5 Reasons Why It’s Worth Visiting Montpellier in France

Being so into travel, I often have a mental image of a place before I visit. Whether I’ve seen photos or read about a destination, I have an inkling of what’s in store for me. But that wasn’t the case when I chose to visit Montpellier, France – the city was basically a blank slate to me. Which is weird for a city of its size, being the third largest city by the Mediterranean in France after Marseille and Nice.

There’s probably multiple reasons why Montpellier tourism hasn’t taken off in the same way it has for its neighbours. Perhaps it’s because there’s no single stand-out attraction there, despite there being plenty of places to visit in Montpellier.

Or it could be because this university city lies inland and many come to this part of France for the coast. Who knows. All I know is that Montpellier is worth visiting and is the perfect size to spend a day or two exploring. And if other tourists choose not to go here, it just means you don’t have to share.

Charming Old Town Streets

I find it hard to resist an atmospheric old town with lots of quiet streets to wander. Montpellier has that in spades. The city sprung up in around the 10th century and much of the historical centre has kept the narrow, meandering streets you find from the Middle Ages.

Montpellier was actually quite a major city back in the 13th century which explains why it has such a large old town. Add in tall buildings with the quintessential look from the South of France and you have an old town that’s a treat to explore.

Each day I was in Montpellier, I chose a different side of the city to stroll about. With so few people down the backstreets, it’s easy to soak up the scenery and be present in the moment. Tell yourself you’re walking through medieval streets of a pretty city in the South of France and it’s hard not to feel lucky.

Grand Architecture for a Grand City

Once you get away from the city’s backstreets that’s when Montpellier takes things up a notch. Right through the heart of the city, streets and squares are overlooked by gorgeous and grand buildings. Renaissance architecture is present throughout this area and it immediately makes you realise that Montpellier isn’t some minor, unimportant city.

Place de la Comédie, a large square on the edge of the Old Town, is a common starting point for trips to Montpellier and quickly makes an impression with its ornate buildings. Continue through the city centre to Place des Martyrs-de-la-Résistance and up to the Porte du Peyrou. By the time you reach the imposing arch you’ll have seen countless stunning buildings, which will make you wonder why you hadn’t heard of Montpellier’s beauty sooner.

Plenty for Tourists to See

Even ignoring the architecture and the old town streets, there are plenty of Montpellier attractions for visitors to discover. So if you wondering what to do in Montpellier, there’s no need to worry.

Let’s start with the city’s Arc de Triomphe, also known as the Porte du Peyrou. This majestic 17th century gateway is definitely a must-see sight, but also boasts a viewing terrace on top that lets you enjoy the city from new heights.

Closeby at the end of the Promenade du Peyrou lies the Château d’eau, a monument that marks one end of the Saint-Clément Aqueduct. Up by the “chateau” you can look out along the 18th century aqueduct as it stretches off into the distance.

Head down hill from all that and you’ll soon find Montpellier Cathedral, a massive building with two colossal columns guarding its entrance. Then there are the various other churches around town that are each hard to ignore in their own way.

Those are just some of the things to see in Montpellier that immediately spring to mind. I hadn’t even touched on places to visit in Montpellier that I missed, like La Tour de la Babote or the supposedly fantastic Musée Fabre art gallery.

Different Neighbourhoods

It’s always nice when you explore a city and find neighbourhoods that have their own look and feel. That’s certainly the case with Montpellier. So far I’ve only been talking about the city’s historic centre, but there are other districts in Montpellier worth visiting.

For starters there’s the St Roch area around the train station that’s loaded with Renaissance architecture and palm trees. Train stations can often have seedy surroundings but I didn’t feel that with Montpellier. Then there’s the quiet, residential neighbourhood of Les Aubes where I stayed. Despite its proximity to the city centre, it felt really suburban and relaxed.

But I think the most interesting district here is Antigone. This is the somewhat-modern district that stretches from the Old Town to the Lez River. The area was redeveloped in the 90s and features promenades and plazas lined with elegant Neo-classical architecture. It’s all rather unexpected as Antigone feels like the city centre of a completely different city.

While there, be sure to walk right down Esplanade de l’Europe until you reach the river. On the far bank you’ll find modern-modern Montpellier, including futuristic buildings like the L’arbre Blanc apartments above, which reminds me of a pineapple.

Quiet and Leafy City

Whenever I’m exploring a dense urban area like a city centre, staring at stone walls can get old quick. Which is why I always value parks and little squares or courtyards with a bit of greenery. Montpellier is a place where finding those green spaces is never hard.

The two most prominent park areas are the huge Charles de Gaulle Esplanade and the far more refined Promenade du Peyrou. Both are pleasant places for a stroll or to eat your lunch, but the Promenade du Peyrou also offers up some nice views as well.

However Montpellier is also full of small squares covered by green canopies. Some just have playgrounds and park benches, but others are full of cafe and restaurant seating. The perfect example of that is the square by St Roch Church, which was perhaps the liveliest place I saw when I was there. What was nice though was that you could feel the community spirit as people got together with friends and family for drinks and food. Just a nice slice of local life to experience.

Travel Tips for Visiting Montpellier

Having covered why Montpellier is worth visiting, let’s get to what info you need for when you do. Like most places I’ve been in France, I found Airbnb to be the best option for places to stay in Montpellier. Yes, there are plenty of apartments and hotels in Montpellier but prices are higher than budget travellers would like.

As for getting to Montpellier with public transport, you have your pick of bus and train. Travelling by Flixbus there are connections to other major cities and destinations in the South of France like Marseille and Toulouse. To get from the bus station into the city take the number 2 tram, with a ticket costing €1.60.

For train travel, there are intercity, regional and TGV trains linking everywhere up as well. Just remember that Montpellier has two train stations, St Roch and Sud de France, the second of which is a long way out.

Do you think you’d want to visit Montpellier when in the South of France? If you’ve been, what are some other things to do in Montpellier France? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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