Montpelier has an enviable location, situated between sea, mountains and vineyards at the heart of the Languedoc-Roussillion province. It is a thriving, modern city, with a long history as a seat of medical education in France and a large student population.
There are a number of lively gathering places in the city, along with shopping districts and natural beauty. To get a feel for culture in Montpelier, go straight to the heart of the city: the Place de la Comedie, the central pedestrian area. Surrounded by a pink stone border, and nicknamed L'Oeuf (the egg), owing to its oval shape, this 18th-century plaza is the traditional nerve centre of the city. Wandering the streets around L'Oeuf, you'll find a number of excellent shops and restaurants. A modern addition to the city is the Odysseum complex, which can be reached using tramway line 1, and is home to a number of shops, restaurants and attractions, including a planetarium, an aquarium and an ice-skating ring that's open all year round.
There is a wide variety of shopping in Montpelier, to suit all tastes and budgets. For a contemporary, urban shopping experience, go to the Odysseum complex. In contrast, the medieval streets of downtown Montpelier are home to a large collection of small shops and boutiques. For locally produced specialties, head to the markets in the Centre Historique, at Les Halles Laissac and Les Halles Castellane. There are also a number of themed markets at regular intervals throughout the month, including two flower markets and a second-hand book fair.
Visitors are encouraged to park on the outskirts of the city and take advantage of the excellent public transportation the city has to offer. There is a modern tramway system traversing the city, and a tourist train that serves the major sights. Above all, Montpellier is a cycling city, with much of the local population zipping around the centre ville on bikes. The Vélomagg bicycle service offers bikes for hire for reasonable rates from 50 stations throughout the city.
With easy access to the ocean, the area offers five public beaches located in and around Montpeilier. The most celebrated of these is Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone, a nature reserve with ancient oak trees and an adventure play park that opens out onto a beautiful beach.
