Lemon festival Menton France

Every year, the town of Menton, called the Cité des Citrons, celebrates this local product. "Fête du Citron" (Festival of Lemons) is a unique event in the world, featuring gigantic designs made of citrus fruits and drifting decorated with lemon and orange.

Since the 15th century, Menton has been a major producer of lemons. At the beginning of the 20th century, this Mediterranean city became the largest producer of this fruit on the continent.

In 1929, a hotelier came up with the idea of organizing an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruits. This proved so successful that the following year the festival spread to the streets with lorries carrying orange and lemon trees. This became very successful in the next few years, so in 1934 the municipality decided to create the Festival of Lemons.

Thanks to the media attention received by this event, the city of Menton is known around the world. Each year, the Lemon Festival attracts about 250,000 visitors, seeks the help of more than 300 workers and uses 145 tons of citrus fruits.

During the festival, visitors can also take a look at the exhibitions organized at the Palais de l'Europe, and discover local art products known as Salon de l 'Artisanat (jam, jelly, liqueur, soaps, perfumes, etc.). These products are thanks to Menton's international fame, which has now become a gastronomic reference.