Montpellier

Montpellier offers travelers a range of cultural perspectives: art collections, architectural history, botanical gardens, and public squares. When looking for a hotel for your stay, these interests can shape how you experience the destination. Each place is distinguished by its collections, historical periods, and visiting conditions.

Art, manuscripts, and the history of medicine

The Musée Fabre offers a journey through European art history, from the Renaissance to the present day. Artists represented include Veronese, Rubens, Delacroix, Courbet, and Soulages. A large group of paintings by Pierre Soulages was added to the collection in 2005 as a gift from Pierre and Colette Soulages. The museum thus brings together a broad sweep of art history and the story of a specific donation.

The Musée Atger has a different focus. It is Montpellier’s oldest museum and houses around 1,000 drawings and 5,000 prints from the French, Italian, and Flemish artistic traditions. The Bibliothèque Historique Universitaire holds medieval literary and religious manuscripts alongside medical works by Hippocrates, Galen, and Avicenna. The collections thus span painting and printmaking, written records, and the history of medicine.

The medical faculty of the University of Montpellier is also part of this historical theme: it is considered the oldest medical university; on August 17, 1220, it was granted the status of a Universitas medicorum. Those interested in the history of medicine will therefore find, alongside the works in the library, a connection to the faculty’s institutional history.

Gothic architectural history and guided tours

The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre is an example of Southern French Gothic architecture. Its history includes two distinct dates: the chapel of the collegiate monastery of Saint-Benoît and Saint-Germain was consecrated in 1364. In 1536, the building was elevated to cathedral status when the bishop’s seat was moved from Maguelone to Montpellier. The 1364 consecration refers to the chapel; the 1536 elevation refers to the building’s status as a cathedral.

The Arc de Triomphe was built in 1692 on the site of a former gate in the city walls. It can be accessed only as part of guided tours run by the tourist office; on such a tour, visitors can climb to the top and enjoy views of Montpellier and its surroundings. The Mikvé can also be visited only as part of certain tourist office tours: “L’Essentielle” and “Mikvé, un joyau préservé.” If you plan to take one of these tours, check the current tour dates and availability in advance.

Botanical gardens and public squares

The Jardin des Plantes is France’s oldest botanical garden. Pierre Richer de Belleval established it in 1593, on the orders of Henry IV, to promote medicine through medicinal plants. Visitors can discover bamboo, orange trees, a lotus pond, a cactus greenhouse, and a garden of aromatic plants on a stroll through the grounds. Its origins and varied plant areas give the garden both botanical and historical significance.

The Promenade du Peyrou is a spacious viewpoint featuring an equestrian statue of Louis XIV and a water tower designed in the 18th century. The promenade also hosts Les Dimanches du Peyrou, a large flea and antiques market. If the market is important to your travel plans, check the current date in advance.

The Place de la Comédie is one of Europe’s largest pedestrian areas and a gateway to the tram network. Tram lines 1 and 2 stop there. Check the current timetable for your specific journey. The city’s different highlights can help you plan: art collections, architectural history, botanical gardens, or public squares can each set the cultural tone for your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: La Livinière, Le Caylar, Teyran, Cournonterral, Bédarieux, La Mausse, Aumelas, Saint-Saturnin-De-Lucian

For the higher-level travel overview: Hérault.