Menton
Before we went to France for our autumn break, we looked at possible days out. JJ found some colourful photos of a town close by called Menton. I must admit I'd never heard of it before, but the photos were beautiful and I agreed immediately that we had to fit it in to our trip! It was very different to Antibes, but equally beautiful, with an Italian feel (not that I've been to Italy - yet!). Understandable, given its close proximity to Italy and its history!
This is when we got off at Menton railway station - very different to Nice!
Last stop on the Côte d’Azur before Italy, the seaside town of Menton offers a glimpse of what the high life on the Riviera must have been like before the developers moved in. With its sunny climate, shady streets and pastel mansions – not to mention a lovely old port – it’s one of the most attractive towns on the entire coast. Menton’s old town is a cascade of pastel-coloured buildings. Add a fantastic museum dedicated to the great artist and film director Jean Cocteau, as well as several excellent restaurants, and Menton really is a must. (From lonely planet.com)
The Menton area has been inhabited since the palaeolithic era. The first major settlement was built in the XI century when the Count of Ventimiglia constructed the Château de Puypin. During the XIII century, the seigneur of Puypin fell to the Vento family of Genoa. Menton was thus incorporated into the Republic of Genoa. Then the town was mentioned in the peace treaty between Provence and the Republic of Genoa. The treatment stabilized that Menton became a part of Liguria. However, in the XIV century the town was acquired by the Lords of Monaco and again became a part of France. It remained French until the XIX century. Then, together with the Republic of Genoa became a part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. However, in 1860 France called for the annexation of Menton and the whole County of Nice to France. For this reason, a plebiscite was organized and as its result, Menton and County of Nice became a part of France. (From thatsliguria.com)
Menton
Before we went to France for our autumn break, we looked at possible days out. JJ found some colourful photos of a town close by called Menton. I must admit I'd never heard of it before, but the photos were beautiful and I agreed immediately that we had to fit it in to our trip! It was very different to Antibes, but equally beautiful, with an Italian feel (not that I've been to Italy - yet!). Understandable, given its close proximity to Italy and its history!
This is when we got off at Menton railway station - very different to Nice!
Last stop on the Côte d’Azur before Italy, the seaside town of Menton offers a glimpse of what the high life on the Riviera must have been like before the developers moved in. With its sunny climate, shady streets and pastel mansions – not to mention a lovely old port – it’s one of the most attractive towns on the entire coast. Menton’s old town is a cascade of pastel-coloured buildings. Add a fantastic museum dedicated to the great artist and film director Jean Cocteau, as well as several excellent restaurants, and Menton really is a must. (From lonely planet.com)
The Menton area has been inhabited since the palaeolithic era. The first major settlement was built in the XI century when the Count of Ventimiglia constructed the Château de Puypin. During the XIII century, the seigneur of Puypin fell to the Vento family of Genoa. Menton was thus incorporated into the Republic of Genoa. Then the town was mentioned in the peace treaty between Provence and the Republic of Genoa. The treatment stabilized that Menton became a part of Liguria. However, in the XIV century the town was acquired by the Lords of Monaco and again became a part of France. It remained French until the XIX century. Then, together with the Republic of Genoa became a part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. However, in 1860 France called for the annexation of Menton and the whole County of Nice to France. For this reason, a plebiscite was organized and as its result, Menton and County of Nice became a part of France. (From thatsliguria.com)