View of the historic centre of Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France

© Timo Christ/Alam

On the French-Italian border

Welcome to Menton, a medieval old town on the French Riviera, nestled in between mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Locals call this charming town the 'Pearl of France', although it has a strong Italian influence being the last stop before you cross the border (it's possible to walk to Italy from here). Menton is renowned for its collection of beautiful gardens, as well as its lemons. Every February, the town is decorated with over 140 tonnes of citrus fruit as part of the annual Menton Lemon Festival, a celebration that attracts more than 200,000 visitors.