Along the Riviera as winter loosens its grip light softens and the air begins to whisper a scent both sharp and sweet, lemon. Each February, Menton becomes ever more famous for its citrus extravaganza.
The 92nd edition of the Lemon Festival, themed “Wonders of the Living World,” transforms the Jardins Biovès into a surreal menagerie sculpted from oranges and lemons.
Here, giraffes entwine their necks, a tiger flexes, and the vegetal kingdom rises into a lemony life. Not to mention whales, parrots, fantastical creatures inspired by nature and you name it!
An Animal Kingdom Built from Citrus Fruit
Seen from afar, the sculptures appear solid, almost permanent. Step closer and the illusion dissolves into meticulous devotion: each fruit wired, placed, adjusted, repeated thousands of times. Some structures require tons of citrus and thousands of hours of patient assembly.
The effect is both monumental yet fragile, exuberant yet ephemeral. It is architecture destined to perish. And that is precisely its beauty.
The Carnival of Citrus and Sound
Beyond the gardens, the city erupts into motion. The Corsos des fruits d’or parade along the seafront in an explosion of colour, music, and citrus-laden floats inspired by the year’s theme.
Brass bands collide with confetti. Light ricochets off brass instruments. Children chase drifting peels like confetti from the sun.
Here, citrus becomes spectacle, jubilant and unrestrained.
Beyond the main promenades, the narrow lanes and neighboring streets come alive with artisan stalls celebrating local savoir-faire. Stands brim with citrus-infused delicacies — handcrafted jams, fragrant liqueurs, delicate perfumes — alongside decorative pieces inspired by the region’s signature fruit. Nearby, exhibitions, guided walks, and small-scale performances enrich the festivities, inviting visitors to discover Menton’s history and character from a more personal, close-up perspective.
Why Lemons? Why Here?
Because Menton is not merely a town; it is a microclimate with a citrus soul.
Protected by mountains and warmed by the Mediterranean light, the region produces lemons prized for their aroma and delicate sweetness.
The festival itself celebrates this heritage, an annual winter carnival where floats and sculptures are created entirely from citrus fruits.
Recognized as part of France’s intangible cultural heritage, the celebration draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
In Menton, lemons are not fruit, they are an indispensable part of the city’s life and culture.
Walking Through Perfumed Geometry
To wander the exhibition is to move through geometry softened by scent. Yellow arcs curve into animal spines. Orange tessellations ripple across imaginary fur. Sunlight refracts off waxy skins, producing a glow no pigment could imitate.
Visitors admire it all as if in slow motion. Even the air tastes illuminated.
A Festival For Eternity
For fifteen days, Menton becomes a luminous paradox, structures that will rot, beauty built to vanish and fruit that becomes architecture before returning to earth.
When the festival ends, the sculptures disappear, the citrus is dismantled, and winter resumes.
But for those who walked beneath lemon giraffes or watched a tiger sculpted from the fruit of sunlight, something persists, a sensory memory, sharp and bright as zest on the tongue. In Menton, winter does not end. It ripens.
Must-See Events
The exhibition continues through 1 March, but the most spectacular moments unfold along the Promenade du Soleil. The celebrated Corsos des Fruits d’Or, vibrant parades of citrus-covered floats accompanied by brass bands and dancers take place on Sunday 22 February and Sunday 1 March from 2:30 p.m.
On Thursday 26 February, the nocturnal Corsos transform the waterfront into a glowing spectacle. Illuminated floats glide through the night, culminating in a fireworks display at 10:30 p.m.
Beyond the parades, the daily programme features the Orchid Show, artisan markets, guided hikes, and cooking workshops.
Practical information:
Parade access is ticketed, with prices ranging from €16 (promenade viewing) to €30 (grandstand seating). Admission is free for children under six. Tickets are available at fete-du-citron.com. Visitors are encouraged to arrive by train and to reach Menton before 11 a.m. on Sundays to avoid the crowds.
