Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

The Lemon Festival is a traditional festival that is held annually in Menton (France) in late February or early March. Menton is a small town on the Côte d'Azur, famous for its abundance of olive and citrus groves. Lemons, oranges and grapefruits can be harvested here almost all year round.

Various types of citrus fruits are grown in Menton, and there are numerous plantations around the city. There is also a citrus garden with 93 varieties of these trees. However, it is the lemon that is considered the symbol of the city, in particular, its local variety, which is distinguished by its bright yellow color and high juice content.

The Lemon Festival lasts for more than two weeks, during which you can see numerous acrobats, clowns, artists and musicians on the streets of Menton. Corteges decorated with citrus fruits move along the coast.

Hundreds of locals and tourists gather in Biové Park to celebrate the Lemon Festival. Not only the park, but the whole city is decorated by this day with sculptures of cartoon characters, dinosaurs, world-famous landmarks and other amazing structures – and all made of lemons!

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

 

Where did the Lemons in Menton come from?

There is a legend according to which the first lemons on the Cote d'Azur were planted by Eve herself. When she and Adam were expelled from paradise, Eve took the golden fruit with her. After long wanderings, she saw a beautiful coastline that reminded her of an abandoned paradise. Here Eve planted her golden fruit, and later on this place a paradise city appeared – Menton.

 

History of the holiday

The city of Menton has long been popular with wealthy holidaymakers who come to spend the winter months in a warm and mild Mediterranean climate. In 1895, the owners of hotels in Menton came up with a proposal to arrange a carnival as an entertainment for vacationers.

Later, in 1929, one of the hoteliers came up with the idea of ​​holding an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruits in the garden of the Hôtel Riviera. The exhibition was a huge success, and the next year the event was held on a much larger scale.

The local authorities decided to support the initiative, thanks to which the holiday acquired a special local flavor. The official date of birth of the holiday is 1934.

 

Interesting facts about the Lemon Festival

  • About 240 thousand people annually participate in the creation of sculptures, while about 145 tons of citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, grapefruits and tangerines) are used.
  • It is interesting that local lemons are almost not involved in the holiday: they are considered a delicacy and are used exclusively for gastronomic purposes. Citrus fruits for the festival are brought to Menton from Spain.
  • Every year, over 200 tourists visit the city to celebrate the Lemon Festival.
  • At night, the sculptures in the botanical garden are illuminated with multi-colored lights, which gives them a special brilliance. This music and light show is called "Gardens of Light".
  • Since 1936, the festival has been held in the botanical garden of Menton "Jardins Biovès". A variety of sculptures and structures from citrus fruits are created here, as a rule, within the framework of a certain theme. For example, the themes of the festival were:
    • in 2001 – Tales of Perrault
    • in 2002 – Pinocchio
    • in 2003 – Alice in Wonderland
    • in 2004 – Walt Disney Studios Park
    • in 2009 – World Music
    • in 2012 – Regions of France
    • in 2013 – Around the world in 80 days
    • in 2015 – China
    • in 2014 – Twenty thousand leagues under the sea
    • in 2016 – Italian cinema
    • in 2017 – Broadway
    • in 2018 – Bollywood
    • in 2019 – Fantastic worlds.

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

Lemon Festival in Menton: interesting facts

 

Lemon Festival 2019: Fantasy Worlds