NCE:
When Life Gives You Lemons – Menton's Citrus Fantasy

The scent hits you before you see it - an intoxicating blast of zesty bergamot and sweet Meyer lemon as you round the corner into the Jardin Biovès. Suddenly, you're face-to-face with a 12-meter-tall Statue of Liberty... made entirely of lemons. Welcome to Menton's Fête du Citron, where 140 tons of citrus fruits transform this sleepy border town into a surreal, vitamin C-fueled wonderland.

Broadway in Citrus

This year's "Great White Way" theme sees:
🍋 A fully operational lemon carousel (with grapefruit wheels)
🎭 A Sondheim tribute in kumquats and pomelos
💃 A citrus replica of the Chicago marquee that actually rotates

By day, parades of fruit-covered floats wind through pastel streets. By night, the gardens become an electric citrus dreamscape, with backlit lemon sculptures casting honeyed light on the palm trees.

The Secret Life of Lemons

Menton's citrus obsession runs deep:
• The town's microclimate produces sweeter lemons than anywhere else in Europe
• Local nuns still make "Lemon Mass" liqueur using a 17th-century recipe
• The "Confiserie Challenge" pits chefs against each other to create new candied lemon recipes

Why Winter is the Sweet Spot

"February is when our lemons are perfect," explains grower François Garin, "and when we need color the most." Don't miss:

  • Citrus tastings of rare varieties like the Menton "buddha's hand"
  • The "Golden Fruit Ball" where guests dress in yellow-and-green formalwear
  • Midnight citrus auctions where collectors bid on perfect specimen fruits

PrestigeFly's Zest Getaway

For travelers who like their vacations with a twist:
✈ Business class on La Compagnie with lemon-infused welcome cocktails
🍋 A behind-the-scenes tour of the citrus installations at dawn
🏰 Lemon-themed suite at the Hôtel Napoléon with a terrace overlooking the gardens

"We don't just plan trips - we peel back the layers of the Riviera."
Packages from €3,200 - Includes a custom-made citrus perfume from Galimard.