I didn't write much about last summer's trip to the French Riviera since I was more preoccupied with enjoying myself instead of keeping up my blogging duties. However, I like reading my old blogposts and revisiting pleasant memories, so let me take you through our day trip to Menton!
We stayed at Mandelieu-La-Napoule last summer, which is a small beach town close to Cannes, and ideally located for one day roadtrips to places like Marseille, St Tropez, Nice, Monaco, Ventimiglia or today's destination: Menton. Menton isn't the most well-known city along the Mediterranean, but it is surely worth spending a day of two enjoying its narrow winding uphill roads, bright coloured houses and warm waters.
Menton is built along a bay, making its waters shallow, calm and clear and providing plenty of beach to chill out on. I took a dip in the sea after we had explored Menton's old town and I fully recommend it. We were there during high season so there were crowds, but there still was plenty of space to enjoy the beach.
Menton's architecture (and its amazing pizzas) show clearly that this town has long been a part of Italy, and Roman vibes are still strongly felt. A bit of Italy within France!
The best way to explore Menton's old town is to take these steps up to the Basilica Saint-Michel-Archange. The walk is not too taxing or steep, and it will provide you gorgeous views of the bay. The basilica itself is also worth a visit, as are the narrow streets winding further over the hill up to the old chateau cemetery.
Apparently, my father's father used to live on a boat in Menton's harbor for a short while! I never knew him, and he was apparently not the easiest person to get along with (to say the least), but it's still a cool bit of family history. And I totally get what he liked about the city.
The colours here are so vibrant, it's basically French Riviera summer in a nutshell - can't you just feel the warmth seeping through the pictures? Everything you might love about France and Italy along the Mediterranean in one adorable little town!
I swoon everytime I see that perfectly blue sea! Gives me a bit of King's Landing vibes as well.
Whenever you start exploring those small, crooked pathways through hillside villages in France (or wherever, probably), there always seem to be a bunch of cats around waiting for you to give them some attention.
A really cool, ancient mural!
I didn't even know cacti could grow this big! How old must that thing be?
For food, we had pizzas at Pizza Vesuvio (Place du Cap) - not one of the highest rated pizzerias in Menton, but honestly you're spoilt for choice there. Even a mediocre restaurant serves great pizza, so don't worry too much about where to grab dinner. Just make sure you pair it with some peach ice tea because that's really the quintessential Côte d'Azur drink for me.
We're probably visiting Menton again this year, I've already booked our appartment in Mandelieu-La-Napoule again because it really had the ideal location and a great boulanger nearby (never underestimate the power of perfect pain au chocolat).
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