The Lemon Festival in Menton is one of the most famous events of the Cote d'Azur (France). It takes place every year in February, during Carnival, at the Biovès Gardens and in 2006 it celebrated its 73° edition.

During the two weeks' celebrations, in the wonderful Biovès Gardens day and night parades of carnival floats are organized, as well as preparation of shows, reproductions and sculptures made with citrus fruits, in the striking setting of the fireworks above the sea.

The legend of the lemon of Menton

According to a biblical legend, when Adam and Eve were thrown out of Heaven, Eve stole a golden fruit. Frightened from God's anger, Adam convinced her to hide it in a sorted place. After a long wandering they saw Garavan Bay, such a beatiful,quiet and fruitful place that it looked like Eden. That one was the special place they were looking for, Eve fell in love with it and decided to bury the fruit there. From then on lemons started to grow in this heavenly place and the myth of the famous lemon of Menton was born, to it the city annually devotes a thematic festival.

The city of lemons

Already known in the 19th century as " Pearl of France", Menton is a fascinating city situated at the Italo-french border. Characterized by the Alps' circle descending to the sea, it is always protected from the winds and favoured by the sea humidity and by the sun. For its particular temperate-subtropical  climate, Menton has a long tradition for exotic gardens ( with an extent of more than 46 ha) and in the  lemons and citrus fruits cultivation.