Menton

Menton (French pronunciation: [mɑ̃tɔ̃]; Occitan [meⁿˈtaⁿ], 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 south-eastern France. Situated on the French Riviera, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ("The Pearl of France"). The Menton area has been inhabited since the paleolithic. In Roman times, the via Julia Augusta, a roa... more

Menton (French pronunciation: [mɑ̃tɔ̃]; Occitan [meⁿˈtaⁿ], 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 south-eastern France. Situated on the French Riviera, it is nicknamed la perle de la France ("The Pearl of France"). The Menton area has been inhabited since the paleolithic. In Roman times, the via Julia Augusta, a road connecting Placentia (now Piacenza) with Arelates (now Arles) passed through Menton, running along the Rue Longue in the old town. The first major settlement occurred during the 11 century CE, when the Count of Ventimiglia constructed the Château de Puypin (Podium Pinum) on the Pépin hill, north and west of the modern town center. During the 13 century, the seigneury of Puypin fell to the Vento family of Genoa who built a new castle along the Roman road, now the site of the Vieux-Château cemetery, providing the core around which the current... less