Menton, France: The Pearl of the French Riviera 🍋 | Behind the Scenes of the Lemon Town

Menton, France: The Pearl of the French Riviera 🍋 | Behind the Scenes of the Lemon Town

[Music] No kidding. Monto has to be the most beautiful town on the good desert. No wonder they call it the pearl of the Riviera. But you know its biggest secret. Beyond all that beauty, Monto owes its fame to a little yellow fruit. Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes of France’s lemon capital. And trust us, you’ll also want to stick around for the views from the old town. So, Anna and I were in a bit of a rush this morning to make it to Monton on time. We’re getting picked up at 10:30 sharp to catch a shuttle from the city center to Monton’s biggest lemon farm. By the way, Montton sits at the far eastern end of the Kesour, right on the border with Italy. From Nice, it’s about a 40inute trip, whether you go by car or train. Actually, the train’s a great option. No traffic, no parking stress, and the meeting point for the lemon farm is just a 10-minute walk from the station. And then, after a short, steep ride up into the hills behind Monto, we’ve arrived at the farm. Our guide Jessica welcomes us at La Family and takes us straight to where everything’s going to happen and where we’ll be having lunch later on. [Music] But first, we’re each handed a glass of homemade lemonade. We’re waiting for two more shuttles of visitors to arrive before the tour of the farm can start, which gives us a few minutes to explore on our own. Tucked away in Montton’s lush hinterland and surrounded by the rocky foothills of the Alps, this farm stretches over three hectars of terrace land. That’s about four soccer fields or 60 tennis courts. Not all of it is covered in lemon trees, though. You’ll also spot centuries old olive trees and plenty of other Mediterranean plants, as we’ll soon find out. [Music] Back at base camp, it’s finally time to enjoy that fresh lemonade and check out some of the other lemony creations they make here. There’s lemon flavored craft beer, all kinds of syrups, and even a lemon apparatif wine. They really cover everything. [Music] Once everyone for today’s tour has arrived, Jessica starts telling us the story of the farm. And even more fascinating, Monton’s long love affair with lemons. Citrus fruit, well mainly lemons, have been grown here since the 17th century. Between the mid 18th and mid 19th centuries, lemons were Monton’s main economic driver. Back then, pretty much everyone in town, directly or not, lived off the lemon trade. So, why lemons? Well, it’s all thanks to Mong’s incredible setting. The town sits cradled by high mountains, which creates a unique microclimate, mild and sheltered from northern winds, yet still cool at night during winter. That combination makes the lemon grow with more natural sugar and essential oils than elsewhere, giving them their trademark flavor. Sweeter, more aromatic, and a little less tart than your regular lemon. Today, Monton’s lemons carry the IGP label, which basically means they’re exceptional quality is directly tied to where they grown. Jessica tells us the farm produces around 30 tons of lemon a year. That’s more than half of all the lemons grown in Montton. And get this, for the famous lemon festival alone, they need about 140 tons every February. Of course, they’re not using these precious local lemons to decorate the floats and gardens. Those come from Spain. But back to the farm. When the new owner bought it 4 years ago, there were about 350 lemon trees here. Since then, they’ve planted another 250. But it’ll take a few more years before those start bearing fruit. Right now, we’re not surrounded by lemon trees. As you might have guessed, it’s a massive avocado tree. And here’s something we definitely didn’t know before coming here. They actually have a full-on avocado forest on the farm, and they’re the largest avocado producers in all of France. You won’t find their avocados in supermarkets, though. They’re sold exclusively through direct sales. If you’re standing here with us right now, you’d probably be wondering what that not so pleasant smell is around us. Well, that’s dunkey droppings used here as natural fertilizer. Pesticides and other chemicals are a total nogo on this farm. And then we continue our walk through the estate. [Music] Next, Jessica shows us how to properly plant new lemon trees. She’s explaining everything in French today since everyone here speaks it. But don’t worry, they also offer tours in English. And while we’re all here for the lemons today, there’s actually so much more growing around us. Take the olive trees behind Jessica or this old guy right here. The farm has almost 200 olive trees, plus mandarin and tandarine trees, oranges, and bitter oranges, lime trees. Let’s not forget the 20 beehives. But back to the lemons. For centuries, they played a major role in Monton’s history until the 20th century when things started to change. The trees were hit by diseases and extreme weather, including a devastating frost in 1956. And bit by bit, urbanization took over. Gradually, tourism replaced the lemon industry, though not entirely, as we can see right here. And in fact, today’s tourism is still deeply rooted in Monton’s lemon heritage. Just think of the famous lemon festival each February we mentioned earlier. As you’ve probably noticed by now, the lemons aren’t ripe yet on this mid-occtober day. They’re already nice and big, but still completely green. Too bad we can’t try any. All we can do is enjoy their scent today. Jessica tells us that the lemons are actually early this year, but they’re desperately waiting for some rain. These days, nothing works here without irrigation. It will take another 6 to 8 weeks before the first lemons are ready to harvest. And the last ones of the season won’t be ripe until spring. Sometimes as late as May or even June. And if you’re wondering when the best time to visit the farm is, honestly, every season has its charm. They pause the tours in winter, but from February through the end of October is the perfect time to come by. [Music] And now that we’ve learned so much about this bright tangi fruit, it’s time for a well-deserved apparat. [Music] Round it off with a refreshing fruity lemon cocktail, of course. Part of the farm visit is a picnic lunch right here on this beautiful terrace overlooking the valley. So as soon as the apiro is done, it’s a tableab everyone. We’re promised monton specialties with a citrus twist. And that’s exactly what we get. Banya, fresh veggies with all kinds of dips. Babuan, a little pastry filled with charred, rice, and ricotta. Pan, basically an is salad in a bun. And for dessert, of course. And just when you think that’s it, they bring out homemade lemonello. Cheers to that. Before we’re shuttled back downtown, there’s one last stop, the farm’s boutique. It’s packed with all the citrusy delicacies they make themselves. These days, that’s an essential part of keeping a lemon farm running. Everything looks amazing, and all those products make perfect gifts to take home for friends and family. Jessica’s in her element again, explaining how they make their homemade lemonelloo. Sounds simple enough. Soak lemon zest and pure alcohol for 2 weeks, then add water and sugar, and voila, ready to enjoy. As for all the goodies, good thing we came prepared. So, after spending a full 5 hours at the lemon farm, there’s still plenty of time to explore Montton’s town center. Anna and I parked next to the museum, but you can also just walk from where the shuttle dropped us off. So, welcome to the most colorful town on the Kesure. We’re stepping into the old town right across from the museum. [Music] And pretty soon you’ll find yourself on Rousam Michish, the main shopping street. It’s always buzzing here, but take your time, check out the souvenir shops, grab a lemon soap or two, or just see what catches your eye. [Music] Before heading deeper into the old town, let’s stop by one of Monton’s prettiest beach areas, the small port just next to it. Remember, it’s midocctober, which means the perfect beach weather. Warm enough for a swim and blissfully quiet compared to summer. But the sun’s already starting to dip, so we better get moving. Wait, maybe a picture first. If you feel like we’ve been swooning a bit over how beautiful Montton is, well, here’s proof. Of course, you’ll want to come in the morning when the sunlight hits just right, but these stairs are easily one of the most photographed spots in town. [Music] They lead up to Plaster Glee with it stunning Barack Basilica and the Pinon Blonde Chapel. [Music] But we’re taking you even higher for a real insider tip. [Music] If you ever get the chance to climb all the way to the top of the old town, make sure to step inside the cemetery. You’ll be rewarded with the most breathtaking views all around. And don’t rush it. There’s so much to discover up here. Monton has long been a haven for aristocrats escaping the cold or recovering from illness. So you’ll find fascinating tombstones from people from all over Europe, including William Webb Ellis, the inventor of rugby. It’s one of those rare places that hasn’t lost any of its magic over the centuries. We’ll leave you with these views and say goodbye for now. See you next time. And if you’d like to stay in touch, maybe even chat with us directly, why not join our River Go memberships? Can’t wait to see you there. [Music]

Discover Menton, France, the “Pearl of the Riviera” in a unique day trip from Nice! Visit its biggest lemon farm, taste homemade Limoncello, and explore the colorful old town — from beaches to baroque churches and breathtaking sea views.

Known for its sunshine, lemons, and Italian flair, Menton is one of the most charming towns on the Côte d’Azur. Join us as we explore its citrus-scented hills, picture-perfect streets, and hidden corners you shouldn’t miss! 🍋☀️

⏱️⏱️ VIDEO CHAPTERS ⏱️⏱️
00:00 Intro
00:34 Menton’s biggest Lemon Farm
09:21 A Taste of Old Menton

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