European beach towns are the combination of two of my favorite things... well, Europe and beach towns. These towns have old world charm, exquisite architecture, rich history and excellent restaurants. Combined with months of sunshine, miles of coastline, and a laid back attitude, you can see why some of these towns are top tourist destinations. I have to admit, I was not familiar with many Southern France beach towns prior to our holiday. Of course I'd heard of St. Tropez and Cannes and while they did appeal to my love of European beach towns, what really caught my eye, after an hour long Pinterest search of Côte d'Azur, was colorful Menton. Menton is the last train stop in France before crossing into Italy and while much of the French Riviera has nods to Italy, being so close to the border was intriguing to us.
Ciao, Au revoir!
After spending a few days exploring Nice, we were ready for a day trip to Menton. The Nice train station has lovely architecture and we enjoyed the scenery on our 1/2 hour ride from Nice to Menton. The Menton station empties into a charming courtyard garden, Les Jardin Bioves, surrounded by pastel buildings and the famous casino. Check out the flora on your way towards the ocean. We wound through the cobblestone streets and tiny alleys, taking in all the detailed architecture and candy colored buildings.
Once we found ourselves at the shore, we were happy to dip our toes in the cool water. The South of France in the summer is no joke when it comes to the heat! Temps were in the 90s with high humidity our entire 2 week trip. After a refreshing wade through the waves, we turned around and I actually had to catch my breath. The view of the city from the beach was one of the most incredible sights I've ever seen. Those colors; I wanted to weep with joy.
Keeping the skyline in our view, we walked along the Old Port, studying the different vessels, wishing we'd planned to go sailing for the day, If you have time, definitely spend the day at the beach. What a fun way to spend a day in the South of France! Grab a bite to eat along the Promenade de Soleil at one of the many seaside restaurants. The candy colored skyline to your left and the Mediterranean Sea to your right, is quite a satisfactory way to enjoy a bowl of seafood pasta!
If you wander back up through the tiny European streets, you'll eventually find yourself at Basilique Saint Michel & La Chapelle des Penitents Blancs. The history is rich and the views are incredible. Hike further up the hill to the cemetery, Cimetiere du Vieux Chateau for the most magnificent views of all. If the heat is too much for you, take a break from the sun at Musee Jean Cocteau Collection Severin Wunderman. Before catching the last train back to Nice, make sure to do some shopping in the city center. Menton is known for lemons and we stocked up on limoncello, lemon print tea towels, lemon scented soaps, and even had time for scoop of lemon gelato.
Menton was absolutely lovely. Next time, we'll definitely plan a bit more time to get lost wandering, to relax on the beach, and I would give my first born child to eat at the Michelin 3 Star restaurant, Mirazur (Also #3 on the world's 50 best restaurant list).
Once we found ourselves at the shore, we were happy to dip our toes in the cool water. The South of France in the summer is no joke when it comes to the heat! Temps were in the 90s with high humidity our entire 2 week trip. After a refreshing wade through the waves, we turned around and I actually had to catch my breath. The view of the city from the beach was one of the most incredible sights I've ever seen. Those colors; I wanted to weep with joy.
Keeping the skyline in our view, we walked along the Old Port, studying the different vessels, wishing we'd planned to go sailing for the day, If you have time, definitely spend the day at the beach. What a fun way to spend a day in the South of France! Grab a bite to eat along the Promenade de Soleil at one of the many seaside restaurants. The candy colored skyline to your left and the Mediterranean Sea to your right, is quite a satisfactory way to enjoy a bowl of seafood pasta!
If you wander back up through the tiny European streets, you'll eventually find yourself at Basilique Saint Michel & La Chapelle des Penitents Blancs. The history is rich and the views are incredible. Hike further up the hill to the cemetery, Cimetiere du Vieux Chateau for the most magnificent views of all. If the heat is too much for you, take a break from the sun at Musee Jean Cocteau Collection Severin Wunderman. Before catching the last train back to Nice, make sure to do some shopping in the city center. Menton is known for lemons and we stocked up on limoncello, lemon print tea towels, lemon scented soaps, and even had time for scoop of lemon gelato.
Menton was absolutely lovely. Next time, we'll definitely plan a bit more time to get lost wandering, to relax on the beach, and I would give my first born child to eat at the Michelin 3 Star restaurant, Mirazur (Also #3 on the world's 50 best restaurant list).
Ciao, Au revoir!
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