The 16 things to do in Montpellier

Visit Montpellier: what are the best things to do and see in the one that is surnamed overdue?

Montpellier is, in all seasons, the most attractive city in the South of France . Elegant and cultural, with Mediterranean blood flowing in its veins, the city has dynamism to resell. In the absence of an industry, Montpellier focused on students and their virtuosity. World-renowned architects are always there to add new architectural gems to the new districts. The tramways in Montpellier, the last of which were designed by Christian Lacroix, are moving paintings that were called the "sexiest of the world". Make sure you need a surprising city to make sexy trams.

The historic medieval centre of Montpellier (the Ecusson , a pedestrian area) is a paradise for strolling and, sooner or later, you will relax on one of the shaded squares, immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the “village in the city”. You will see that Montpellier has many things to make you discover, but you will be as surprised by the treasures that are located in the vicinity of the one that is surnamed Clapas or "La Surdouée".

A beautiful stay to be expected, and that is why you are summed up the best things to do in the Languedoc capital if you come to visit it for the first time.

1. Place de la Comédie and Esplanade Charles de Gaulle

The Place de la Comédie with its Fontaine des Trois Graces , a fountain dating from 1776, is the heart of the city intramural . On the southwest side of the square stands theatre (Operation Comédie). From there, the large boulevards radiate towards the old town (the largest part of the pedestrian area), which is called the Ecusson (see below). In the neighborhood, nestling, hidden behind anodine facades, beautiful private hotels. Usually closed to the public, some courses of these 17-18th century houses can be discovered through guided tours.

From the Place de la Comédie, you will see a dish-covered esplanade. Moreover, at the beginning of this one is the Tourist office . This esplanade leads to Corum , a building that houses an opera and conference room built in 1990 by Claude Vasconi. From its roof you will get a superb view of the Beaux Arts district and the back country. The Charles de Gaulle esplanade is often animated with markets, but also markets festivals season like Winter and Summer.

2. L’Écusson (Centre historique de Montpellier)

The best way to explore the medieval streets of Montpellier, in the Ecusson, is to leave your plan in your pocket and simply walk. Among the most remarkable streets, the rue de l’Ancien Courrier , a narrow arched street paved with polished white marble and lined with chic boutiques, and the beautiful rue des Trésoriers de la Bourse . To see beyond the beautiful facades, where architectural jewels are hidden, it is worth to book a guided tour with the tourist office, which has the key to most courses and stone staircases carved with private hotels.

At the turn of these little streets, you will fall on beautiful small places like that of the Church of Saint Roch with his trumpet the eye or the place de la Canourgue . Further south of the Place de la Comédie, you can admire the Tower of the Babotte . The building where the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is located is also remarkable.

3. The Arc de Triomphe

Forming the entrance door of the old town of Montpellier, the Arc de Triomphe, with a height of 15 meters, built in 1691 in honour of Louis XIV, is located at the end of Rue Foch and faces the Peyrou promenade. Just next door is the imposing Palace of Justice. Rue Foch is impressive for its beautiful 19th century buildings.

4. La Promenade du Peyrou

Pass under the bow of triumph and you arrive on the Promenade du Peyrou , a park high on two levels, dating from the 17th and 18th century, which offers a beautiful view both on the Cevennes and on the sea. It is indeed the highest point in Montpellier. At the centre stands an equestrian statue of the Sun King, dating from 1828, while at the west end of the terrace is a monumental water castle classified as a historic monument. It is powered by the aqueduc Saint-Clément , built between 1753 and 1766, and 14 kilometers long that ends with the 21,5 m high "Archiles". On both sides of the castles of water, stairs lead to the boulevard des Arceaux where the market stands.

5. The Jardin des Plantes

The oldest botanical garden in France , created in 1593 by Pierre Richer de Belleval, really deserves a visit. The poet Paul Valéry would have composed a few verses by passing on rose petals. Discover the tropical greenhouses, but also a 200-year-old Silver Abricotier (or Ginkgo) and a 16th or 17th-century Latifolia Phillyrea that served as a mailbox for lovers, who hid messages in the interstices of its noose trunk. From Peyrou, go down on boulevard Henri IV and you will fall on the garden of plants .

6. Saint Pierre Cathedral

Not far from the Jardin des Plantes is one of the most impressive buildings in the city of Montpellier. In the rue de l’Ecole de Médecine, Saint-Pierre Cathedral, in Gothic style, was founded in 1364 after the religious wars and restored in 1867. Its façade is adorned with its two impressive towers that serve as a huge arched entrance.

7. The Anatomy Museum and the Atger Museum

Nicknamed "The Horror Museum", you will find skulls, hearts, livers and difform lungs as well as bizarre sexual organs, all of these authentic specimens being preserved for centuries to help study anatomy. You'll have to pass in front of a two-headed fetus In a troubled glass jar. A strange and unusual museum that is part of best museums in the world .

The collections of medicine also have an exceptional set of drawings and prints gathered in Atger Museum . Right next to the Anatomy Museum and St. Peter’s Cathedral, the venerable Faculty of Medicine, a former Benedictine monastery, is home to this museum which is the oldest in Montpellier . The museum has a superb collection of drawings from French, Dutch, German, Italian and Flemish schools, with works by Rubens, Tiepolo, Carrache and Fragonard. To see some drawings, stored in sliding cabinets, you will need to pass through a dusty library with crunchy floor.

8. Taste wines and local cuisine

Montpellier is located in the first wine region of the world: The Languedoc-Roussillon (and now the Occitania) produces more bottles than many other countries. For about 20 years, the wine fields have been paying particular attention to quality. And the helping sun, the wines of the Languedoc are excellent, especially the red ones. Taste the wines of the Pic Saint-Loup , or Larzac Terraces! If you want to accompany a seafood dish, the Picpoul-de-Pinet is the all-designed white wine. It should be noted that every Friday, you can enjoy wines from local producers on the Charles de Gaulle esplanade with the Estivales.

If Montpellier does not really have an emblematic dish, the local gastronomy is mainly inspired by the Mediterranean, and many restaurants in the city serve mussels, crabs, oysters and fish stews, especially in the Beaux-Arts district. If you would like to find good addresses where to eat during your stay in Montpellier, go to the Bains (6 Rue Richelieu), Leclere (41 Rue de la Valfere) or Les 40 Degrés (35 Rue Saint-Guilhem). For the more bistronomic side, Saint-Roch and Saint-Anne neighborhoods are filled with good addresses. Go ahead and get your happiness.

Before leaving your home, take a box of Grisettes, honey and liquorice candy, made in Montpellier since the medieval era. The traditional packaging of these candy is very recognizable.

9. The Fabre Museum

The Fabre is the main art museum in Montpellier and houses one of the largest collections of French paintings outside Paris. The museum is located east of the Ecusson, and overlooks Esplanade Charles de Gaulle. Take the time to go, the permanent exhibition is worth it. And remember that the first Sunday of each month, the entrance is free. The Fabre Museum is open every day except Monday.

10. The district of Antigone

From the Place de la Comédie, head to the Polygone, a large shopping center with many shops, and cross it to the end. On the other hand, you will arrive in the Antigone neighbourhood . No, you haven’t changed town. Only architecture. The architect Ricardo Bofill has built this area that extends to the Lez River and is a beautiful example of post-modern architecture.

Enjoy the lawn of the Esplanade of Europe to admire the Hotel de Région On the edge of the Lez. Along the river you can also see the new constructions that are the White Tree, and the New Town Hall.

11. Nightlife in Montpellier

Montpellier is a student city, where people like to go out in after work or until late at night every night of the week. To learn more, read our article on nightlife in Montpellier .

12. A boat ride

If you are on the way to Montpellier, the time to spend a few days on holiday, don’t forget to enjoy its coastline and make a nice boat ride.

Indeed if rent a boat in Montpellier is impossible, there are many such as Palavas-les-Flots, Carnon or La Grande Motte just a few kilometers away. You can then enjoy the mediterranean during an afternoon, alone or with a skipper.

13. The Château de Flaugergues

In Montpellier, one madness describes any residence that served as a secondary residence in the aristocracy under the Old Regime, and Montpellier was one of the most important cities in France in the field of medicine, so that rich nobles had built special hotels in the suburbs of the city. The Château de Flaugergues is one of these madnesses and is considered by many as the most original of the city. The gardens are particularly beautiful, making this spectacular building a monument to visit in Montpellier. Address: 1744 Avenue Albert Einstein, Montpellier.

14. Go to the Pic Saint-Loup

The Pic Saint-Loup is a steep mountain located about 20 kilometres north of Montpellier. The highest peak at 658 metres is in a landscape surrounded by limestone cliffs and vineyards, the South of France factory brand. The summit is visible from a large part of the department of Hérault, and will inspire hikers and climbers. On foot you can climb the Pic Saint-Loup from the south side, on a trail of six kilometers from Cazevieille ( see the trace ). The path of the ridges from Saint-Mathieu de Tréviers ( see the trace ) is also very pleasant, as you pass next to the Chateau de Montferrand.

The vineyard terroir of the Pic Saint-Loup is one of the most famous of the Languedoc-Roussillon, so after your descent you will have the opportunity to visit the surrounding wineries and vineyards. Most of them produce fabulous reds, with assemblies of syrah, grenache and mourvèdre.

15. Take a look at the new Halles Laissac

Inaugurated on December 1, 2018, the new Halles Laissac are worth a visit if you visit Montpellier. Located in front of the Tower of the Babotte, this place is intended for gourmets: there is a caviste, a merchant of Corsican specialities or a pastry specialist in macarons. You can cook meats and fish on site. These new halls mark the revival of this neighborhood which deserves to take a tour. Open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm and Sunday from 8am to 1:30pm.

16. In the vicinity of Montpellier

Abbey of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert – Flickr – Fritz Geller-Grimm

• Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert
• Maguelone Cathedral
• Grotte des Demoiselles à St Bauzille de Putois
• Cave of Clamouse in St Jean de Fos
• Sète
• The beaches
• Leodève

Our workshop Montpelliérain

What if you become ostericult for half a day? For 50€ per person, participate in 2:30 with Yannick, who will share his knowledge of ostreiculture. Then put your hand to the dough and help Yannick in the different stages of the conchyliculture culture. Finally, go to quality control to close this iodine workshop by tasting a dozen oysters each, served with 2 glasses of wine.

How to get to Montpellier?

First of all, know that Montpellier is a very tourist city in the summer. Life is very pleasant but the students have returned and the premises are leaving on holiday. True, life does not stop, but from September, the rhythm resumes its course. In summer, the flagship activity remains the days at the beach. In the evening, the paillotes between Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone and La Grande-Motte are animated. The winters are rather mild but the months of January and February are usually quite cold.

To get to Montpellier, there is nothing simpler than taking the train, which will take you to the fully renovated Saint-Roch train station in the heart of the city centre. You can also fly to Montpellier Fréjorgues airport. Consult the best flights to Montpellier on Ulysses .

Where to sleep in Montpellier?

Although a student and young person, there is not a lot of youth hostel in Montpellier, but staying in this city is relatively accessible for tourists. You can read our guide to choose the sleeping area in Montpellier . To find a cheap hotel in Montpellier, search this Compare hotels .

Map & Plan de Montpellier

To help you, here's a map of Montpellier. Click on it to enlarge it.

Have you visited Montpellier? What did you think?