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FRANCE | Montpellier, France Travel Guide
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Montpellier, France
Place de la Comédie, Montpellier, France (cc)
Photo: Fritz Geller-Grimm
Montpellier Travel Guide
Montpellier, in the Herault, is the capital of the Languedoc. It is home to a 13th century medical school and museums devoted to this subject. This thriving university city also has a citizenry that includes 60,000 students. The streets are lined with upscale shops, and the city features ancient Roman aqueducts and arches. The pedestrian square, Place de la Comédie, includes a stunning statue of The Three Graces.
Top Destinations in the Languedoc
Montpellier Moment
This is the quintessential Montpellier moment: we are sitting at an outdoor café at the expansive and always-bustling Place de la Comédie, the heart of the city, sipping glasses of rosé. A street musician strums a guitar nearby. The 300- year-old statue of the Three Graces watches over us. The sun is beating down, and a constant stream of humanity passes before us. The capital of the Languedoc region, this city is a constant onslaught of contrasts. It is at once a trendy, hip college town and a medieval village filled with grandiose historic sites. There are ultra-hip designer boutiques and art galleries, alongside ancient churches and sculptures. It can be so jam-packed with locals and tourists, it’s hard to walk down the busy rue de la Loge. A few steps away, at the Place Royale du Peyrou park, one can find an oasis of serenity.
The downtown is dotted with busy squares, called places, usually punctuated by a dramatic historic building and elaborate fountain. The squares act like hubs, with shop-lined streets fanning out like spokes on wheels. The city is filled with endless shopping, attractions and awe-inspiring churches. Montpellier is a city for thinkers, evidenced by its centuriesold medical school and roads named after the likes of Albert Einstein.
La Grande Motte and Nearby Communities
Nearby, the beachside resort La Grande Motte seems an opportunity for endless adventures, including a water park, golf, rowing lessons, tennis or camping. Every Thursday in July and August, the Montpellier Tourism Office offers a tour to La Grande Motte. Carnon, just a few minutes east of Montpellier, features sea, river and ponds.
Farther along the coast, Sète and Agde beckon with history, culture and seaside adventures. The ancient Roman city of Nîmes is filled with glorious squares and flower-decked public gardens.
Last updated November 26, 2013
Posted in France | Montpellier
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