Our good friends were delighted to share a favorite city of theirs; Montpellier is a gem in the south of France. It embraces the past and celebrates the present all at once and also has one of the oldest medical schools in the world, the University of Montpellier, which was established in 1220. Today, this university town keeps the population hip and liberal.
The Place de la Comedie is the old town center and an easy gathering place for tourists and locals; all four of the tram lines stop here. The trams are efficient and all wrapped in cool designs representing the four elements. The designs were created by French fashion designers.
This plaza is home to the Opera House, several cafes, and a magnificent fountain topped with a statue of the mythological Three Graces. Steps away, you are in the warren of the Middle Ages, mixed with buildings dating to the 1500s now filled with international branded stores.
The public art includes great trompe l’oeil, bicycles stuck in the sides of buildings and some Minecraft designs that coordinate with street names.
Not far from the Place de Comedie we went to Les Bains for dinner. The setting, the company and the food were all stellar.
Place Royale du Peyrou pays tribute to King Louis XIV. The entire promenade area is perfect for strolling and enjoying the sweeping views of the sea, the mountains and the city. There is a decorative water tower, a local version of the Arch de Triomphe and in the center of the promanade is a gigantic statue of Louis XIV on his horse checking out the view.
At the back of the promenade is the Aqueduct Saint-Clement. This was the largest private hydraulic project undertaken in France in the 1700s; it is both an engineering triumph and a unique part of civic life, steadily sending fresh spring water to the fountains in town. Les Arceaux, the neighborhood near the aqueduct, (the arches) took its name from the double layer of 53 arches.
We meandered through more medieval streets filled with shops and squares with cafes. Fun to see incongruous names of cafes and stores scattered amongst the local shops. We even saw a unicorn statue.
The Antigone neighborhood was designed by a Spanish architect in the 1980s. It is mostly pedestrian and stretches to the River Lez. There are shops, residences and a fountain that is fantastic.
One stop on the tram and a short walk from our hotel brought us to a hyper modern residential building L’Arbre Blanc (the white tree). This building, with balconies sticking out like a prickly white cactus, has a roof bar that offers amazing 360° views of the city. A selection of tapas and delicious cocktails were enjoyed along with the city views. Our walk back to the hotel, along the river, we happened upon an international youth orchestra concert which added to the already spectacular day.
Montpellier has charmed us during the sultry and sweaty summer, We look forward to another visit in another season to see what we missed and to return to the places we enjoyed.
Where is Wendy 