Montpellie travel guide

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Montpellier really is special. Broad boulevards lined with shady plane trees, a huge car-free central square laid out in the 1700s surrounded by elegant balustraded buildings, is a short description of Montpellier. Montpellier is a city in the south of France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, as well as the Hérault department. The population of the commune of Montpellier at the 2006 census was 251,392, whereas the whole metropolitan area had a population of 600,000 in 2006. In 2008, the estimated population of the metropolitan area was 533,000.

Fast Facts

√ Musee Fabre : - On the west side of Montpellier Old Town, stands the Musée Fabre which showcases a picture gallery consisting of works by old Italian and Dutch painters, as well as older and more modern French masters and fine 18th C. sculptures.

√ Promenade du Peyrou : - Promenade du Peyrou, an elevated park on two levels, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, offers a splendid view of the Cévennes and the sea. At the intersection of the promenades there is an equestrian statue of Louis XIV, dating back to 1828, while at the western end of the terraces stands a water-tower.

√ Chateau de Castries : - 7 Km long aqueduct draws water for Château de Castries to the grotto garden. Two pools are also filled by the water. Beyond a terrace that is present before the house, is a pool and still further is woodland.

√ Fairy Grotto : - Locally known as Grotte des Demoiselles, this spectacular cave is 120 meters long and 52 meters high. It is full of rich decorations and has been called the "Subterranean Cathedral." There are numerous limestone rocks in exquisite shapes and colorful stalagmites, stalactites, draperies and cascades as well.

• Place de la Comedie : - Situated between the train station, the historic city center and the Polygone shopping center, this immense, pedestrianized square is the heart and soul of Montpellier. This extensive square is the site of major open-air shows and daily street entertainment.
• Centre Communautaire Culturel Juif : - This center organizes and publicizes activities in Montpellier which promote a better understanding and appreciation of Jewish culture. These activities are open to all and include conferences, films, poetry readings and meetings with artists.
• Musee de la Pharmacie : - This museum displays objects from the history of medicine, pharmacy and surgery. One mustn't forget that Montpellier was the first city where the teaching of medicine was established during the middle Ages. Among the many curiosities on display are herbariums, decorated vases from the pharmacies of yesterday and surgical instruments.
• Jardin des Plantes : - The garden is a peaceful haven from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding metropolis. It contains a wide variety of both indigenous and exotic species, as well as several trees that date back to when the garden was founded. Other features of this beautiful garden include an Orangery, tropical greenhouses, a bamboo garden, rock gardens and even a small duck pond.

→ Museums & Galleries

→ Cinemas and theaters

→ Bars and Clubs

There are a variety of restaurants in Montpellier which offer a variety of food stuff. Some of these restaurants include :

♦ Bains(Les) : - Fish and seafood.
♦ Jardin des sens(Le) : - French and contemporary.
♦ Roule ma Poule : - Bistros & Brasseries
♦ Jardins de Marrakech : - Mediterranean, African, Middle Eastern & North African.

Shopping in Montpellier is divided into three main areas :

◊ The boutiques dotted throughout the back streets of the city.

◊ The Polygone shopping centre just off the Place de la Comedie.

◊ The hypermarkets of all shapes and sizes on the outskirts.

√ Take a walk on the Esplanade one day when the weather is nice. Lined with trees, benches, a couple of outdoor restaurants, and often the tents of a market selling clothing and food, the Esplanade is a lovely place to spend the afternoon.

√ Visit the zoo, 50 avenue Agropolis, Montpellier. The zoo has an outside part with lions, bears etcetera (free admission), and an inside part with an Amazonic forest.

√ Bikes : - Bikes can be hired to travel around the city and visit different places.

√ Bus : - Montpellier has a comprehensive public bus system.

√ Cars : - Cars can also be availed to travel around the city and there are a lot of parking lots as well for the convenience.

√ Tram : - The trams tend to be very pleasant way of travelling across the city; they are clean, comfortable, and offer a better view of the city as a whole.

→ Air : - Montpellier's airport is only 8km southeast of the town. Air France flies at least four times daily to Paris (Orly and Roissy). Ryanair operates daily to and from London (Stanstead).

→ Train : - Major destinations from Montpellier's train station are Paris' Gare de Lyon by TGV, Carcassonne, Millau and Perpignan. More than 20 trains daily go to Nîmes and Narbonne.

→ Bus : - The bus station is an easy walk from the train station. Hérault Transport runs hourly buses to La Grande Motte. Eurolines has buses to Barcelona and most European desinations. Linebus has services mainly to Spain.