Nicknamed the "Cité des Citrons" (C

Nicknamed the "Cité des Citrons" (City of Lemons), every year the city of Menton in the Alpes-Maritimes celebrates this local product. The Fête du Citron is an event unique in the world, featuring giant designs made exclusively from citrus fruits and floats decorated with oranges and lemons.
Ever since the 15th century, Menton has been a major producer of lemons. At the beginning of the 20th century, this Mediterranean city became the biggest producer of this fruit on the continent. In 1929, an hotelier came up with the idea of organising a flower and citrus fruit exhibition. It proved so successful that the following year, the festival spilled out into the streets with carts carrying orange and lemon trees. It became increasingly successful over the following few years and so in 1934, the municipality decided to create the Fête du Citron.
Based on the theme “Around the world in 80 days”
Thanks to attention this event has received from the media, the city of Menton is known around the world. Every year, the Fête du Citron attracts more than 250,000 visitors, requires the help of more than 300 workers and uses 145 tonnes of citrus fruits. The theme for the 80th edition of the event is "Around the world in 80 days: Menton, the secret port of call" and will therefore be the idea behind all of the creations in the Corsos de Fruits d’Or (parades with floats), the Corsos Nocturnes (night parades), and the Jardins de Lumières found inside the Jardins Biovès (Biovès gardens) in the centre of the city. Visitors will be able to take on the role of modern-day explorers, visiting India, Egypt, New York and Hong Kong… where they will lay eyes on the most wonderful sights.
During the festival period, visitors can also take the time to stroll around the exhibitions organised at the Palais de l’Europe (Palace of Europe) and discover local products at the arts and crafts fair known as the Salon de l’Artisanat (jams, jellies, liqueur, soaps, perfumes, etc.). These products are to thank for the international renown of lemons from Menton, which have now become a gastronomic reference.