La place Honoré II et les remparts

The square, inaugurated in 1975, bears the name of Honoré II, Lord of Monaco, Menton and Roquebrune, then Prince of Monaco and to whom we owe the construction of the Basilica of Saint Michael, the bastion, the convents of the Capuchins and the Madonna, as well as the piercing of the Rue Neuve, today rue de Bréa.
In 1975, on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of the consecration of the church of Saint-Michel, several houses were demolished in order to clear the foundations. The fortifications of the Middle Ages used as infrastructure for the building are now very readable.
Along the Rue des Ecoles-Pies rise the walls of the Saint-Jean fort, which still has a fire-pit that protected one of the city’s gates up to the height of the old walkway.
In 1700, the war of succession of Spain desolated the region. Famine reigned over Menton.
What to do? Starve or try to supply the country?
Men of good will devoured themselves. On a fortune, they took the sea and, in spite of the privateers, fished towards Genoa. There too there was a dearth of food. All that remained was small brown beans «bazaï» which they brought back on August 2.
At each street corner, large cauldrons are installed in which the Mentonnais prepare a popular agape that saves the country.
Still today, on the anniversary date, a soup kitchen is served on the old harbour to commemorate this event. Bacon and seasonal vegetables replaced beans and weevils.

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