Montpellier Travel Guide, France

Montpellier is a city located south of France and around 6 miles inland from the Mediterranean coast. The name Montpellier is a newer name for the city since originally, the city was known as Monspessulanus. The older name of the city stands for ‘mont pele’ which literally means as the naked hill. The place was called as the naked hill since the vegetation in the area was poor. The name of the city can be traced to le mont de la colline which means the mount of the hill. When traveling to this city, remember these facts:

   City life in the now modern time Montpellier is centered on the pedestrian-friendly Place de la Comedie.

   The Opera House is a focal point in the city and its design can be traced back to the ornate look of the Charles Garnier of the Paris Opera. This is the center of tourism in the city and is great for walking tourists.

   Visitors can check out Charles de Gaulle. This is one of the places to be for those who seek bargains. Each morning, this place comes to life with the many markets sprouting like mushrooms.

   Tourists can access the modern concert hall and the conference center Corum. Great products and food items can be sampled in these markets and tourist can get a taste of the well-known Pelardon goat cheese, the savory olive and bacon fougasse breads and the oysters.

   Shopping is present too in the city of Montpellier and most of the shopping activities are concentrated on Rue de la Loge.

   If the tourist will travel from Place de la Comedie, then he can easily visit the old town where a wealth of elegant mansions and courtyards can be seen. Some of the courtyards and mansions in the old town date back to the 15th and the 18th centuries.

   The city of Montpellier is also known for its educational institutions. For example, the University of Montpellier is a known name in academic circles, and this institution is considered as one of the oldest in the world. This university was suppressed during the French Revolution but was re-established once again in 1896.

In addition, a number of festivals are hosted in the city and these festivals and events reflect the true nature and identity of the city. One such festival is the Festival de Radio et Montpellier. This is actually a summer festival of opera and the music hosted in this city south of France. The music that is played in the festival is focused mostly on the classical music and jazz. Around 100 events are hosted in the festival and the events range from opera to concerts. The majority of the events here are for free and often held at the historic courtyards of the city of Montpellier. Some of the events under this festival are hosted at the Le Corum, just one of the many modern concert halls in the city of Montpellier. The city of Montpellier is a great destination for those looking for fun and the so-called Mediterranean ‘art de vivre’.

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• St. Guilhem le Désert
  travel tip by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
  Close to Montepeiller, there is the village St. Guilhem le Désert. This medieval village is one of the most beautiful ones of France and lies on the way of the Jakobspilgrimage. At the central place of St.Guilhem there is the backery...

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