Montpellier, France – an incredibly tranquil city that exudes an atmosphere of sophistication with a hint of luxury. It has everything the south of France is famous for: a beautiful historic center with shady streets, cozy cafes and restaurants with gourmet cuisine, sprawling vineyards in the suburbs, well-kept picturesque beaches, and fashionable shopping.
General Information about the City
Montpellier is the central city of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, located in the southern part of France. The city’s location is very advantageous: in the fertile valley of the Lez River, just 11 km from the Mediterranean Sea.
As of 2023, the population of Montpellier was about 275,000 people. Most of them are French by nationality, but there is a significant number of immigrants from other European countries and Algeria.
The area occupied by the city reaches almost 57 km². Despite being one of the largest cities in France, Montpellier is quite compact.
Attractions in and around the City
For French citizens, Montpellier is hugely popular as a seaside resort. However, all the beaches are those of fishing villages located 10-15 km from the city. Although public transport runs there, it’s most convenient to get there by car.
But Montpellier is interesting in itself, and many people come here for the local attractions, not just during the beach season. The city is small, and you can greatly enjoy walking through the old quarters. It’s impossible to get lost there, especially since tourist centers and museums offer free informational brochures with maps.
Which Attractions in Montpellier Deserve Priority Attention?
Place de la Comédie
In the central part of the city, between the old city and the new quarters, lies a tiny but incredibly lively space – the famous Place de la Comédie.
In the center of the square is the Fountain of the Three Graces, built at the end of the 18th century. Musicians often stand by the fountain, playing popular melodies. Citizens and tourists relax in the numerous restaurants and cafes.
From the square, winding streets of the medieval city lead away, and the neoclassical architecture of the houses decorated with ornate stucco creates an impression of pervasive luxury. The labyrinth of ancient streets stretches between the two squares – Comédie and Peyrou.
Place du Peyrou and Its Attractions
One of the most famous places in Montpellier is Place du Peyrou, occupying the highest space in the city. It looks like a rectangular park of medium size with a number of architectural and historical monuments.
The spacious Place Royale du Peyrou was created in the 18th century during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King. A monument to this monarch stands in the middle of the square.
On the eastern side of the square, symbolizing the entrance to its territory, is the Porte du Peyrou. The triumphal arch was built in 1693, modeled after the Parisian arch. The structure is decorated with beautiful bas-reliefs illustrating the exploits of Louis XIV.
The most remarkable attraction of Peyrou is the Chateau d’Eau water tower and the ancient Aqueduc Saint-Clément that feeds it. The aqueduct was created in the 17th century to supply the city with fresh water from springs near the village of Saint-Clément. The aqueduct, consisting of two types of arches with spans of 3 meters and 9 meters, is 22 meters high and about 14 km long. Its most impressive part is the brick bridge Arceaux, 880 meters long.
Water was supplied to Montpellier through the aqueduct until the 1950s when a more modern water supply system was built. Today, the Saint-Clément aqueduct is recognized as one of Montpellier’s main attractions, attracting many tourists. During the day, you can walk along this ancient structure on a walking path, and at night, admire its spectacular lighting from afar.
Jardin des Plantes
The oldest botanical garden in France is located in Montpellier – it was established at the end of the 16th century. Today, Jardin des Plantes covers 4 hectares and has over 2,500 plant species.
Walking through this park, you can visit the Mediterranean forest, the tropical greenhouse, the arboretum, the English garden, and admire the flora of the large basin and exotic plants.
The botanical garden is not just a popular attraction in Montpellier among locals and tourists. Its space is used as a teaching object for students of biological and environmental sciences, and flower exhibitions and concerts are held there.
Address: Bd Henri IV, 34000 Montpellier, France.
Website: facmedecine.umontpellier.fr/patrimoine-historique/jardin-des-plantes.
The garden is open every day except Monday. Summer schedule (June-September): from 12:00 to 20:00, winter schedule (October-May): from 12:00 to 18:00.
Admission is free.
Saint Peter’s Cathedral
On one of the streets of the old quarter stands a unique attraction of Montpellier: Cathedrale Saint-Pierre.
The imposing structure, built in the monumental Gothic style, looks more like a medieval fortress than a cathedral. This impression is confirmed by the portal, flanked by massive columns.
Inside the cathedral, there are Gothic paintings, stained glass windows, and sculptures of historical and artistic value. Particularly noteworthy is the organ installed in the 18th century, considered one of the best in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
The ground floor of the Catholic cathedral houses the medical faculty of the oldest university in Europe, Universite Montpellier. You can even visit the library premises where students study.
Address: Rue Saint-Pierre 34000, Montpellier, France.
Website: cathedrale-montpellier.fr.
The cathedral is open Monday-Friday from 10:30 to 11:45 and from 14:30 to 18:00; Saturday from 14:30 to 18:00.
Like any local parishioner, city guests can freely attend the service.
Fabre Museum
In 1825, the famous native of Montpellier, artist François-Xavier Fabre, founded an art gallery in a wealthy mansion near Place de la Comédie. Now, Le Musée Fabre is a significant French museum with sculptures, graphic works, paintings, and pieces of furniture, covering the period from the Middle Ages to the present day. Among the museum’s exhibits are rare paintings by Rubens, Vernet, Renoir, and Manet. The collection also includes works by Delacroix, Fabre, and Cézanne.
Address: 39 Bd Bonne Nouvelle, 34000 Montpellier, France.
Website: museefabre.montpellier3m.fr.
The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on Mondays.
Ticket prices can vary depending on the time of year and the exhibitions chosen for viewing. Current rates are listed on the official website.
Planet Ocean World Aquarium
An attraction that will interest visitors of all ages is the large modern aquarium Planet Ocean World. It recreates 9 aquatic ecosystems – from the tropics to polar waters – where representatives of more than 400 species of marine life live.
The aquarium has several interactive high-tech exhibits, including oceanic 3D simulators. The most famous exhibit is the diving area, where visitors can observe sharks and other marine animals as if from an underwater lodge. Children love the display simulating a cargo ship navigating through stormy sea waves.
The aquarium is located in the Odysseum entertainment center. Exact address: Centre commercial Odysseum, All Ulysse, 34000 Montpellier, France.
Website: planetoceanworld.fr.
Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 19:00.
Ticket prices can change, and current prices are always listed on the official website.
Montpellier Zoo
This is the second-largest zoo in France. It occupies an area of 60 hectares and is home to over 1,000 wild animals from many corners of the planet. Since the zoo was created as a safari park, most of its inhabitants live in open enclosures.
A popular attraction among zoo visitors is the sea lion show, held in a specially equipped pool. But the most interesting adventure awaits visitors in the “Amazonia” pavilion. There, walking along a wooden walkway surrounded by vines and other tropical vegetation, you can see the inhabitants of the Amazon forests. In this pavilion, you can even experience a tropical downpour – it automatically starts every 30 minutes.
The attraction is located north of the city center. Exact address: Parc Zoologique, 50 Avenue Agropolis, 34090 Montpellier, France.
Website: zoo.montpellier.fr.
From February 1 to May 31 and in September-October, the zoo is open from 10:00 to 18:00; from June 1 to August 31 – from 9:30 to 18:30; from November 1 to January 31 – from 10:00 to 17:00. Usually, Monday is a day off, but there are rare exceptions.
Admission to the park is free. Tickets are needed only for the “Amazonia” pavilion. Full price is €6.5, for children aged 5-18 – €3.
Chateau de Flaugergues
Another interesting attraction in Montpellier for many tourists is Chateau de Flaugergues. This elegant castle, built in the 17th century for the Flaugerg family, is now owned by their descendants. The castle is surrounded by beautiful vegetation: there are gardens, orchards, and over 4 hectares of vineyards.
Chateau de Flaugergues is a tourist attraction often visited by tourists from France and other countries. The castle includes:
- A small museum dedicated to the Flaugerg family;
- A family winery producing high-quality wines;
- A wine cellar where the wines are stored.
Tourists visiting this mansion can enjoy a beautiful view of the city and its surroundings and taste local wines. There are different cultural programs, but each of them ends with a wine tasting. Visiting the castle and wine cellar is possible only with a guide.
Address: 1744 Av Albert Einstein 34000 Montpellier, France.
Website: flaugergues.com.
From September to March, the attraction operates at these times: Monday-Friday from 9:30 to 18:00, Saturday from 13:30 to 18:00. From June to September, you can visit the castle: Monday-Friday from 9:30 to 19:00, Saturday and Sunday – from 13:30 to 19:00.
Ticket prices vary for different programs. Current prices and various leisure options are published on the attraction’s website.
Where to Stay
Montpellier has many hotels of different levels, so choosing a suitable option will not be difficult. A double room in a budget 2-star hotel costs from €50, in a 4-star hotel – from €85 per night. Separate apartments cost from €60. A double room in a luxury 5-star hotel costs €250 per night.
As for the city districts where it is best to look for accommodation, according to many tourists, there are three.
- Odysseum is perfect for those who want to live in peace. Just a 40-minute walk, and you have a wide variety of entertainment: the Odysseum shopping center, restaurants, and much more. There are few hotels there, mostly apartments costing €70-120 per room for two per night. But such prices are just an additional guarantee of the absence of tourist crowds.
- Center can be chosen by those who are not afraid of noise and want to be as close as possible to historical attractions. It should be noted that the center has the best deals on accommodation and the widest price range. There are both 2-star apartments for €40 per night for two and luxurious 4-star hotels (there are no 5-star hotels in this part of the city) for €150 per night.
- Antigone Quarter. This is the “golden mean” in terms of location between the center and the outskirts of the city. It is quieter than the southern part and close to attractions. Despite the high prices of €120 per night for two, rooms in hotels in this quarter are snapped up very quickly.
Transport Links with Montpellier
Montpellier has an airport serving both domestic and international flights. It is located about 7 km southeast of the city center. Buses run from the airport to the city every hour.
Montpellier is an important transport hub in the southern part of France and has a well-developed railway infrastructure, connecting it with other cities in the country and Europe. The main train station, Montpellier-Saint-Roch, is practically in the city center, at Place Auguste Gibert 34000, Montpellier, France. Among the main railway routes are:
- TGV trains connecting Montpellier with Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Nice, Barcelona, and other cities in France and Europe.
- TER regional trains connecting Montpellier with nearby cities such as Nimes, Beziers, Carcassonne, and Marseille.
- EuroCity trains operating on international routes, connecting Montpellier with cities in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Germany.
The central bus station is located at 1 Rue Ferdinand de Lesseps, 34000 Montpellier, France. From Montpellier, there are bus routes to other cities in France and Europe. Some of the most popular destinations are: Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Nimes, Avignon, Barcelona, Milan, Geneva. You can find out the schedule and ticket prices for specific routes by visiting the websites of the companies serving these routes (Eurolines, Ouibus, FlixBus).
Interesting Facts
- Montpellier has the largest Jewish community in France.
- The capital of the American state of Vermont, Montpelier, is named after Montpellier, and it is the smallest capital among all state capitals in the USA.
- Montpellier is home to one of the oldest universities in the world – it was founded in 1220. Among its famous graduates are Richard Montague and Philip Wanton.
- Near the Fabre Museum, there is a significant church for the city with a richly decorated altar and a very good organ. The church has a rather interesting name: the Basilica of Our Lady of the Tables. This name was given to the shrine thanks to the money changers: in the Middle Ages, they set up their tables near the church named after the Virgin Mary.
- In May 2013, the first same-sex marriage in France was registered at Montpellier City Hall.
