Places to Visit in Menton France Jean Cocteau Museum in Menton
One of France's, or the world's for that matter, premier artists of the XXth Century was Jean Cocteau, who considered the picturesque sea-side town of Menton as one of his best-loved towns in France. Upon seeing the bastion, an abandoned fortress in the port of Menton, he decided that it would be the most suitable place for an exhibition and memorial of his work.
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Menton France
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The fort was built in 1636 but was abandoned a century or so later. It fell into ruin. Jean Cocteau came across it in the 1950s and visualized what you see before you today. Sadly, he died in 1963, a few years before the museum opened in 1967. Every wall, ceiling and floor bears his mark. He was given a free hand. The central single attraction is the Wedding Room, which has achieved a fame all of its own. Any true fan of Jean Cocteau or of Art needs to come here.
Jean Cocteau's artistic talent was vast; he was a writer, poet, playwright, novelist, screenwriter and artist. As the 1950s began, he was dedicating more of his time to painting and redecorating old churches. He was renowned for his ability to shock and defiance of his society's mores. He had an obsession with Greek mythology and the fantastic that is reflected in his pieces of animals. His art speaks fully of those qualities and feelings.
There is so much on display: drawings, paintings, sketches, murals, mosaics, ceramics and tapestries. It might overwhelm you, so go through the rooms slowly. Some of the pieces were made specifically for the museum, while the artist himself donated many others. Look at the staircase and the pebbles; there is no randomness in what you see. Everything flows beautifully together. In one sense, the museum is a chance for you to see every facet of his art. He hides nothing.
The large and impressive coloured frescoes of the Wedding Room need to be beheld to grasp their artistic beauty. There are mosaics covering the ground and the window frames on the main floor, and some on the first floor. The wrought-iron windows are covered with animal-shaped ceramics. Pause at the pastel pieces of the "Innamorati" or lovers. There are two amazing tapestries: Judith sortant de la tente d’Holopherne and Les Visages. Look out for the portrait of Picasso.
There are two gardens worth stopping by and ambling around: Jardin du Val–Rameh with its themed areas and Jardin du Pian. Watch out for when his home in Milly-la-Foret is opened for public viewing. Also, sometime after 2008, a new museum in Menton will open with more of Jean Cocteau’s art. The building will contain about 2000 pieces from a private collection.
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