Left Anne back in Villefranche for a rest day and hopped on the train this morning and eventually even got a seat… maybe the first time since we’ve arrived as the trains are always so crowded. But the short half hour trip is one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe as the tracks take you along the French Riviera coastline and allow for gorgeous views of the glittering sea below virtually for the whole journey. Todays destination- Menton.

Menton is a sunny seaside town overlooking a Mediterranean bay, not too far from where we are staying… between Monarco and Italy. And seriously, just look at this view!

With architecture similar to the Cinque Terre, the facades of the buildings along the streets are coloured in all sorts of wonderful pastel shades and have a very charming Italian feel… and they cascade down the hillside onto the long sandy shores of Plage Sablettes.

Combined with its lovely old port and glorious gardens that flourish in the warm microclimate… it is a dream to photograph.

The quaint centre of this 700-year-old town is truly a delight to stroll through. Walking around, I stumbled upon baroque churches, gothic houses, a medieval town wall, and even a town castle on the waters edge. The facades of the buildings along the streets are coloured in all sorts of wonderful pastel shades… and so much yellow.

The harbour is dominated by the bell tower of the baroque Basilique St Michel Archange, a beautiful Catholic Church which was built between 1640 and the 19th century.

The facade was updated and renovated in the 19th century with smooth columns added with Corinthian capitals. In 1999 the building was proclaimed a basilica by Pope Jean-Paul II. The plaza in front of it offers stunning views of the beach. You have to take a steep climb of stairs to reach the church, but even the stairs are stunning and the view is totally worth it.

Built on the site of an old medieval castle, the haunting cemetery is strangely scenic.

I hiked up to its hilltop location which had beautiful views across Menton’s terracotta rooftops, and out across the distant mountains and Mediterranean Sea… probably the best view in Menton.

The town apparently has oh-so-delicious food and is also home to Mirazur, the number one restaurant on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list… serving creative French dishes inspired by both the sea and the mountains while overlooking the sea. Don’t think I could get in without a booking… and don’t think I could afford it anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Menton enjoys a warm microclimate- which means warm weather all year long- that allows them to grow their world-famous lemons in the winter. For which they hold an annual festival in February. They’re said to be so sweet you don’t need to add sugar. So… here you’ll find all things lemon… from vinegar to the oh do fabulous Lemoncello.

And I did have some delicious fresh chilled ‘lemonade’ that is sold everywhere as I wandered around the street filled with quaint cafes and restaurants, which provide plenty of opportunity to enjoy the fine Menton cuisine… except I didn’t as I wasn’t feeling 100% 🤷🏼‍♀️

I had planned on walking around the stunning Mediterranean coastline to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin… another beautiful medieval village built on a steep slope and the village where Coco Chanel had her villa. But opted instead to go home to rest (something that I’m not very good at when I travel but it can catch up with me in the end).