Only 1000 years old
Montpellier is the capital of Languedoc-Rousillon, the biggest wine region in the world, set between the mountains of the Pyrenees and the Rhone River. The thousand-year-old city has preserved its architectural heritage, especially in the medieval center and its lanes. If you like the old stones, you should visit l’Ecusson (Historic Center), the Hotel Jacques Coeur, or the Renaissance Mansions. However, if you prefer the neo-classical baroque, then walk from the Place de la Comedie to the Polygone (shopping center) after which you will discover the Antigone area until the Regional Council City Hall.
In Montpellier, do not miss a visit to the Arc of Triumph, the Place Saint-Come, or the oldest medical faculty in the world where Rabelais and Nostradamus studied. Near here you will find the first Jardin des Plants of France, created in 1593 under Henry IV to help students in medicine, or another classical garden, the Royal Walk of Peyrou which is the prolongation of the very nice aqueduc Les Arceaux.
Originally, the name of Montpellier appeared for first time in 985. But there is a mystery about the name and the polemic is still active today. The city has a rich history, was developed around a line called Via Domitia of the Romans in the north, the salt’s road in the south, and the pilgrims to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle.
Attractions
Montpellier is full of historical constructions, monuments, statues and churches. There is the Cathedral Saint-Pierre and museums like the famous Musee Fabre. Walking on the Place de la Comedie, you can start from the Theatre in front of which are Les Trois Graces, a well known statue, with a lot of cafes around. You will arrive at the Esplanade d’Europe, where there are fountains and trees, and finally at the Corum, the very famous Congress Palace. From the roof of the Corum, you will see the mountain Pic Saint-Loup in the north, and the Mediterranean Sea in the south. Going back to the Place de la Comedie, I suggest you then walk to Rue des Etuves and rue Jean Moulin, rue de l’Ancien Courrier, rue de l’Aiguillerie. They are typical streets of the old city and have many shops, restaurants and bars. If you wish to taste local products, and of course cheeses and wines, go in the morning to the market of Les Arceaux under the aqueduc.
General Info
In the south of France, 800 km from Paris, Montpellier is half way between Italy and Spain. It is 6 km from the Mediterranean Sea. There are 350,000 habitants, including 60,000 students. There is almost no factories, but many famous universities. Montpellier is known everywhere for medicine. It is a city of culture, festivals, congress and sport with wonderful nature around.
Getting There
Planes
22 flights a day from/to Paris.
Direct flight from/to Lille, Strasbourg, Nice, Bordeaux, Corsica and others.
Daily flights from/to London (British Airways)
Weekly flights from/to Copenhagen (Cimber Air)
Weekly flight from/to Oran (Air Algerie)
Air Littoral, the company of Montpellier, has connected flights to major European cities in Nice.
Other companies: Air Liberte, AOM, Regional Airlines, Air France.
Trains
Quite new and effective in June 2001: everyday 11 trains TGV (HST) from/to Paris (gare de Lyon) in only 3 hours and 15 minutes! Two of them are non-stop. The first train is at 6:24am. Price is only 32,01 Euro if you buy the ticket “Decouverte J30″ between 60 and 30 days in advance, and 51,07 Euro if
you buy “Decouverte J8″ between 30 and 8 days in advance. The full price is 61,89 Euro but most of the people use one of the many discount fares of the SNCF.
There is also a new cheap night TGV service, slower, which starts from Paris (gare de Lyon) at 23:39 and arrives in Montpellier at 8:19 for a price of 35,06 Euro in second class and 42,68 Euro in first class.
Another very convenient system is to take one of the six TGV from Paris CDG airport in connection with your flight. No need to go to the Paris station. The first TGV for Montpellier leaves CDG airport at 7:32 and the last at 20:05. You can also reach Montpellier by TGV from Lille in less than 5 hours, Brussels, London, Geneva in 3 hours 45 minutes, Lyon, Marseille in 1 hour 20 minutes.
Regional trains are known under “TER Languedoc-Roussillon” and you can find details, timetables on the SNCF site.
Buses
The international and regional bus station is close to the train station, one minute from the Place de la Comedie, center of Montpellier.
Here there are offices of Eurolines, Linebus, Iberbus. Eurolines has direct lines between Montpellier and Barcelona, Madrid, Marakech, Roma, Venezia, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin, Prague and Belgrade. From most of other European cities, you have to get connected
buses in Paris, Lyon. Iberbus and Linebus have regular lines from /to Spain, Morocco, Belgium and England.
The regional company, “Courrier du Midi”, can take you from small cities or villages to Montpellier. Another company, “La Populaire”, sells tickets to/from Millau and Rodez in the Aveyron.
The TaM, new name of public transport of Montpellier and district, have many relations between 15 villages around, and you can use a “one day ticket” (around 3 Euro) or a “7 day ticket” (less than 10 Euro) anywhere in the city of Montpellier or the district. Remember the bus 17 to/from Palavas-les-Flots (the nearest beach) is extremely crowded in summer.
The international and regional bus station is close to the train station, one minute from the Place de la Comedie, center of Montpellier. There are direct buses from/to Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, east and north Europe. There are offices of Eurolines, Linebus, Iberbus in the bus station or near by.
Getting Around in Montpellier
My own experience is to choose to visit Montpellier by foot or by bicycle – now there are near 150 km of cable tracks in the city and suburbs. There are many pedestrian areas and little streets where cars cannot go.
“Vill’ a velo” (Go by bike) – You can rent a bicycle from “Vill a velo”. The new office is in the Tam office, rue Maguelone, in front of the train station, only 20 meters after the McDonald’s. The price is 6 Euro a day, or less for more days, and you have to deposit around 150 Euro by cash or credit card. You will get a detailed map and route sheets from the Tam office. It is possible to take your bike on the tram during off-peak times. Throughout the city there are 1200 individual bike parks.
To go by bus or tramway (same ticket) will be necessary if you want to go to La Paillade, place of markets, flowers market, flea market, or to the Odysseum, the new area with cinemas, an ice rink, and soon many attractions and shopping centers.
Accomodation
A few hotels like Etap Hotel, Novotel, Ibis or Campanile can be reserved on line.
Cheap hotels, less than 25 Euro (US$20):
system.
Cheap hotels, less than 40 Euro:
Other hotels, more than 40 Euro:
Internet Cafes
You will find the adresses of public and private Internet cafes here:
http://www.cyber-base.org/Montpellier/acces.htm
The Nautilus, Cybersurf and Planete 2000 are popular. Many photocopy shops in the Rue de l’Universite offers cheap services for Internet. I just found recently a cheaper new place, about 200 meters from the station, “Hall the Net” , 5 rue Clos Rene (04.67.06.00.53). Price is 1,5 Euro (10,FF) per hour.
