Photo © Ville de Menton
**This article about the Menton Citrus Festival is a direct feature from the January/February 2025 My French Country Home magazine. To see more articles like this featuring fascinating tidbits about French culture, be sure to subscribe to the magazine – recently rated among the top 3 French lifestyle magazines of 2025!**
Each winter, the French Riviera – famous for its sun-drenched summer beaches – reveals a different kind of golden glow. Starting in February, the picturesque town of Menton, on the French-Italian border, transforms into a radiant sea of yellow for the “Fête du Citron” (Lemon Festival).
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This vibrant celebration draws over 200,000 visitors annually, eager to revel in Menton’s unique homage to its famed citrus fruit. The festival kicks off with zest, literally, as a parade of massive, citrus-adorned floats makes its way through the heart of town. These elaborate creations – constructed from lemons and oranges – wind their way down the village streets, captivating crowds with their intricate designs and bright colors. Menton’s sun-washed yellow buildings serve as the perfect backdrop, echoing the golden tones of the local fruit that has become synonymous with this charming town.
History of the Menton Fête du Citron
While the Fête du Citron officially became a village tradition in 1934, its roots reach back to 1895, when local hoteliers sought to draw winter tourists to Menton. They proposed a parade to the municipality, which was swiftly approved. By the following year, the event became a staple of winter in Menton, charming locals and aristocratic visitors alike. Over time, the parade grew, and in 1928, the Hôtel Riviera expanded the celebration with a grand exhibition of flowers and citrus trees in its gardens. Soon, the streets of Menton overflowed with vibrant displays of citrus fruits, paving the way for what would become the beloved Fête du Citron.
Lemon Festival Themes
Each year, the festival has only grown more ambitious, with creative themes guiding the design of the floats since 1959. Last year’s 90th edition honored the Paris 2024 Olympics with a spectacular display of athletic-inspired floats.
This year, from February 15 to March 2, Menton invites visitors to embark on a “Voyage dans les Étoiles” (Journey to the Stars), with a lineup of events including daytime parades, nighttime spectacles, a daily craft fair, a citrus exhibition, and even an orchid festival.
Where do all the lemons come from?
With such a grand demonstration, one might imagine that the region is brimming with trees that produce the tangy delicacy, but the fruit used in the festival’s displays is actually imported mostly from Spain. Any culinary aficionado would know that true Menton lemons – with their rich fragrance, mild acidity, and thick peels laden with essential oils – are a rare and prized ingredient. Harvested by hand and free from chemical treatments or wax, these lemons are typically reserved for gourmet kitchens rather than decoration.
However, there was a time when Menton was Europe’s lemon capital. In the mid-18th to mid-19th centuries, the region exported around 35 million lemons annually. Although production waned over time, it saw a revival in the 1990s, culminating in the Menton Lemon’s official recognition as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in 2015, safeguarding the fruit’s unique terroir.
The Legend of Menton Lemons
Historical records date the arrival of citrus in the area to 1341, yet local lore paints a more romantic picture. As the story goes, when Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, Eve brought along a golden souvenir. Fearing it would bring divine wrath, Adam implored her to discard it. Eve agreed, on the condition she could leave it in a place of her choosing. Crossing mountains, valleys and plains, nowhere seemed worthy enough of her precious golden fruit. Then, upon arrival at the beautiful Bay of Garavan (in modern day Menton) the exceptional climate and lush landscape reminded her of paradise. Here, she buried the lemon, giving birth to the citrus legacy that graces the town today.
Whether myth or fact, there’s no denying the Menton Lemon is a delicacy to behold. And the Fête du Citron brings this beloved citrus to life with an exuberance that does justice to its storied heritage.
For tickets and more information on this year’s festival, visit fete-du-citron.com.