A long, narrow alleyway with old buildings, colorful windows, and laundry on balconies under a slightly cloudy sky. Colorful houses in Menton: A view of the townscape featuring the church tower and the shimmering sea in the background.
France

Menton: France’s Most Italian Town?

Saint-Michel’s Bell Tower Rising Over Menton.
 Menton, France, October 2022

Menton is my first stop in France. It sits just beyond the Italian border and—almost as if to spite me—makes no effort whatsoever to feel particularly French.

Pastel-colored facades glow in the sunlight, the old town nestles against the Mediterranean, and even the sky still looks unmistakably Italian. Houses in soft shades of yellow, orange, and pink stack up the hillside as if competing for the best view of the sea.

I walk up to the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, its bell tower rising high above the rooftops. From here, the view stretches over the sea and the town, but the most breathtaking panorama waits a little farther up—at the old cemetery overlooking Menton. No offense to the basilica, but the dead definitely got the best seats in town. Between ancient tombs, weathered gravestones, and towering cypress trees, the city unfolds beneath me like a postcard, framed by the coastline on one side and the mountains on the other.

I take in the view one last time before making my way back down—back to France.

Map of Menton
Colorful cityscape of Menton, featuring historic buildings and a waterfront promenade by the sea.
Menton’s colorful hillside houses and the majestic Basilica of Saint-Michel-Archange create a stunning contrast against the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
A narrow, cobbled path between tall yellow buildings with shutters and plants. A lantern hangs on the wall.
Stone staircase in a narrow alley, flanked by old walls, leading to a light yellow wall and a wooden door.
Menton: View looking up between colorful houses and city walls with a cloudy sky in the background.
A narrow alley featuring colorful buildings with green shutters reaching up towards the sky, captured from below.
Basilica of St. Michael Archangel in Menton: The stunning church rises above a steep, yellow staircase.
The steep steps leading to the Basilica of Saint-Michel-Archange give Menton’s old town its dramatic skyline. A climb well worth the effort.
Basilica of St. Michael Archangel in Menton: A couple with a dog stands on the square in front of the impressive church with beautiful details.
A scenic view of Menton, featuring colorful houses, coastal hills, and people enjoying the waterfront promenade.
A narrow, cobblestone street in Menton, lined with colorful buildings and green shutters, creating a charming atmosphere.
A narrow alley with colorful houses and potted plants lining the walls. Shuttered windows highlight the old charm.
A long, narrow alleyway with old buildings, colorful windows, and laundry on balconies under a slightly cloudy sky.
The old town of Menton is a maze of narrow alleys and pastel-colored façades. Look up, and the buildings seem to close in on the sky.
A beach in Menton with a pebbly shore, lined by palm trees and colorful buildings along the coast under a partly cloudy sky.
Menton’s pebble beach may not have soft sand, but it has something better—space. Even in summer, you can still find a quiet spot along the Riviera.
Cemetery in Menton: A cross on a mausoleum-like grave overlooking the coast and the sea, surrounded by green hills.
A striking statue of a woman atop an elaborately designed tombstone overlooking the city.
High above the Mediterranean, the cemetery of Menton is a resting place with a view. This dramatic tomb, topped with a windswept statue, overlooks the Riviera—eternal peace with a front-row seat to the French coast.
A narrow path between old, ornate tombs and mausoleums in a serene, sunlit cemetery.
The Cemetery of the Old Château in Menton offers more than history—it boasts one of the best views on the Riviera. A final resting place with a panorama.
A paved path winds through a cemetery featuring a golden-domed chapel and various graves, framed by green trees.
High above Menton, the Old Château Cemetery offers more than history—it provides a panoramic look at the Mediterranean. Ornate mausoleums, ironwork fences, and a striking golden dome make this one of the most visually compelling cemeteries on the French coast.
Colorful houses in Menton: A view of the townscape featuring the church tower and the shimmering sea in the background.
Menton, the sun-drenched pearl of the French Riviera. Its Italian influences shine through in the pastel facades and the towering Baroque bell tower of Saint-Michel.