Cocteau's Menton and other Menton, France Things to Do Tips

Though more often associated with Villefranche, much of Cocteaus time and works are to be found in Menton.

In the bastion of the fortification around the port is the Musee de Cocteau, open Wednesday to Monday - not Tuesdays.

The Town hall is also embellished with many Cocteau designs, including a well known one in the Salle des Marriages in which starcrossed lovers seek to read their futures in each others eyes.

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The registry office of the Menton town hall (Hotel de Ville) was decorated by the celebrated artist and visionary Jean Cocteau. Here in the main mural a couple seek to find their future in each others eyes.

Cocteau wrote ironically:

"The verb "to love" is difficult to conjugate. It's past is not simple. It's present is not indicative. It's future is very conditional."

A tape plays in language of your choice the story behind Cocteau's creation, of each tableau. To the right, the mother-in-law disapproves of the bride. To the left, greek mythological centaurs play in mischief. All classical allusions bound up with the surrealist view of the temporary nature of our aspiration to permanent relations.

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More works and history of celebrated one time Menton resident Jean Cocteau.

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Ferdinand Bac, a French illustrator, cartoonist, writer and garden designer in the nineteen twenties, idealised all of his many visions in this stunning villa and exotic garden in upper Menton. Accessible only by a very steep climb from the Boulevard Garavan, this breathtaking "project" - more than a mere villa - is decorated in fabulous designs referring to Greek, Roman, Mediterranean and Moorish influences.

Little can be seen from the exterior here - and high fences around the perimiter of the fantastic garden ensure total privacy. However visits are possible organised through the tourist office, however only for guided groups during July and early August.

The only way I could think to become a "group" was to stage a Peter Sellers routine - enter the tourist office to request a visit, leave, and return two minutes later with a moustache affixed and demand a visit, to then return two minutes later with a hat on and demand a visit....

It is worth it. I have seen pictures and this is no ordinary place. So much did he not want to leave the paradise he had created. Ferdinand Bac is buried within the garden.

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Address: Off the upper road above the Boulevard de Garavan.
Directions: Roughly parallel with the Porte de Garavan but high up on the hillside, set in the Domaine de Colombieres

Its amazing what a digital camera can reach which you can't. A glimpse of the exterior of Ferdinand Bac's new Renaissance vision, behind the gates.

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On four levels explore the mixed history of the good and great that lived and came to die in Menton. Russian princes, Italian grand families, retired vicars and civil servants from Victorian England. Among the headstones here is that of Aubrey Beardsley and William Ellis, supposed founder of rubgy.

Fabulous view out over the Baie de Garavan towards Italy, only a kilomtre away.

There are Commonwealth military cemetaries dedicated to French forces climbing futher up the hill, but which offer little of interest as much as these.

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Prince Troubetzkoy of Russia, and others aristocrats are found here in the grandest Mausoleum in the cemetary. Tsar Nicholas and his offspring and hangers on were very favoured, and many found their way to the French Riviera

Russia's aristocracy - their lives and their fate, seems to echo the modern generation of Arab princes, also flaunting wealth and priviledge on the Riviera - it comes to mind that they might meet the same fate in a another political revolution.

This is a reminder how far we have come in the last hundred years. Then there were no "tourists" here or anywhere . The only people who could travel were the idle rich. The riviera was full of royalty and apart from a few simple fishermen, no-one else. No low-cost airlines, no hen nights, no weekend breakers, no VT.

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L'hotel d'Adhemar de Lantac is not any longer, as its name suggests, a hotel, but the residence of the menton heritage organisation which organises trips to the main historical, gardens and other places of and culture interest. It also houses an interesting collection of paintings, and books on everything local, such as Cocteau in Menton, the exotic gardens of Serre La Madonne and Val Rameh. Call in for the daily itinerary that month.

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Address: 24 Rue St Michel
Directions: Located in ther main shopping tourist street, but unobtrusive entrance means its easy to miss

From outside No 13 Boulevard de Garavan space reaches out to the sky, west over the Harbour to Italy, east over the town and ultimately towards Roquebrunne

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Climbing several hundred feet up the hillside above the Villa Les Colombiers is the stunning garden set out by Ferdinand Bac. Winding paths, spectacular views, statuary mixed with balustrading, Roman arcades and pillars, tightly choregraphed garden design with an extraordinary vision

Visit only by arrangement with Tourist Office in Central Menton during July and early August only.

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