Spending a few days in Menton? Get up high and visit one of our favorites: the Vieux-Château Cemetery. Ideally located above the old town, this marine cemetery is built on a belvedere overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Overlooking the old port and Garavan Bay, it offers extraordinary panoramic views… Don’t wait any longer to discover it!
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Vieux-Château Cemetery in Menton.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to Menton Cemetery worthwhile?
Yes, the Vieux-Château Cemetery is well worth a visit. We were delighted to walk around it! Its paths wind between the tombs, interspersed with cypress groves, and open out onto the Mediterranean. Wherever you turn, the view is spectacular: Garavan Bay on the left, the deep blue sea in front, Cap-Martin on the right. The architecture of the tombs reflects the history of the region and its inhabitants. Their layout reflects the mix of cultures on the Côte d’Azur.
In our opinion, this is one of the best activities in Menton.
What you can see
A marine cemetery
Although the Cimetière du Vieux-Château is not in the immediate vicinity of the sea, it is nonetheless a marine cemetery. Paul Valéry ‘s verses engraved at the entrance to the necropolis bear witness to this. Taken from his poem Le cimetière marin, they seem to evoke the exact configuration of the Menton cemetery.
A superb panorama of Garavan Bay
To the left of the promontory on which the cemetery is built, lie the turquoise waters of Garavan Bay. The Plage des Sablettes, the Stade Rondeli, the Port de Menton-Garavan and, beyond, the Italian Riviera are clearly visible. Not forgetting the foothills of the Alps that slope down to the sea.
Italian-style tombs
As you approach the cemetery’s tip, it takes on an Italian feel: the architecture, the colors of the stones, the sounds of the engraved names… Yet these are often the burial places of Menton’s oldest families.
A Russian Orthodox chapel
By the end of the 19th century, Menton had a large Russian community. Wealthy Russians come for the climate, in the hope of curing lung diseases. Not all are lucky enough to recover, and a Russian plot is set up in the cemetery where they buy concessions in perpetuity. We loved the Russian Depositary Chapel and its golden dome, which coexists with the bell tower of the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel.
The tomb of a Polish princess
This is one of France’s best-known tombs, that of Polish princess Janina Jelowickich Lewandowska. Suffering from tuberculosis, she died at the age of 27. The statue depicts a young woman emerging from her coffin. It overlooks the bay and waterfront magnificently. It is the work of Italian sculptor Donato Barcaglio.
The first peaks of the Alps
On the land side, on the heights of Menton, the foothills of the Alps begin. The road in front of the Vieux-Château Cemetery intrigued us. It seems to descend straight from the peaks to reach the entrance gate and the aisles of the first tombs.
The bell tower of the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel
At the end of the cemetery, you couldn’t be closer to the baroque silhouette of the Basilica‘s bell tower. You’d think you could touch it! One anecdote really appealed to us. Indeed, the campanile is very dear to the hearts of the people of Menton, who see it as the symbol of their town. Some even claim that they get sick with grief if they don’t see him for more than 15 days!
A splendid view of Cap-Martin
To the right of the cemetery are the more recent buildings of the town of Menton. Beyond, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is clearly visible, with the start of the Cape Peninsula on the left. In the far right, the bluish silhouettes of Tête-de-Chien and Mont Agel can be seen towering above Monaco .
The roofs of the old town
From the cemetery’s ramparts, you can overlook the entire old town, with its characteristic terracotta-tiled roofs. The houses seem to cluster around the Basilica of Saint-Michel and its campanile. We particularly liked this charming, authentic landscape, with a small stretch of Plage des Sablettes (one of Menton’s most beautiful) and the boats in the old port. A real postcard landscape.
To find out more about the cemetery, visit the Menton website here.
The Vieux-Château Cemetery in Menton: access
Where is the cemetery?
- The cemetery is located high above Menton’s old town, at the start of Boulevard du Garvan.
- It’s about a 5-minute walk from the square in front of the Basilique Saint-Michel.
Access by car and parking
Parking around the cemetery is very difficult. There are a few spaces on the route de Castellar, but they’re overcrowded. We strongly advise you to leave your car in the pay parking lot Vieille-Ville-Sablettes and walk up to the cemetery. The walk through the narrow streets is very picturesque.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Public transport access
To get there by public transport, take bus line 8 to the “Trabuquet” stop. To plan your route, visit the official public transport websitehere.
Visiting difficulties
The cemetery has no PRM access. What’s more, a grand staircase of some twenty steps leads up to the entrance gate. The gravel driveways are also difficult to negotiate.
Visiting Menton Cemetery: useful tips
Schedules and prices
Access to the cemetery is free of charge.
The cemetery is open:
- 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 1 to October 31
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. November 1 to March 31
See the latest news on the official website here.
How long
Allow 30min to 1h for the visit, depending on your desire to take breaks to enjoy the view and the calm of the site.
Best moment
We recommend a visit in the morning if you like peace and quiet and want to avoid the heat. However, in winter, when the weather is fine, the end of the day can be splendid. You’ll have the chance to enjoy the sunset just before closing time.
Direction of visit
There’s no set direction for the tour, but we started on the east side, with the view towards Italy, and returned on the west side, towards Monaco.
Eating out
The site is located just above the old town. You’ll find plenty of restaurants here. We particularly recommend the L’Orangerie restaurant, a 10-minute walk away.
You’ll soon be able to discover our selection of the best restaurants in Menton.
Hotels
You’re right in the center of Menton. See our best places to stay in Menton.
WHERE TO STAY IN Menton
Option 1: Downtown
Enjoy the charm of the old town and all its restaurants.
We recommend..:
- Hotel de Londres – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Riva Art – prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Villa Genesis – prices, pictures and availability
Option 2: Port side
Easy access to the center and beautiful views of the old town.
- Hotel Napoleon with swimming pool – view prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: Beachside
15 to 30 minutes’ walk from the center between Roquebrune and downtown, to enjoy the sea.
- Best Western Premier Hotel Prince de Galles – view prices, pictures and availability
- Résidence Pierre & Vacances Premium Julia Augusta – see prices, photos and availability
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