobility.
Other tourist attractions in Menton include the Jean Cocteau Museum, which pays tribute to the French poet and playwright.
The nearest airport to Menton is Nice Airport, which is just a 45-minute drive from the French town.
Ryanair and easyJet have some of the cheapest fares, operating routes to Nice from London Stansted and London Luton, respectively, from £30.
But direct flights operate from other London airports, as well as from Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Leeds.
Accommodation in Menton is relatively affordable – Sun Online Travel found a beachfront hotel in Menton for £56.50pp a night in the peak season.
Other Seaside Towns in Europe
While the French Riviera might be quite well-known to Brits, there are plenty of other little-known coastlines throughout Europe.
One of those places is Sopot, which has been nicknamed the Polish Riviera thanks to its white sandy beach and blue coastline.
Set on the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, Sopot is home to a white sandy beach, blue waters, and the longest wooden pier in Europe.
There’s also the Danish Riviera, which is home to Hornbæk – a popular holiday spot with Danish locals.
The seaside town of Hornbæk is just under an hour away from Copenhagen (Denmark’s capital city), and it is also home to the largest beach on the Danish Riviera.
Everything you need to know about visiting France
- Brits need to have a passport with at least three months left on it.
- No visas are needed for anyone staying up to 90 days within an 180-day period but you need to make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
- You may also need to show proof of accommodation and funds, around €120 a day.
- The country uses the euro with with around €10 working out to £8.55.
- France is one hour ahead of the UK
- Direct flights to France from the UK take between 1-4 hours depending on the destination
- Or you can travel by train with Eurostar, with destinations including Paris or Lille.
Meanwhile, there’s also a no-flight holiday abroad that’s been dubbed the “Parisian Riviera”– and it costs just £39 to get there.
And here are the best places to visit along the Albanian Riviera.