10.3.10

Menton - again ... and fortunately.

I spent a few days at and around Menton last week and met some friends, more especially Jilly, the local fantastic blogger and person! The weather was not yet quite spring, except for one day, but we had some remarkable days.

Here is a first report about Menton, which I visited and posted about already last year together with other blogger friends – Nathalie, Richard and Chuckeroon ... and again of course Jilly. I sincerely hope to meet them all again down there in a couple of weeks.

Now, I’m once more leaving you for about a week, this time for a short trip to Sweden, but here is a first report on Menton. I will try to pre-program some other posts from the south to appear during my short absence. I will however again and unfortunately hardly be able to visit your blogs during my absence.

For some of my foreign visitors I thought it may be useful to do or repeat some geography.

So, one (too) early morning last week I took the train from Gare de Lyon (see previous post) to Menton.
The hotel was on the seafront.

The yearly “Lemon Festival” was just finishing, but there were still a lot of lemons and oranges on the trees.
... and although the spring is delayed also down here, at least the mimosas were in full bloom.

Here are some general photos of the little town, its narrow streets, its cemeteries on top of the hill, its covered market.

A great number of foreigners are buried in Menton, many came here during the late 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, often for health reasons, tuberculosis etc., but of course also because it was a pleasant place to stay, if you had the means. The railroad down to the French Riviera opened in the 1860’s and the number of large palace-like hotels built during the following decades is impressive.

A special remark can be done about the grave of William Webb Ellis, an English clergyman, who is considered (false or true) as the inventor of the rugby game, the predecessor to American football. The legend says that during a football (soccer) game at his school in Rugby in 1823 he caught the ball in his arms and ran with it, not quite in line with the rules. Whether the story is true or not, the rugby world has adopted the legend and the Rugby World Cup is referred to as the “Webb Ellis Trophy”. In addition to the statue of him, there is a plate, signed by the captains of the rugby teams participating in the 2007 world cup played in France.

Rue Longue (Long Street) follows the trace of the Roman Via Julia Augusta which linked Rome to its Gallic provinces. The street is bordered by a number of old buildings, many from the 16th century, like the one pictured here (from 1533), the still private mansion house “Hôtel Pretti”, where luckily the doors were exceptionally open making it possible to take a few shots of the entrance hall and stairs.
Jean Cocteau is very present in Menton; a small museum exists, a new one is under construction. These photos were taken at the marriage hall of the Town Hall, which he decorated 1957-58.

39 comments:

James said...

This post is fantastic. It would make a wonderful travel brochure. I really enjoyed the pictures.

Cheryl said...

It's really beautiful there. Hard to imagine a chilly south of France though. But it must have been judging by the coats everyone is wearing.

It was a tough assignment, I'm sure!

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Wow! Beautiful pictures, as always!

Paula said...

I'm so thankful for your post! What a beautiful little town - and one I've never heard of. I'm so glad to know about this place!

Virginia said...

Oh my. So many wonderful photos that I will space them out while you're gone and it will be just like you are here posting them for us.

First, I hope you had time to stop in le Train Bleu for a glass of champagne before you boarded your train! :)

Next, I'm so glad you and Jilly got to spend some time together. May I say I'm jealous? I would have loved to have been along on your excursion around her beautiful town!! What could be more fun than to have our delightful Jilly as a tour guide!!

Now off you go to Sweden. Have a safe trip . Hope all is well there!
V

Olivier said...

c'est magnifique, et la première photo elle fait rêver, j'adore....

alice said...

Du sud au grand nord, quel baroudeur tu fais! N'oublie pas tes moufles, si j'en juge par le gel chez moi, il doit encore faire frisquet là-haut ;-))

claude said...

Mon Chéri et mois sommes pourtant allés sur la Riviera mais pas à Menton, dont j' avais beraucoup entendu parler par ma Mémé. Dans sa jeunesse, elle était domestique chez des gens biens à Paris, qui avaient une maison à Menton. Quand ils partaient en vacances là-bas il emmenaient ma Grand-Mère.
Tu nous montrees là un coin superbe de notre belle france.
Bien l'histoire sur le rugby !
Bon voyage en Suède, Peter, et à bientôt !

Cezar and Léia said...

Hello Peter!
You have a busy life my friend! :)
Thanks for this beautiful post about Menton, it looks be a wonderful city and I would love to visit there some day.
Have a safe trip and we will miss you!
hugs
Léia

Jilly said...

Oh Peter, what a fabulous series of photos on Menton and such a great commentary. You tell it all so wonderfully and well. It was SO good to see you and yes, Virginia, you were spoken of and perhaps one day you too will visit. I'd look forward to that.

I am, as you know, particularly intrigued by your interior shots of the Hotel Pretti. I've lived here for 19 years and never managed to get inside! Soon, as you know, and with your permission, I'll be using some of your photos when I feature this building on Menton Daily Photo.

Looking forward to your next post and of course to your next visit along, we hope, with other bloggers. What fun we had last time.

Cergie said...

Tes deux derniers messages sont sous l'influence de la blog (et pas de la draggue, pardon et puis blog c'est masculin)
"Chez Léon" me semble très sympa en petit comité
Menton aussi...
Ces toits n'ont pas souffert des travaux haussmannien et ont bcp de charme
Un excellent moment pour se rendre dans le sud de la France et surtout à Menton dotée d'un micro-climat exceptionnel

Adam said...

Glad to see your camera is never on holiday, even at 7am in the Gare de Lyon! That is the sign of a truly dedicated blogger!

Cergie said...

Je ne sais par contre si tu trouveras un aussi beau rayon de soleil sur mimosa en Suède...
A + tard

joanna said...

Peter

I know I have said this before to you ,, but I am entirely intrigued with the style in which you lay out your photo shot, I am a very visual person and when ever I am new in an area I also like to go up in a small plane and survey the town from a birds eye view..

You do that so nicely, it is an important feature that so few - if anyone other then you actually do this.
Now for the photos -- they are splendid, the town is place where dreams are made. How can I live here in the states after seeing 'Menton'

Love Jilly's comment and I wandered over to her blog

Enjoy your trip to Sweden,
Joanny

Ruth said...

Bonjour, Peter, it's nice to see you. Missed you.

I love that special sunny gold - the mimosas and the painted buildings - that represents the south of France to me.

Travel well, abientot.

Simony said...

Beautiful little town.
I couldn't believe all those lemon and orange trees! The town must smell incredible!
I love all the pictures of architectural details, and I love maps , too.
The hotel looks like a scene from a movie.
Well, all pictures are just beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Peter's Paris has become Peter Travels!
How wonderful.
Have never been to Sweden, and hoping to see some pics along with the usual enlightening commentary.
"Happy trails to you, until we meet again...."

Jim

arabesque said...

menton is indeed a scenic and idyllic place.
the fotos you share with us are really impressive.
you brought out the beauty of this place. i like how you detailed your journey which started at la gare de lyon, till the last post of J.Cocteau and i hope you can share more of his arts and history.
^0^ then again, une bonne journeé a toi.^-^

ps: i gave you an award which i hope you can drop by my blog and get it anytime. thanks! ^0^

Harriet said...

I've been to Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferat, but not Menton.... Another trip to the South of France is definitely in order....

BLOGitse said...

Beautiful - as always.
I love those narrow streets...
Picturesque place...

BLOGitse

Thérèse said...

Une présentation impressionnante! Géographie, faune, flore... On lit tout, on s'attarde. Une bonne envie d'aller à Menton en ressort.
Bon séjour en Suède Peter.

PattiKen said...

Wonderful pictures! I especially like those of the narrow streets and stairways.

SusuPetal said...

Lovely looking town with its narrow alleys, beautiful mountains and the sea!

Have a nice time in Sweden -it's snow up here!

Jeanie said...

What a wonderful place for a holiday! It sounds just terrific, Peter. Since I only found your blog a few months ago, all this is new to me!

Catherine said...

This looks like a magical place to spend some time - I have never heard of this town so thanks for the introduction...

Corine said...

What a breathtaking place! Peter you have made me fall in love with Menton and is now a must for me when I come out to France. The citrus festival is fantastic. Love all the pics and thanks for the maps, it really put into perspective especially for me where everything is and how to plan my trip.
Have a great time in Sweden :)

amatamari© said...

Oh that envy
:-)

A magnificent post: all the photos are beautiful - I particularly like those of the historical center -
Thanks, thanks, thanks!
:-)

Alain said...

C'est un coin de côte Française qui fait tout de suite penser aux écrivains anglais du début du XX° siècle. Une image un peu désuète.

Shionge said...

Thank you Peter....France will always have a special place in my heart :D

1990, 1995, 2004 and hopefully 2011 :D

Have a great time in Sweden dear friend :)

Parisbreakfasts said...

Simply beautiful views!
I must get out of Paris some time...but how?
no where else has good macarons :(

the Armchair Parisian said...

Thank yo so much for sharing this. It looks like a wonderful place I would like to visit.

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Thank you Peter for the wonderful photos.. I think I am going to have to add this to my list..which is getting longer and longer :-)

Maya said...

Wow, looks like a great place to visit! I had relatives with a place in San Remo, but I never managed to visit. Too bad. :-(

Starman said...

I wish you a good trip. Menton looks like a great place to visit.

Jilly said...

Paris Breakfasts - they sell Laduree macaroons in Monaco so we can accommodate your tastes! Now that would be a treat to have you here, Carol. Jxxx

Trotter said...

It seems there is a growing Menton blog gang... ;))
Great pictures!!

Nathalie H.D. said...

Jealous jealous jealous !
Let's plan for the next trip!
:-)

Jilly said...

I'm here! Just name the date and the red carpet will be rolled out, Nathalie.

PeterParis said...

I,' late, so just a general thanks to all of you, some new visitors included! Yes, I hope to be back there soon again, meeting Jilly of course and hopefully some other blogger friends!