Montpellier walking tour & city guide

Place de la Comédie and the Écusson

Place de la Comédie, one of the largest pedestrian squares in Europe, is the city's grand living room, anchored by the Opera House and the Fountain of the Three Graces. From here, the Écusson, the shield-shaped historic center, unfolds as a tangle of narrow lanes with elegant 17th and 18th-century mansions, hidden courtyards and boutiques.

The Saint-Pierre Cathedral, with its unusual porch supported by two massive towers, stands next to the Faculty of Medicine, founded in the Middle Ages.

The Peyrou and modern Montpellier

The Promenade du Peyrou is a grand 17th-century terrace with a statue of Louis XIV, a triumphal arch and an elegant water tower fed by the Saint-Clément aqueduct. The Musée Fabre is one of the finest art museums in the south of France.

The city is also known for bold modern architecture, from the neoclassical Antigone district to striking contemporary buildings. Its stylish trams, decorated with colorful designs, are a pleasure to ride.

Sea and surroundings

Mediterranean beaches like Palavas-les-Flots are a short tram and bus ride away, and the canal town of Sète, the medieval walled city of Aigues-Mortes and the Pont du Gard are easy day trips. Montpellier enjoys around 300 days of sunshine a year.