Menton, the old town
Nice, the Cours Saleya market
Èze, on the road to MentonMenton sits in a bowl of mountains that faces due south, which is why lemons ripen here all year, why the English and the Russians built winter villas and gardens on its slopes in the 19th century, and why the old town, with its pastel façades stacked above the harbor, looks more Ligurian than French. Italy is five minutes away, and you feel it in the accent, the food and the light.
As a state-licensed guide, I take you into the baroque basilica of Saint-Michel and its square of black and white pebbles, to the cemetery on the hill, with one of the finest views on the coast, and into the wedding hall of the town hall that Jean Cocteau decorated in 1957. A full day pairs Menton with the market and Old Town of Nice, along the most beautiful stretch of the coast.
What we can see together
The old town and the Parvis Saint-Michel
Lanes climbing in steps between ochre and pink façades, to the baroque basilica of Saint-Michel-Archange and its pebble-mosaic square above the sea.
Lemons and gardens
Menton's lemon is a protected label and the pride of the town; the Lemon Festival fills February. The gardens of the Serre de la Madone and Val Rahmeh are among the finest on the Riviera, with opening days that vary by season.
Jean Cocteau in Menton
The wedding hall he painted at the town hall and the Bastion he transformed into a museum on the harbor: a poet's late love affair with a small town.
Menton with Nice
The classic full day: the Cours Saleya market and Old Nice in the morning, then the road east past Villefranche, Èze and Monaco to Menton for the afternoon.
Practical details
A full day pairing the market of Nice with Menton costs €750 per group, not per person; a tailor-made half day (€450) or a 1.5-day journey can also include Menton on request. An all-electric vehicle is included for up to 3 guests; for larger parties my partner drives a premium chauffeured vehicle while I guide. I meet you at your hotel in Nice, Monaco or Menton. I guide in English, French and Spanish.