Southern France’s centre of education and culture

Montpellier is a hilly city in the south of France, situated on the River Lez. It is one of the fastest growing cities in France, helped by the burgeoning student population. Having been founded in the thirteenth century, the city’s university is one of the oldest in the world, and the modern city of Montpellier is a bustling, vibrant place when the student population are in residence. Throughout the summer Montpellier hosts several festivals celebrating arts and culture from cinema and theatre to dance and live music. Spending time in the heart of the city in the Place de la Comedie, you will feel the palpable sense of fun and activity in Montpellier, where the beautiful, ornate mediaeval buildings belie the modern progressive French spirit that drives this flourishing city.

Why Go?
Montpellier is a colourful and exciting city with plenty going on, especially throughout the summer. Enjoy art galleries and museums, shopping and festivals and a whole lot more in the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon Region. Book flights to Montpellier to experience France’s fastest growing city first-hand.

When to Go?
Montpellier enjoys warm summers with temperatures well into the high 20s. The summer festivals are an enjoyable experience so visiting Montpellier in June, July and August is highly recommended to imbibe theatre, dance, music and cinema. The student population ensures the city is teeming with youthful exuberance between October and June, so there is plenty going on throughout the year.

How to get there?
Flights with easyJet are available from London Gatwick and London Luton, as well as with Ryanair from Leeds Bradford. You can also fly from Southampton, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Manchester with Air France, but with a stop-off in Paris.

Must see
Visit the historic old town of Montpellier to see the impressive stately mansions and townhouses built in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. The university’s botanical gardens are a lovely place to spend some time soaking up the sunshine in beautifully verdant surroundings. The Place de la Comedie is the centre of the city and the place where you will find the opera house and theatres. Nearby is the Musée Fabre, which contains a large collection of paintings from a long list of French and Italian artists, as well as ceramics from Greece and other parts of Europe.