Place Fontana

Place Fontana marks the end of the Seaside Promenade, which links the Port of Garavan to the Old Port. It was once called Place du Petit Port. The square is named after the Fontana family, and especially Louis Fontana, who came from a small town near Genoa in Italy. He was mayor of Menton from 1905 to 1929, as well as president of the agricultural union and founder of the local production cooperative. This is also where you’ll find a museum dedicated to Jean Cocteau—the famous French artist who was a poet, illustrator, graphic designer, playwright, and filmmaker. He also became a member of the Académie française in 1955. The museum, known as the Bastion, displays several of his works, including pastels and ceramics inspired by the Mediterranean. It’s set inside a striking 17th-century fort that was fully renovated to host exhibitions of Cocteau’s art in Menton. Part of the collection is on show here, while the rest is just a short walk away in another building on Quai de Monléon. So if you’re curious to discover more about this iconic artist, it’s well worth a visit—just keep in mind that most of the paintings are displayed in the modern section of the museum, just a few metres from where you are now.