Menton, Cote d'Azur - Parvis St Michel, Menton, Cote d'Azur, France. 04:47am. 12 July 2009.

Early morning starts bring photographic opportunities for David Noton in this idylic square on the French Riveria

- David Noton

You can forget the showy opulence and posturing to be found along the South of France in Monte Carlo, Cannes and St Tropez; in my book Menton is far preferable on the Cote d'Azur. It’s a beautiful town by the sparkling Med, ringed by the protective AlpesMartime, and with a discernible Italian feel. That’s no surprise really, as the town lies right on the border, and this region, once the Duchy of Savoy, and ruled by the Kings of Sardinia (in Turin, confusingly), only became part of France in 1860.