Every year in February, the town of Menton lives to the rhythm of the lemon, of which it remains a major producer in Europe.
The Fête du Citron is a unique event in the world, attracting 240,000 visitors every year, mobilizing over 300 professionals and requiring 145 tons of citrus fruit.
The festival is accompanied every year by the International Orchid Festival and the Pays Mentonnais craft fair.
All carnival floats and sculptures are created from lemons and oranges.
For more than 15 days, the Lemon Festival features Golden Fruit Corsos and Zesty Night Corsos (parades of citrus floats with live bands).
You can also admire the exhibition of citrus motifs in the Biovès gardens (free access, day and/or night, with the Jardins de lumières), not forgetting the Salon de l'Artisanat and the Festival des Orchidées with its unforgettable scents.
A little history...
In 1895, a group of hoteliers suggested that the town council create a carnival parade to liven up the town in winter. By 1896, Menton's carnival was a hit. At the time, it was fashionable to spend the winter months in the mild climate of the Côte d'Azur. Kings, princes and artists frequented Menton's palaces or had splendid villas built for them.
The 1882 carnival will always be remembered for the presence of Queen Victoria, and ended with a grandiose fireworks display over Garavan Bay.
Menton's carnival then resembled its cousin from Nice, with a parade of big heads, confetti throwing, flower battles... Mardi Gras, during which His Majesty Carnival is burned.
The Fête du Citron has been recognized by the French Ministry of Culture and will be included in France's inventory of intangible cultural heritage in 2019.
http://www.fete-du-citron.com/
