Explore the sights and sounds of Montpellier

The French call it the ‘wonder child’, for the way this city in Occitania has prospered in recent decades. Discover why Montpellier is one of the true wonders of the south of France with LeShuttle.  

Why visit Montpellier in France? 

Imagine Paris bathed in Mediterranean sunshine, and you’ve got some idea of the charms of Montpellier – a historic city in the south of France, blessed with a wealth of beautiful sights, but also buzzing with youthful energy, thanks to its large student population. Montpellier is a melting pot of cultures, too, with many Spanish and North African influences, which can be seen in the city’s architecture and tasted in its gastronomy.  

This part of the South of France has no shortage of attractions, from the coastal cities of Nice and Marseille to the beaches of the Riviera and artistic havens like Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Whether you are choosing to use it as a base or as a city break in its own right, you’ll love discovering the many delights of Montpellier. 

Things to do and see in Montpellier  

The old town of Montpellier is an enchanting place to explore  

Stroll the lanes of the Écusson quarter

The old town of Montpellier is called the Écusson, a maze of narrow lanes with tall limestone buildings on either side. These atmospheric streets are full of little cafés, restaurants and boutiques, reflecting the cultures and influences that make up Montpellier’s past and present. You will smell exotic dishes, see locals sipping mint tea on terraces, and be able to shop for everything from big fashion brands to local crafts, textiles, antiques and ceramics. You’ll stumble on historic monuments like the Mikve, the medieval Jewish baths, and the Saint-Côme anatomy amphitheatre.  

Place de la Comédie

Pavement cafés line the Place de la Comédie 

At the heart of the Écusson is Montpellier’s main square, one of the largest in France. Known locally as ‘the egg’ (for its shape), on a summer’s day you could almost fry one on the paving stones of the Place de la Comédie, worn to a blistering sheen by centuries of footfall. Lined by bars, restaurants, shops and cafés, this is the meeting place of the city. Its two major landmarks are the Fountain of the Three Graces and the Opera Comédie, the Italian theatre house which gives the square its official name.  

Arc de Triomphe 

It’s not only Paris that has one! Montpellier’s triumphal arch was built in 1692 to celebrate the reign of Louis XIV, and is located on the Promenade du Peyrou. It’s possible to climb the 90 steps to the top of the arch, on a guided tour, which take place on selected dates through the year. In the summer you get a fantastic view as the sun is beginning to set, bathing the boulevards of Montpellier in a lovely glow.   

Cathedral St. Pierre 

The Cathedral of St. Pierre, adjoined by the Faculty of Medicine 

Down a steep lane in the Écusson you’ll find one of the icons of Montpellier – the cathedral of Saint Peter. It’s a wonderful example of southern Gothic ecclesiastical architecture, with a plain limestone exterior and incredibly imposing twin towers guarding an entrance canopy. Its fortress like appearance is no coincidence: this medieval cathedral survived centuries of war and religious unrest, most notably during the 16th century when it was attacked, laid siege to and looted numerous times. You can still see the bullet holes on the walls of one of the cathedral’s main towers. Entry is free.  

Faculty of Medicine  

At first glance you might think the building next to the cathedral is actually part of it. In fact it is Montpellier’s most notable institution, the Faculty of Medicine. Established in 1220 as part of the University of Montpellier, this is the oldest medical school still in existence. Montpellier is known as the ‘cradle of medicine’, and famous former students include the prophesier Nostradamus and the writer Rabelais.  

You can visit the historic rooms of the Faculty of Medicine on guided tours, held two days a week and costing €15 for adults. See the assembly room, with its portraits of former doctors and surgeons, the Conservatory of Anatomy, with over 5,000 models and specimens, and the anatomy amphitheatre, where some of France’s first ever human dissections took place. 

Promenade du Peyrou

The statue of Louis XIV and the Arc de Triomphe in the Promenade de Peyrou 

Montpellier is at its grandest, and most Parisian, in the Promenade du Peyrou, the huge ceremonial esplanade first laid out in the late 17th century. It comprises three major monuments, the Arc de Triomphe, the equestrian statue of Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’, and the water tower, all arranged in a straight line. Adding to the scene is the Saint Clément aqueduct, which brought water to the city’s fountains for 200 years. Walk under the arch of the Arc and take in the magnificent spectacle of this public park, where people relax in the shade of the trees, play games of petanque and walk their dogs.  

Musée Fabre

Montpellier’s museum of fine arts houses one of France’s most important collections of art outside Paris and the Louvre-Lens. Established in 1825, it includes major works of European painting from the Renaissance to the present day, as well as ceramics from ancient Greece. Among its most popular pieces are ‘The Fallen Angel’, by Alexandre Cabanel, and ‘View of the Village’, a masterpiece of impressionism by Frédéric Bazille, showing a landscape view of the local Hérault area. Entry to the museum costs €9 for adults.  

Family-friendly attractions in Montpellier  

The beach is just a short tram ride away! 

Planet Ocean 

The kids will love a day at Planet Ocean, Montpellier’s aquarium attraction that is one of the largest in the south of France. It’s an immersive experience, taking visitors on a voyage to every kind of sea habitat the world has to offer, from the storms of the Roaring Forties to the other worldly abyss of the deepest oceans. With over 400 different species at Planet Ocean, you’ll see sharks, penguins, jellyfish and rays right in front of you.  

Montpellier Zoological Park

Montpellier’s zoo is around a 20-minute drive from the centre of the city, in Lunaret park, the city’s largest green space. Rhinos, giraffes, zebras and leopards are just some of the animals housed in the zoo, which is entirely financed by the city council, meaning it is free to enter!  

Head to the beach

Take a 45-minute ride on the tram, with interiors and livery created by fashion designer Christian Lacroix, to Carnon-Plage or Palavas-les-Flots, the closest beach resorts to Montpellier. Follow the locals out here for refreshing dips in the Mediterranean. The sandy beach at Palavas-les-Flots is Blue Flag rated, and you’ll also find excellent seafood restaurants all along this seaside strip.  

Festivals and events in Montpellier

 Hot summer nights in Montpellier are full of music (Image credit: Peter Curbishley, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Internationales de la Guitare

Every September Montpellier plays host to the International Guitar Festival. Venues large and small, indoor and outdoor echo to the sound of strummed instruments, both acoustic and electric. All kinds of genres of music are on offer, including rock, jazz, flamenco, blues and folk. Just walk round the city while the festival is on and you’re bound to stumble on an impromptu gig. The festival helps to support local musicians and guitar makers.  

Les Estivales  

‘Les Estivales’ is a festival of food, wine and music that uses one of Montpellier’s greatest assets – its climate – to great effect. On Friday evenings at the height of summer people gather at the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle, buy wine and food from artisan stalls, eat and drink and listen to live music. What better way to spend a balmy summer night in the south of France? 

Driving to Montpellier from Calais 

It’s a drive of around 10 hours from the LeShuttle terminal in Calais to Montpellier. It’s a long journey that you will probably want to take a couple of days over, and split with an overnight stay. You could go via Paris, taking in the cities of Orléans and Clermont Ferrand, or further east via Reims, Dijon and Lyon. You’ll pay tolls on these routes of between €95-125. There is a low emission zone in Montpellier, so make sure you buy your Crit’ Air sticker before travelling to France. 

Book your trip to Montpellier with LeShuttle  

Experience the wonder of Montpellier with LeShuttle. It’s just a 35-minute crossing on LeShuttle from Folkestone to Calais.