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Menton (Italian, Mentone) is a town and commune in the Alpes-Maritimes département of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur région of France. It has been called the most beautiful town on the French Riviera. Population (1999): 28,812.
Geography
Menton is located near the Franco-Italian border, within the confines of the Côte d'Azur and the Ligurian Alps.
History
Menton dates back to the Paleolithic age. Founded by the Count of Ventimiglia as château de Puypin (ca. 1000) and inhabited by Ligurian people, it was owned by the Grimaldi family from 1346 until 1848, before departing from the principality of Monaco and officially becoming French in 1861.
During the 19th century, Menton because popular because of its warm climate, and many famous people chose to take their vacation in the town.
Annexed by the Italians, then the Germans during the World War II, Menton was liberated on September 8, 1944. The town was devastated and it was not until the 1960s that the re-building of Menton was concluded. It then regained its appeal as a tourist destination.
Sights
Perhaps the most famous aspect of Menton is its world-renowned gardens, including the Serre de la Madone, the Le Val Rahmeh, the Fontana Rosa, and the Maria Serena garden. Le Val Rahmeh, meaning "Valley of the Cat" in Hindi, was established in 1905 by Englishman Lord Radcliffe, the first owner of the gardens. Villa Fontana Rosa was built in 1922 by Blasco Ibanez, a Spanish novelist, and the gardens of the villa are now open to the public.
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