Remember the old adage - When life gives you lemons, make lemonade? Well, the talented residents of Menton- Europe's largest grower of citrus fruits, are way beyond that. They use the bright and juicy, world-renowned produce, to create life sized pieces of art and, plan a fun festival around it.

Now in its 78th year, the two week long Menton Lemon Festival, that ends on March 9th, is amongst the most popular festivals in the country. It all began in 1929, when a hotel owner decided to hold an exhibition of citrus fruits and flowers on the lawns of the hotel garden. The exhibition proved to be so popular, that in 1934, the local municipality, wanting to boost tourism, decided to organize a festival around citrus.

Over the years, the floats have become increasingly elaborate and the festival, increasingly popular. Last year, over 200,0000 people descended into this town of 30,000, to view the exotic works of art, made entirely from citrus fruit. While during the day, it's all about the sculptures, at night, the festival turns into a Carnival, as dancers, singers and other entertainers join citrus floats and stage a parade along the town's main drag. Special effects using lights and sounds, as well as, fireworks, round out the fun evening entertainment.

The festival also sports a theme each year. Last year, it was all about movies where amongst other things, creative sculptors came up with a giant Jurassic Park-like dinosaur, as well as, a film camera. This year, the focus is The Greatest Civilizations and the sculptures range from a pre-Columbian temple to a life-size Pharaoh tomb. It is estimated that 145 metric tons of oranges, lemons and tangerines are used each year, to create these elaborate works of art.

Also known as the Pearl of France, Menton is a picturesque town that sits right along the border of France and Italy. Flanked by the Mediterranean Sea, it enjoys a beautiful temperate climate, making it ideal for growing citrus fruits. The town is also famous for its beautiful gardens, as well as, a classical music festival, that takes place at the end of summer, each year.

Resources:urlesque.com, telegraph.co.uk, fete-du-citron.com.