Menton sits halfway between Paris and Rome and, with a history of French and Italian rule, is influenced by a mix of cultures. Baroque churches and multi-coloured houses give the Riviera town its visual appeal, though it was its reputation as a health resort that drew 19th-century Brits, including Queen Victoria, to holiday here. Menton’s many gardens include Serre de la Madone, filled with tropical plants. There’s also a museum for writer and artist Jean Cocteau.

Secret France: discover amazing places you never knew existed

The Mediterranean's most beautiful towns and villages