Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Montpellier, France

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Montpellier, France

One remarkable fact about Montpellier, France is that Louis XIV who ruled from 1643 to 1715 made it the administrative capital of the Languedoc region. The region is famous for its wines. Montpellier is a city in southern France, 10km inland from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

The signature Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Pierre with its iconic conical towers, dates to 1364. The modern city is a tourist centre and the seat of the International Vine and Wine Fair. Its industries include food processing, metallurgy, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and textile weaving. The city’s Antigone district is a chic, modern development inspired by neoclassical motifs.

Why visit? Just outside the city, you’ll find endless beaches, the wineries of the Languedoc region, medieval towns and nature parks. Due to its diverse attractions, Montpellier ranks top among city break destinations in France. To further convince you to visit here are the top 10 remarkable facts about Montpellier, France.

 

 

1. Remarkable fact about Montpellier; It is a Historical Centre

Montpellier is a city rich in history! The historical centre of the city mixes eras and takes one back in time! In the Middle Ages, Montpellier was an important city of the Crown of Aragon (the birthplace of James I) and then of Majorca, before its sale to France in 1349.

Montpellier is very much a young upstart of a city when compared to its venerable roman neighbours of Nimes and Narbonne. The first settlement dates back to the late 10th century and passed into the hands of the Guilhem family who remained the city’s rulers until the early 13th century.

The cobblestone backstreets of the Old Town are a hive of history and souvenir hunting. Take a walking tour through the city to discover its medieval origins to its 19th-century heyday.

2.  Remarkable fact about Montpellier; It is a Uni Town

Reputed as a centre of learning particularly open to Jewish and Islamic thought, the established Schools of Medicine and Law received recognition as a University by Pope Nicholas IV in 1289. The University of Montpellier is renowned for its medical school, which is where Nostradamus qualified as a doctor.

Known for its many universities Montpellier is a young city! 70% of the population are students and the best-known universities are those of medicine and law. The University of Montpellier is one of the world’s oldest Universities, established in 1289 by William VII of Montpellier.

Montpellier is one of the most important university towns in the country, thus there are plenty of other young people and fun activities to do. If you decide to extend your stay to study higher education, you will have the perfect campus for your studies. Students comprise nearly one-fourth of its population, one of the highest such proportions in Europe numbering 70,000

3. Montpellier is the 8th Largest City in France

Montpellier is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the department of Hérault. In 2018, 290,053 people lived in the city, while its metropolitan area had a population of 787,705. The inhabitants are called Montpelliérains.

Since the 1990s, Montpellier has experienced one of the strongest economic and demographic growth in the country. Its urban area has experienced the highest population growth in France since the year 2000. Its living environment with one of Europe’s largest pedestrian areas along with its rich cultural life and Mediterranean climate, explain the enthusiasm of the city.

Montpellier was nominated for “Best Emerging Culture City of the Year 2017” by the think tank LCD. It is ranked well by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

4. Remarkable fact about Montpellier; FX Fabre Museum

 

The Museum ‘F.-X Fabre contains one of the richest French collection of Painting in existence. It is one of the biggest museums in France. It holds Flemish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and French collections, painters of the great European schools of the 16th to the 18th centuries (Zurbaran, Reynolds, Tenier, Veronese…) and of the French schools (Greuze, Ingres, Delacroix, Courbet, Bazille…), ceramics and sculptures, contemporary paintings.

The Fabre museum itself is an astounding work of art, an innovative combination of classic and contemporary architecture. Today, the museum offers over 800 works, 900 engravings and 3,500 drawings in its 9,200 m² exhibit area. All these have been laid out for you to admire the numerous masterpieces that have contributed to its reputation.

5. Montpellier is a Culinary Tourist Delight

There are so many great options for going out for a drink with friends that you will always need to find an excuse to go somewhere. It is amazing how many restaurants, bars, and cafes are hidden in the streets of the city. These are all perfect places to discover French gastronomy, regional wines, and the nightlife of the town. There is something for every budget!

You can stroll the streets past historical buildings while sampling local specialities, meeting merchants and getting historical and cultural tips. The culinary treasures on offer include delights such as pastry, olive oil, fine foods, cheeses and wines.

All gourmands must visit the central market stalls that are laden with local produce and authentic coffee roaster. To experience the simple, fresh and elegant food of the real south of France in this bustling and vibrant city, visit Montpellier.

6. Remarkable fact about Montpellier; Viticulture and Enology

For centuries, Montpellier has been an educational hub for viticulture and enology (winemaking). In the 13th century, the process of mutage (adding spirit to wine to stop fermentation and preserve sweetness) was invented in the Languedoc, hundreds of years before port wines were made. The sweet wines of the Languedoc are some of the most delicious sweet wines in the world.

Furthermore,  in the 16th century, sparkling wine was created by the monks near Limoux 150 years before Dom Perignon was made further north in the Champagne region of France. That was a happy day for the world of celebration worldwide! Everybody loves the bubbly wine from méthode ancestrale and also the Blanquette de Limoux and Crémant de Limoux.

7. Remarkable fact about Montpellier; Easy, Breezy Beaches

One of the great joys of Montpellier is its proximity to the beaches of the Mediterranean. The closest strip of golden sand to the city is at Carnon, which is 30 minutes away via tram (plus a 10-minute walk from the terminus). A day pass for public transport covers the journey and the beach has plenty of little cafes for fresh fish and cool drinks between bouts of sun-basking.

Further afield, there are more beaches at the resorts of Palavas-les-Flots and La Grande Motte, although you need a car for these. You can try activities like scuba diving and stand-up paddleboarding and don’t worry if you fall in — the water is lovely. Afterwards, the beach bars crank up for sundowner cocktails and sunset DJ sets.

8.  Montpellier the City of Sunshine

 

Located in the South of France, Montpellier enjoys a Mediterranean climate and the city is one of the sunniest cities in France with 300 days of sunshine per year! The climate is generally mild and can be defined as transitional Mediterranean, with relatively mild winters and hot, sunny summers.

Montpellier has a Mediterranean climate like the one found all around the Mediterranean coast of Europe. Montpellier has slightly cooler weather year-round (but mainly colder winters) than other cities in the French Riviera such as Marseille, Cannes and Nice, since it’s not protected by mountains.

Summers are hot and sunny with temperatures usually ranging from 30°C (86°F) to 18-20°C (65-68°F). Heat waves don’t usually affect Montpellier and temperatures above 32°C (90°F) aren’t that common. The record high is 37.5°C (99.5°F). Rainfall isn’t completely absent during the summer since light showers do occur sometimes.

9. Remarkable fact about Montpellier; Modern Architecture

In recent years many new districts have appeared, the city is a growing and unique contemporary architecture is part of the landscape! The Millénaire or les Rives du Lez are proof of this modernity!

The city has been growing for a while.  At first, it went north towards the hills. But, in a calculated decision to control the growth and make it something special, the town is spreading south to the sea. The initiative was hatched in 1977 by then-Mayor Georges Frêche.

The goal was to create the perfect city. The architectural team started with a blank canvas and turned the outskirts of Montpellier into a real-life laboratory of architecture. It is a total contrast to the old town and yet, it works.

10. Remarkable fact about Montpellier; It is a Green City

 the city of Montpellier is adorned with green and many actions in favour of ecology and the preservation of nature are implemented on a daily basis! such as parks and cycle paths.  Further, as a plus, it has a botanical garden dating from the 16th century that is free and open all year round!

Since April 2022, the residents of the metropolis of Montpellier can travel free of charge every weekend onboard buses and trams. This way, the mayor of Montpellier wants to improve the environment and living conditions, strengthen the attractiveness of local shops and reduce transport costs for residents and especially for families.

Montpellier became the first metropolis to implement free access to public transport. Mayor Delafosse is also constantly fighting for a green city that is crossed by numerous cycle lanes.

By implementing free transport, the mayor of Montpellier also improved the environmental conditions in the city. Under Delafosse’s mayoral term, the city of Montpellier also signed the first local pact for the ecological transition with the key players in the sectors of mobility and public works infrastructures.

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In this city that never stops, there is a schedule full of things to do every day of the year. The best part is that many of these activities are totally free. Entrance fees are often waived at some museums, the zoo, local photographic exhibitions, and even some musical concerts.