Some people want to visit Montpellier in summer, enjoy the sun, the proximity of the Grande bleue, but do you know that the Hérault metropolis is all the more pleasant to see during the shoulder seasons. When it lives at the rhythm of its many students and when the mild temperatures and often clear skies make the city a place you want to adopt right away. Strolling through the medieval streets, the dozens of small squares and the varied cultural offer are all arguments that make this city, both ancient and modern, a trendy landmark in a setting and a region with more than one exceptional point.
Heading for the centre of Montpellier
The centre of Montpellier is called the Crest, as a reminder of its long history and the announcement of walks that reveal many treasures. Montpellier is appreciated for its many squares such as the Jean Jaurès, Saint-Anne and Saint-Côme squares, where numerous terraces are held, making it a meeting place for residents and visitors who come to relax over a drink. Others have an even more remarkable atmosphere, such as that of La Canourgue, from where we take the time to observe the Palace of Justice and the Arc de Triomphe in the middle of a green setting that calls for relaxation. In Saint-Roch, which takes its name from the 19th century church, you can sit on the square and admire the trompe-l'oeil unveiled by the facade opposite, which refers in several respects to the history of the city. Finally, there is the place of the Comedy, the inevitable. The 19th century architecture of the buildings that compose it plunges you into an atmosphere that is both chic and historic, and several details attract the eye: the opera Comedy, the Fountain of the Three Graces or simply the artists who have come to express their talent to passers-by. Continuing on to the Esplanade, we discover the Corum conference centre, one of the most important in Europe and then the Fabre Museum. This former 17th century private mansion houses paintings by masters such as Delacroix and Courbet and just behind it, you enter a labyrinth of medieval streets that offers a journey through time and where you can examine 80 private mansions in minute detail. Not to mention the Faculty of Medicine, the oldest in the West, of which a certain Rabelais was a student. Its flamboyant architecture makes it one of the most beautiful monuments in the city, a place not to be missed under any circumstances and which has greatly contributed to giving Montpellier an international dimension.
Immersion in the unusual Montpellier
If Montpellier is passionate about the richness of its historical heritage, it has not forgotten to live with the times, in order to make the city a territory that is also modern and forward-looking, an attractive territory for those who wish to settle there. Over the years, we have witnessed the development of what could be called a Contemporary Montpellier, where several renowned architects have signed on to astonishing monuments. Starting with the Town Hall, designed by Jean Nouvel and François Fontès, who designed a metallic monument whose sunlight varies the shades of blue. Here and there in the city, you have the opportunity to marvel at the many contemporary buildings, by joining Avenue Raymond Dugrand and its elegant buildings, by touching the sky at the Folie Divine in the Lironde district or by spending a moment of entertainment at the Odysseum, a leisure centre that houses cinemas, restaurants, planetarium and aquarium among others
Another point is worth mentioning, as it is a curiosity in its own right: the bed of the Verdanson River. Why is this place so amazing? Because it is the one where famous graffiti artists have used the walls as a canvas to express their art. Gigantic letters, blue moon faces, in this concrete no man's land located 4 meters below the roadway level, thematic tours are now organized to present Street Art, the flagship artistic practice of urban culture.
Escapades in the Montpellier region
Of course, there is the metropolis of Montpellier, its architectural treasures and its fabulous gardens such as the Garden of Plants and the Garden of Peyrou with its romantic royal alleys where it is pleasant to settle down and take the time to relax in all seasons. There is also the park of the Domaine du Méric where poppies bloom in April, spotting many Montpellier residents who have come to stroll along the banks of the Lez and take a picnic break at midday. Le Lez, which can also be cycled from the city to the sea. They are the testimony that the city definitely wants to be a green city. But it does not make you forget that it is located in a region of great beauty and which shelters sites to discover in autumn or spring, in a quiet, far from the crowds. Only 25 minutes from Montpellier, hiking enthusiasts can take the paths that lead in about 1 hour to the Pic Saint-Loup, visible from any part of the department. After contemplating the vegetation, oaks and pines, we reach the summit, at an altitude of 658 metres and there, near the chapel, we simply enjoy a sublime view of the scrubland. By car or bus from Montpellier, you can also reach the Cirque de Navacelles, a sublime and unique canyon that offers an unforgettable show. Below, there is the village of Navacelles, where you can stop and hear the river flowing in a waterfall. This site, located in the Causses and Cévennes region, is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a testimony to its exceptional character.
Then there are the vineyards which reveal magnificent residences such as the Château de la Mogère and the Château de l'Engarran whose afterworks every 3rd Thursday of the month allow you to discover the wines.
And what about the Mediterranean? The beaches of Palavas-les-Flots, Espiguette and Petit et Grand travers are ideal on sunny days for walks in the wind and the sound of the waves. The one in Villeneuve-les-Maguelone, 9 kilometres long and unspoilt by any construction, enchants with its unspoilt nature and the feeling of never stopping. We also discover the cathedral of Saint-Pierre-de-Maguelone on the peninsula, a green setting where the vines testify to the long wine-growing tradition
A lively city all year round
No need to wait until summer to be busy in Montpellier. Its cultural facilities, as well as a large number of events, allow visitors to enjoy a vibrant cultural offer and artistic scene. The Berlioz opera-comedy, the Jean Vilar theatre, the Domaine d'O, the Sud de France Arena and museums such as the future MoCo, a contemporary art centre, offer the opportunity to enjoy a variety of shows and exhibitions of classical art as well as the most contemporary works
Sports enthusiasts also have enough to attend beautiful events. The city is particularly proud to welcome every year some of the biggest names in men's tennis, during the Open Sud de France at the Arena in Montpellier
Various events take place in the city in autumn, winter and spring. We think of festivals that are not the property of the summer season. Thus, the Mediterranean Cinema Festival at the end of October and Les Internationales de la guitare over the same period have enough to warm up the arrival of the winter period. Saperlipopette Mai is another highlight in spring, dedicated to the whole family, with a multitude of shows in various and varied fields. In Montpellier, people sing, dance, listen, look at, at any time, in a metropolis that never falls asleep.
