Celebrating Citrus Splendor: The Fete du Citron in the French Riviera
The French Riviera, known for its sunshine, stunning beaches, and luxurious restaurants and hotels, holds a lesser-known secret. It’s a vital hub for citrus fruit cultivation in Europe. One of its towns, Menton, celebrates this abundance with the annual Fete du Citron.
This 15-day festival, typically from late February to early March, transforms Menton’s streets into a vibrant display of citrus art. Towering sculptures of dragons, elephants, and giraffes, all constructed from lemons and oranges, captivate visitors. As night falls, the city comes alive with dancers and musicians on floats, paying homage to nature’s tasty and healthy offerings.
Photo by depositphotos.com
A tour of the lemon grove, once an olive grove dating back to the 16th century, offers a glimpse into the region’s agricultural history. Additionally, the Madonna Greenhouse Garden showcases a collection of rare flowers from South Africa and Australia.
For enthusiasts, the Fete du Citron hosts a variety of workshops. These range from cooking with citrus to painting citrus portraits, pruning techniques, and even creating citrus-based perfumes. Unique to the festival are bergamot boxes workshops, where participants craft small, fragrant boxes reminiscent of the 18th century, using the rind of the bergamot fruit.
Families with children will find joy in the Children’s Carnival. It features balloon sculptures, live music, and snacks and drinks inspired by citrus. Dressing in orange and yellow, and painting faces with lemon and orange motifs, adds to the festive atmosphere.
The French Riviera offers many attractions, but for a unique and joyful experience, the Fete du Citron is a standout. Witnessing a sculpture of a giant Champagne bottle made from aromatic lemons and oranges is truly a memorable sight.
Citrus lovers should stay till the festival’s end. The sculptures are then dismantled, and the lemons and oranges used in them are sold at discounted prices. This is an excellent opportunity to stock up on these fruits for your citrus-themed celebrations, affordably.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Jardins Biovès (citrus motif exhibition), Menton, Alpes-Maritimes, France
- Coordinates
- 43.77515, 7.49595
- Access
- This Field Notes pin covers the ticketed citrus-sculpture exhibition inside Jardins Biovès only; Corso parades use separate routes through Menton. The exhibition ticket also includes the Orchid Show and Winter Garden at Palais de l’Europe. The organizer prohibits animals at the exhibition. Transit is encouraged because vehicle traffic is heavy during the festival.
- Admission
- For the 2027 exhibition (13–28 February): adult €12; group €11; reduced €7 for ages 6–12; free for children under 6 and qualifying 80%-disability-card holders (an admission ticket is still required). The ticket also includes the Orchid Show and Winter Garden. Parade grandstand packages are separate.
- Time needed
- The organizer does not publish a standard duration for the citrus exhibition. Its official day-by-day programme lists the exhibition at Jardins Biovès; the separate Gardens of Light evening event has its own one-hour estimate, which does not apply to this daytime exhibition.
- Best season
- The 93rd Fête du Citron citrus exhibition is scheduled for 13–28 February 2027 at Jardins Biovès. These dates apply to the 2027 edition only; check the organizer for future years.
- Opening hours
- The organizer’s 2027 day-by-day programme lists the exhibition at Jardins Biovès starting at 09:00. However, the same official exhibition page’s crowd chart marks 09:00–11:00 as “Closed.” Because these official details conflict and no closing time is stated, confirm actual entry hours with the organizer before visiting.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-23
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