By Garen Ajderhanyan · 28 July 2026 · 7 min read
In brief
Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin close the Côte d'Azur to the east, between Monaco and the Italian border. Menton, last French town before Italy, is recognisable by its mild microclimate, its acclimatisation gardens and its lemon protected by a PGI. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin brings together a perched mediaeval village, the residential Cap-Martin and two landmarks of modern architecture: Eileen Gray's villa E-1027 and Le Corbusier's Cabanon. Two sought-after communes, a few minutes from Monaco as from Italy.
Where does the Eastern Riviera begin?
Past Monaco, the Côte d'Azur changes scale. The mountain falls into the sea, the Corniche roads layer upon one another, and two communes close the French shore: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, then Menton, last town before Italy. This is what we call the Eastern Riviera, a compact territory, facing east, where one passes from one country to another in a few minutes.
This position explains much. Monaco is a few minutes away, Vintimille and Liguria barely further. One lives in French, sometimes lunches in Italian, and the border is no more than a customary walk.
What distinguishes Menton from other towns on the Côte d'Azur?
Its climate, first. Backed against the first reliefs of the Alps and open due south, Menton benefits from a mild microclimate that built its reputation from the 19th century onwards. Winters there are clement to the point that citrus fruits ripen in open ground, the Menton lemon, protected by a protected geographical indication (PGI), has become its emblem, celebrated each winter by the Fête du Citron.
This climate has also produced gardens. The Serre de la Madone and the Val Rahmeh garden bring together botanical collections acclimatised thanks to this mildness. And above the port, the old town lines up its Italian-toned façades, ochre and pink, in an amphitheatre that looks out to sea.
What does Roquebrune-Cap-Martin tell?
The commune reads in two parts. In the heights, the mediaeval village of Roquebrune, clustered around its castle, with its covered lanes and vaulted passages. Below, Cap-Martin, a residential peninsula planted with pines and olive trees, where properties are glimpsed more than displayed.
Between the two, the coastal path circles the cape at water level. It is a walk we readily recommend: Monaco on one side, the bay of Menton on the other, and Italy on the horizon line.
Why did modern architects choose this shore?
At the edge of the coastal path, Eileen Gray's villa E-1027 holds a distinct role in the history of modern architecture: a white house set facing the sea, conceived down to the furniture, now restored and open to visit as part of the Cap Moderne site.
A few metres away, Le Corbusier built his Cabanon, a single-room wooden shelter where he spent his summers. That two figures of modernity chose this same shore says something about the light and silence of Cap-Martin.
What should one bear in mind before seeking an address there?
Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin number among the sought-after communes of the Côte d'Azur, particularly with buyers who work in Monaco or keep a foot in Italy. Supply there is measured: the relief limits construction, and properties of character, village, seafront, cape, change hands with discretion.
From 107 Promenade des Anglais, we follow these two communes as a natural extension of our territory. The Corniche connects Nice to Menton without losing sight of the sea, far enough to change scenery, near enough to remain on familiar ground.
Frequently asked questions
- Where are Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin located?
- At the eastern extremity of the Côte d'Azur, in the Alpes-Maritimes, between Monaco and the Italian border. Menton is the last French town before Italy; Roquebrune-Cap-Martin precedes it, facing Monaco.
- Why do people speak of Menton's microclimate?
- Protected by the reliefs and open to the south, Menton experiences mild winters that allow the cultivation of citrus fruits in open ground and the acclimatisation of botanical gardens such as the Serre de la Madone and the Val Rahmeh garden.
- Does the Menton lemon benefit from a label?
- Yes. The Menton lemon is protected by a protected geographical indication (PGI). The town celebrates it each winter during the Fête du Citron.
- What is villa E-1027?
- A modernist house designed by Eileen Gray at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, at the edge of the coastal path. Restored, it may be visited as part of the Cap Moderne site, which also brings together Le Corbusier's Cabanon.
- Are these communes near Monaco?
- Yes. Roquebrune-Cap-Martin borders the Principality, and Menton is a few minutes away, by road as by train. Italy begins just after Menton.
References
The author
Garen AjderhanyanEditor of La Gazette de la Promenade
Editor of La Gazette de la Promenade. He writes on Riviera property and the art of living, from Nice.