Riviera lemons: Menton Festival

Riviera lemons: Menton Festival
Lemons in Menton at one of the most popular festivals of the French Riviera

Over 145 tons of lemons will be used at the lemon festival La Fete du Citron a Menton. This festival enjoys great popular throughout the world along with Nice carnival and Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1. It is one of the three most popular events of the famous French Riviera.

Each year La Fete du Citron a Menton is visited by about a quarter million of visitors. The Festival has rich traditions and history and this year celebrates the 79 anniversary). Originally it was a small one-day festival dedicated to the upcoming harvest of lemons organized by the Menton hotel.

Now it is a long-lasting 3-week festival (from February 17 to March 7) celebrated throughout the entire city. Lemon festival begins with the "Gold fruit parade", which is a procession of giant platforms, decorated with various statues made entirely of lemons. Some figures reach ten meters in height. Subsequently the main events take place in the city Botanic Gardens (Jardins Biovès). Particular attention should be paid to the "Garden of Lights", which is considered to be the most beautiful event of the festival. At 9 pm after dark in the botanic garden are lit a lot of lights, mostly yellow and orange, and starts music concert. In addition to the botanic garden throughout the city will take place theatrical performances, competitions, dancing and costume parades. On the streets of Menton every evening will play a brass band, while at the Palais de l'Europe will be held a traditional festival of orchids.

Located in the Riviera, near the border with Italy, Menton is a very popular resort. It is often called "the Capital of lemons", because thanks to the mild climate here are collected three citrus of crops per year. Because of the numerous gardens and parks the city won the prize for the best flower city of France for five times.

Ilya Kozlovskiy

Date: 01/02/2012

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