Menton

Menton, affirmed by many as the prettiest town in France, lies on the French-Italian border between Monaco and the Italian Riviera. With the Alpes Maritimes mountains as a backdrop and the sea up front, you can choose to ski in the mountains or take a dip in the sea. In the town itself, pretty narrow streets are lined with colourful houses, Belle-epoque villas and stylish apartments of Italian and French influences. You’ll also see British touches, from a time when the likes of Queen Victoria and the British aristocracy spent their winters here. Apart from its beautiful café-lined streets and perfect microclimate, Menton is known for its gardens - again many laid by English nobility. Val Rahmeh and the Fontana Rose garden are amongst the finest. Ensure you visit the new Jean Cocteau Museum on the sea-front for a fantastic collection of his work, and finally, try and catch the Lemon festival where floats are made up purely of citrus fruits.