As legend has it, while fleeing from Paradise with Adam, Eve, took one of the “Golden Fruits” with her. Adam, fearing Heavenley wroth, asked her to trhow the lemon away. After climbing many a mountain and traversing valleys and plains, they came across the Bay of Garavan. The beautiful bay, mild climate and luxurious exotic plants evoked poignant memories of the garden of Eden ... Eve planted the lemon, in the soil, and from this - a little piece of Paradise, Menton was born.
The origins of Menton
Little is known about the origins of the name Menton or the first inhabitants. City of Roman origin built in the memory of the Emperor Orthon? The Hideout for the pirates of the island of Lampedusa, between Malta and the North African coast? Bult during medieval times under the rule of Emperor Otho, Count of Vintimiglia? There are many theories ...
What is sure, however, is that at the end of the 11th century, a little fortified city called Podium Pinum or Puypin stood at the top of the hill where the “Monastère de l’Annonciade” now stands and was under ownership of the Counts of Vintimiglia. Later on, a new settlement developed
closer to the sea, along the old Roman road from Italy, and grew around what is now known as the “Basilique Saint-Michel Archange” : the old city therefore, the origin nucleus of the city of Menton.
Genoa, Monaco and France
The Menton seigneury first appeared n the 12th Century. At this time Menton belonged to the Genoan Family, Vento. In 1290, Manuel Vento, son of Guillaume, released all rights of the land to the city. (700 years later, in 1990, Menton celebrated this event by organising a Medieval Fete).
In 1346, Menton became the property of Charles Grimaldi, Lord of Monaco.
From hence, Menton’s history became intertwined with that of the principality of Monaco. Honoré II, one of the princes of Monaco had his Palace along the “rue Longue”. He ordered the construction of the Bastion (now, the Jean Cocteau museum) in 1619 to protect the city.
In the 18th century, there were approximately 4,000 inhabitants in Menton, living mostly from fishing and farming. In 1848, Menton broke away from the principality and proclaimed itself a free city under the protection of Sarde.
Menton chose to become part of France in 1860 and Charles III of Monaco waived all rights of the city to Emperor Napoleon III.
Menton became part of the Alpes-Maritimes department.
A Fashionable Holiday Resort
From 1880, Menton benefited from the development of tourism on the French Riviera. The English doctor Henry Bennett gave Menton a great reputation by singing it’s praises world-wide.
Menton became a popular health resort frequented by wealthy English tourists and Russian aristocracy. Luxury palaces and villas flourished.
Renowned visitors came on holidays to the city : Royalty such as The Empress Eugénie, King Albert I of Belgium, Tsar Alexander of Russia, Queen Victoria of England... as well as famous artists like, Auguste Rodin, the composers Franz Listz and Charles Gounod, the writer Blasco Ibanez... It was the geographer Elysée Reclus, who gave Menton the title “pearl of France”.
During the War of 1914-1918, the hotels and palaces in Menton were converted into hospitals.
During the Second World War, the Italians then by the Germans occupied Menton.
Menton was finally freed on the 8th of September 1944, having been heavily devastated. The reconstruction of the city was finally achieved in the 60’s when Menton regained its title as a popular tourist resort.
