THE LEMON FESTIVAL, MENTON

The amazing Menton Lemon Festival is underway on the Côte d’Azur in France.

This year the 75th Fête du Citron in Menton, which dedicates itself to the celebration of everything citrus, has the theme of ‘islands’. 

The gardens in the town are fenced off and huge sculptures have been constructed out of the oranges and lemons. Cafés have joined in with special citrus menus and decorations and the orange trees around the town are at their very best literally dripping with oranges.

In addition to the displays in the towns gardens the town puts on a fabulous carnival at specific times during the event. 

Enormous floats with animals constructed out of the citrus fruits are paraded through the streets with musicians and dancers adding layers of colour and excitement.

Menton does become very busy during the festival and it is worth coming back when the festivities have finished to see the town in a more relaxed state, but if you are in the area during carnival season it is certainly worth a look.

•Menton is officially the mildest place in France with over 300 sunny days a year !

•There is a charge to view the citrus festival and the carnival

•Menton is on the border with Italy and is very popular with the Italians so if you speak Italian you will be able to use it here.

•Menton used to be a center for orange and lemon production and the festival celebrates this history and the towns fantastic climate.

Painting shown:

Artist: Joanne Short
Painting: “Sailing through the Lemons”

Size: 24 x 9 inches

Medium: Oil on board
Courtesy of Gallery Monaco