Montpellier
Temperature
29°
Time
10:10 AM
Montpellier
Montpellier has become one of Europe’s newest holiday destinations. This is due to the combination of its proximity to the Mediterranean, its beautiful medieval city core and a vibrant nightlife (a quarter of its citizens are students). It is also a good destination for adventure seekers – the mountains of Cévennes are only an hour’s drive away.Find your trip
This Roman Catholic cathedral is a national monument of France and was originally a church founded in 1364 (it became a cathedral in 1536). This stunning building has beautiful stained glass, wonderful old religious paintings and an attached garden. This is an attraction well worth a visit.
The original church was destroyed during the religious wars of the 16th century, but it is still an exciting historical destination. The name comes from the tables of the currency exchange that was linked to the spice trade, originally located in front of the church.
The museum is located in one of the buildings belonging to the Department of Medicine, and is the oldest museum in the entire city. It contains artworks carefully gathered by collector Xavier Atger, and displays works of Rubens, Tiepolo, Carracci and Fragonard, among others.
Pierre Richer de Belleval founded France’s oldest botanical garden in 1593. Today it is a charming array of tropical greenhouses, ancient trees and worn benches. The ancient trees provide plenty of shaded areas to make it a sought-after spot in the heat of summer.
Maguelone (or Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone), a few miles south of Montpellier, is home to a magical lagoon landscape with beaches, sand dunes, islands, and a gigantic 17th-century cathedral. There are plenty of relaxing and active pursuits to explore in the area - from water sports to bird watching.
A wide open beach that stands out and goes on for miles, a great place to swim and walk. The shallow water makes it safe for younger swimmers. This popular beach can get quite busy and crowded during summer time, but is well worth a visit. Touristic infrastructure is well-developed.
One of the biggest museums in France, exhibiting nearly 800 works with Flemish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and French collections. Admire works from the 16th-18th centuries from painters like Zurbaran, Reynolds, Tenier, Veronese and Monet. On display are ceramics, sculptures and contemporary paintings.
It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in town, and no wonder why - it contains 3,500 animals from nearly 300 species which fills the 24 pools. In addition, it represents a variety of marine landscapes and provides unique storm and hurricane simulators.
This Roman Catholic cathedral is a national monument of France and was originally a church founded in 1364 (it became a cathedral in 1536). This stunning building has beautiful stained glass, wonderful old religious paintings and an attached garden. This is an attraction well worth a visit.
The original church was destroyed during the religious wars of the 16th century, but it is still an exciting historical destination. The name comes from the tables of the currency exchange that was linked to the spice trade, originally located in front of the church.
The city’s gourmet crowd has frequented La Maison de la Lozère on rue Aiguillerie year after year. The rustic cooking has its roots in the Lozère area, an upland and scarcely populated part of Languedoc. The sampling menu is recommended for those with a good appetite.
It opened its doors in 1980 and is a cosy restaurant where you can eat pizza and homemade pasta - a true Italian restaurant. The friendly restaurant team serves food with tasty flavours and all made with fresh ingredients.
Burger'N'Co is an American diner-inspired restaurant and is a great place for juicy burgers. Take a seat inside and dine to classic rock'n'roll played in the background. To get that amazing taste, all burgers are prepared with fresh ingredients. The joint has 2 locations in the city.
La Coquille is a charming French restaurant located in the old part of the town on a romantic square, not far from the cathedral. It is usually packed with locals - a tell-tale sign when it comes to eateries. If the weather permits, take a seat in the outside terrace with a small flower garden.
Nestled Montpellier's district of Arceaux, this French restaurant offers gourmet food in a sophisticated yet warm atmosphere. The decor is modern with dark brown and white colours. The food is well-presented, making a meal hear a feast for the eyes as much as the taste buds.
Sicilia Beach is a family run restaurant, a hidden gem in Montpellier. On the menu you will find excellent Italian food and if you are very hungry, you have come to the right place, as the portions are known to be extremely generous. All the food and wine is reasonably priced.
The city’s gourmet crowd has frequented La Maison de la Lozère on rue Aiguillerie year after year. The rustic cooking has its roots in the Lozère area, an upland and scarcely populated part of Languedoc. The sampling menu is recommended for those with a good appetite.
It opened its doors in 1980 and is a cosy restaurant where you can eat pizza and homemade pasta - a true Italian restaurant. The friendly restaurant team serves food with tasty flavours and all made with fresh ingredients.
Rue de la Loge is the main shopping strip in Montpellier. The street starts at Place de la Comédie, and is a good starting point for city walks. There are many individual stores and boutiques lining the street on either side - from international High Street names to local independent shops.
There are many interior design, fashion and souvenir shops in the Old Town. Visit Zapa (on 18, Rue Foch) for their women’s fashions designed in-house, and go for the handmade notebooks at Trait (on 24, Rue de l’Aiguillerie). There are plenty of independent local and international chain stores to choose from.
Odysseum is a large open-air shopping and entertainment center. With its multiple stores and boutiques (featuring recognisable international High Street brand names), restaurants, cafes, a cinema, and the city Aquarium and Planetarium, it guarantees an enjoyable day out for the whole family.
A magical gem of a shop, this toy store with several themed rooms (Magical Forest or Spaceship, for example) will keep you browsing for hours. Look at artisan toys, card and board games, brainteasers, and a whole range of unique collector items - gift ideas await at every turn.
Le Polygone is a centrally located shopping mall, with a decent selection of stores and boutiques. It houses the famous French department store Galeries Lafayette, a Monoprix (another well-known French name), and various international brand shops (Mango, Gap, Zara, and Lacoste to name a few).
Dans Les Yeux de Gaia is an artisan shop dedicated to stones and minerals, products made with them and books on their use and meaning. The shop is full of curious, exquisitely colored stones, some of which are believed to possess special healing properties.
This weekly market gathers a plethora of vendors every Sunday in Montpelier's Peyrou Park. Items on sale are rather varied, and include anything and everything from textiles to books to jewelry. Many are authentic French pieces dating back to the mid- to late 20th century.
Foodies should certainly place this small shop on their Montpellier shopping itinerary - as the name divulges, the store specializes in olives (their many different varieties) and olive-derived products. Other gourmet delights are also on sale - both savory and sweet.
Rue de la Loge is the main shopping strip in Montpellier. The street starts at Place de la Comédie, and is a good starting point for city walks. There are many individual stores and boutiques lining the street on either side - from international High Street names to local independent shops.
There are many interior design, fashion and souvenir shops in the Old Town. Visit Zapa (on 18, Rue Foch) for their women’s fashions designed in-house, and go for the handmade notebooks at Trait (on 24, Rue de l’Aiguillerie). There are plenty of independent local and international chain stores to choose from.
Montpellier’s airport is located 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the city centre. It is a 15 minute trip with the airport coach to the Place de l’Europe tram stop. The service is provided by Hérault Transport: +33 4 34 88 89 99 www.herault-transport.fr Other alternatives include taxis and rental cars - both available for hire at the airport.
Montpellier has an extensive network of buses and trains. Most pass through the main train station en route. The developed transportation system makes it easy for travelers to reach destinations withing the city and in the suburbs. Consult the website for schedules. The city is a rather compact one and many places may be reached simply by walking. Alternatively, visitors are welcome to use the city bike rental system VéloMagg, which has dozens of stations all throughout Montpellier.
The best places to find taxis quickly are at Place de la Comédie (next to Opera Comédie), and at the train station. Taxis are not often hailed from the side of the road. Taxi Bleu Du Midi +33 4 67 03 2000 +33 4 67 10 00 00 contact@taxibleudumidi.fr Taxis Radio Artisans +33 4 67 58 10 10 Taxi Montpellier +33 6 58 10 50 10
All post offices are open Monday to Saturday. Stamps can be bought at tobacconists, and at newsstands. Central Post Office:
If you need urgent medical care call the medical emergency number, 15. They can give you free medical advice and direct you to nearest doctor or hospital. Pharmacie de la Comédie 1 Rue de Verdun, Montpellier +33 4 67 58 54 94 Pharmacie Polygone Centre Commercial Polygone 71 Rue des Pertuisanes, Montpellier +33 4 67 65 13 66
Country code: +33 Area code: 467
230 V, 50 Hz
Montpellier’s airport is located 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the city centre. It is a 15 minute trip with the airport coach to the Place de l’Europe tram stop. The service is provided by Hérault Transport: +33 4 34 88 89 99 www.herault-transport.fr Other alternatives include taxis and rental cars - both available for hire at the airport.
Montpellier has an extensive network of buses and trains. Most pass through the main train station en route. The developed transportation system makes it easy for travelers to reach destinations withing the city and in the suburbs. Consult the website for schedules. The city is a rather compact one and many places may be reached simply by walking. Alternatively, visitors are welcome to use the city bike rental system VéloMagg, which has dozens of stations all throughout Montpellier.
