Montpellier is likely one of the finest cities to visit in France but it surely’s so underrated as a result of let’s face it, that is France we’re speaking about and there are such a lot of well-liked cities all throughout France that not all cities get fairly the eye they deserve.
It’s humorous as a result of most individuals know the title of town however once you go right down to the quantity of people that have visited it in comparison with say Paris or Nice or Bordeaux, these numbers do go down much more.
The factor is although, Montpellier is definitely an incredible metropolis to go to and there’s a lot to do within the metropolis and in addition simply exterior of town, making it an ideal spot so as to add to a French highway journey.
Anyway, sufficient waffle from me, listed below are the most effective locations in Montpellier that you have to take a look at once you go to.
1.) Place De La Comédie
The Place de la Comédie is a good spot to begin your journey to Montpellier because it’s type of the ‘coronary heart’ of town.
That is like town’s principal sq. and there are many bars and eating places dotted throughout right here so if you happen to’re undecided the place to pop into for a drink to chill off (as a result of Montpellier will get actually scorching in summer time), it is a great spot to pop into, granted with a tad increased costs than if you happen to enterprise out a little bit additional away.
Place de la Comédie can also be house to Opera Comedie, a completely attractive theatre with gorgeous interiors.
Usually, locations like this are typically ignored when visiting (it tends to be extra of a factor you do once you dwell there than say once you’re in Montpellier for a say a weekend) but it surely’s completely among the finest locations in Montpellier to go to if you wish to discover town like an area.
It’s price checking prematurely of visiting Montpellier for exhibits on the Opera Comedie so you possibly can plan appropriately and hang around with the locals in a quite grand vogue.
Afterwards, if you happen to’re fancying a go to to an area winery then book this tour from Montpellier. This unimaginable tour picks you up out of your lodge (so there’s no stress to find assembly factors) and whisks you away to the idyllic French countryside to strive some native wines and meals.
It’s so good, simply be certain to book this tour prematurely. Areas refill quick.
2.) Musée Fabre
Musee Fabre is completely one of many highlights of town and among the finest locations in Montpellier even if you happen to’re not an artwork buff.
It’s this grand museum which performs house to a lot unimaginable artwork from historic grand masters. We’re speaking about Botticelli, Monet, Raphael and so many extra.
There’s additionally a very cool gallery inside devoted to the work of Frédéric Bazille.
Musee Fabre is definitely thought to be among the finest artwork galleries in all of France which is saying so much.
We truly confirmed up right here intent on a fast go to earlier than going for lunch and located ourselves nonetheless right here 2 hours after the unique time we had been supposed to depart so it’s undoubtedly price setting apart a good bit of time to discover the place.
Read more: Visiting the museums of Montpellier
3.) Promenade Du Peyrou
Promenade du Peyrou is likely one of the finest locations in Montpellier to whereas away a sunny afternoon.
It’s a stunning type of mini-park subsequent to the Arc de Triomphe (which can also be price visiting for causes we’ll record beneath – spoiler alert, you don’t have to simply take a look at it from afar – you possibly can truly climb up inside it).
In Promenade du Peyrou you’ll discover an unimaginable statue devoted to King Louis the 14th of France, the well-known Solar King who known as the attractive palace of Versailles his house.
Right here, you’ll see the monumental equestrian statue dedicated to Solar King.
And if you happen to’re trying to depart Montepellier with one thing of an uncommon treasure, on Sundays there’s a flea market right here from round 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. that’s completely price visiting.
When you’re trying to simply go to to chill out, it’s price noting that there’s an natural farmers’ market on the Boulevard des Arceaux on the Boulevard des Arceaux (which is correct subsequent to this) the place you possibly can decide up some recent produce and have a little bit of an impromptu picnic within the park.
The farmer’s market at Boulevard des Arceaux is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays and runs from 7 a.m. to round 1:30 p.m.
4.) Cathédrale Saint-Pierre
No go to to Montpellier is full with out a go to to the wonderful Cathédrale St Pierre.
It’s indisputably some of the iconic buildings to go to within the metropolis and is as spectacular inside as it’s from the surface.
The Cathédrale St Pierre is taken into account to be crucial Gothic constructing in Montpellier.
It took round 200 years to construct and is completely free to go to (which suggests you have got even much less of an excuse to not).
Read more: 24 hours visiting Montpellier
5.) Château De Flaugergues
One of many locations individuals are inclined to miss out on visiting in Montpellier is the wonderful Château de Flaugergues and understandably in order many of the different locations to go to in Montpellier are inside straightforward strolling distance from one another and this one is a little bit bit additional out.
It’s price noting although that it’s solely like an hour’s stroll from the Place de la Comédie and only a 12-minute taxi experience so it’s not that far.
Château de Flaugergues is likely one of the finest locations in Montpellier to go to as a result of it’s obtained a good bit happening there so you possibly can very simply whereas away a number of hours.
There’s a restaurant, an ideal tour of the chateau itself, unimaginable gardens, wine outlets and a lot extra.
Simply be sure you ebook your ticket prematurely to keep away from any disappointment of not having the ability to get in on the day. You are able to do it on their website and it’s straightforward sufficient to take action.
6.) Jardin Des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes, is sort of actually the botanical gardens within the metropolis and is one other great spot to go to once you desire a little bit of downtime exploring in Montpellier.
Again within the day, Montpellier was thought-about to be a medicinal metropolis and as so many attention-grabbing medicinal vegetation might be discovered right here.
It’s type of a cool strategy to dip into the historical past of town through an uncommon route. The Jardin des Plantes can also be one among Europe’s first botanical gardens.
It was inbuilt 1593 below the orders of King Henri the 4th and has since then turn out to be a mannequin for a lot of different botanical gardens dotted throughout France.
Read more: 24 hours visiting Montpellier
7.) The Mikvé
The Mikve is likely one of the spots most individuals in Montpellier would by no means consider visiting and understandably so, because it’s type of hidden beneath town and you may solely entry it if you happen to ebook a tour with official guides from town.
For the uninitiated, a Mikve is a ceremonial Jewish bathtub which is finished to purify those that bathe in it.
This Mikve in Montepellier dates again to the thirteenth century making it one of many oldest in Europe.
It’s additionally among the finest preserved and is certainly among the finest locations in Montpellier to go to to get one other perspective on town’s historical past.
8.) Pic Saint-Loup
When you head up north in Montpellier, you’ll discover the Pic Saint-Loup which is an unimaginable mountain and one thing of an iconic image of this a part of the South of France.
I do should say, it’s not essentially essentially the most wise place to go to if you’re solely in Montepellier for a weekend because it does take a good bit of effort to go to, nevertheless, if you end up with extra time within the metropolis then it’s among the finest locations in Montpellier to go to for nature.
When you determine to go to, be sure you carry your climbing footwear with you as to get to the height of this mountain, you are able to do a six-kilometre path from Cazevieille, which is on the South facet.
In case you are planning on doing this hike from the North facet, it’s price getting a information to do that with as it’s trickier from there.
It’s price noting that there are many actually cool caves and vineyards all alongside this space so that they make for implausible distractions and certainly nice (and quite tasty) causes to do that hike.
Read more: 24 hours visiting Montpellier
9.) Arc De Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe, which you would possibly keep in mind I discussed earlier on is one other iconic a part of Montpellier.
Comparable in construction to Paris, it’s a grand monument that serves as is the royal entryway Promenade de Peyrou.
It was inbuilt 1693 so there’s a good bit of historical past right here. One of the best a part of the Arc de Triomphe is which you could truly go inside it and climb as much as the very high.
The view from the highest is, in fact, among the finest on the town and so it’s once more simply among the finest locations in Montpellier to go to for excellent views and a little bit of town’s historical past.
Talking of historical past, if you’re certainly one thing of a historical past buff, you’ll discover a go to right here quite fascinating and there are lots of reliefs and inscriptions on the arch price noting.
A few of mentioned notable sightings are the Canal des Deux Mers’s constriction and the Seize of Namur from the 9 Years’ Conflict.
And in a random little bit of trivia, this arch is often known as the Porte du Peyrou since it’s truly like a door to Place Royale du Peyrou.
Read more: 24 hours visiting Montpellier
10.) Place De La Canourgue
Now whereas the Place de la Comédie is likely to be the busiest sq. within the metropolis, the Place de la Canourgue is definitely the oldest sq. within the metropolis and undoubtedly price popping into.
It’s comparatively quieter and has a cute little backyard vibe, full with a unicorn fountain and a view of the cathedral within the background.
There’s not an entire lot to do there, it’s extra a spot to chill out in but it surely’s price popping into in your jaunt via Montpellier
11.) Saint-Guilhem-Le-Désert
There’s sufficient to do in Montpellier if you’re visiting for a comparatively brief time period (e.g. only for a number of days) however if you happen to do fancy a jaunt exterior town, a very lovely place price visiting from Montpellier is Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is likely one of the most attractive villages in France and appears like a village nestled within the facet of a mountain, nearly prefer it’s been carved from it.
Solely like 243 individuals dwell right here so it’s pretty quiet and I feel it simply provides to make for a extra well-rounded go to to this a part of France.
Once you’re there be sure you take a look at the early-ninth century’s Benedictine abbey, which is now a UNESCO-listed Heritage Website.
In Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, additionally, you will discover an unimaginable 18th-century organ which was constructed earlier than the French Revolution (designed by Jean-Pierre Cavaillé) and has been brilliantly preserved.
This organ is alleged to be among the finest works of Cavaillé, so it’s undoubtedly price making the time to see this piece.
Read more: 24 hours visiting Montpellier
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