Menton (French pronunciation: [mɑ̃tɔ̃]; Occitan: [meˈta], written Menton in classical norm or Mentan in Mistralian norm; Italian: Mentone) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.ituated on the French Riviera, along the Franco-Italian border, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ("The Pearl of France"). Menton is located on the Mediterranean Sea at the Franco-Italian border, just across from the Liguran town of Ventimiglia. It boasts a warm micro-climate favourable to lemon, tangerine, and orange groves whence one of the town's symbols, the lemon. Menton is famous for its gardens, including the Jardin Serre de la Madone, the Jardin botanique exotique de Menton ("Le Val Rahmeh"), the Fontana Rosa, and the Maria Serena garden. Le Val Rahmeh was established in 1905 by Englishman Sir Percy Radcliffe, the first owner of the gardens, and named for his wife. Villa Fontana Rosa was built in 1922 by Blasco Ibáñez, a Spanish novelist, and the gardens of the villa are now open to the public. ➣The baroque basilica of Saint-Michel-Archange, with its bell-tower, was built in 1619 by the Genoese architect Lorenzo Lavagna. ➣The Musée Jean Cocteau is located in the Bastion of the port of Menton. The bastion, built overwater in 1636 as an advance defense for the port by the Princes of Monaco, is now located at the shoreline. ➣The wedding room at the Mairie (town hall) was painted in the 1950s by Jean Cocteau, transforming it into a giant work of art. ➣Menton is home to at least half a dozen beaches ➣The historic covered market was built in 1898 by local architect Adrien Rey. The market is open everyday from 5am until 1pm in the summer and in winter opening at 5.30am. Over 30 kiosks both inside and around the market sell local and imported vegetables. The belle epoque structure was one of many famous buildings constructed by the architect in the region. ➣Next to the beach and the covered market, since November 2011 the new Musée Jean Cocteau hosts the Séverin Wunderman Collection. Music and videos by Thomas Feild Also visit the channel 'thomasefeild' and 'TeaStudios'.