Montpellier
INFORMATION, SUGGESTIONS, PRESTIGE PROPERTIES AND HOLIDAY HOMES IN MONTPELLIER
The city of Montpellier was built on two hills. It lies around ten kilometres from the Mediterranean, on the banks of the River Lez. The city’s name is said to come from “mont pelé”, the bare mountain, due to the poverty of the surrounding vegetation. Montpellier’s narrow, ancient streets give the city an intimate atmosphere.
It’s a welcoming, picturesque city with avenues, passageways, small squares and town houses dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as a state-of-the-art urban tram network. The historic centre has been transformed into a pedestrian zone, and it’s particularly pleasant to stroll around, have a drink on a terrace and admire the talent of the many street artists. At night, the city remains lively thanks to its cinemas, theatres, opera house and many other meeting places, and its predominantly young university town population.
The climate and weather in Montpellier are generally pleasant. Thanks to its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the city enjoys some of the best sunshine in France, with over 300 days of sunshine a year! So Montpellier and the surrounding area remain an attractive destination all year round.
Recommended hotels for your stay in Montpellier :
Domaine de Verchant Relais & Châteaux
The Domaine de Verchant Relais & Châteaux is a luxury hotel and spa housed in a characterful former residence. It offers state-of-the-art facilities, a state-of-the-art spa and elegantly decorated and furnished rooms.
Recommended restaurants in and around Montpellier :
Le Mazerand
A very comfortable restaurant route de Fréjorgues F – 34970 LATTES / Tel: 04 67 64 82 10 This former wine estate overlooking the Lattes plain is in fact a renovated 19th-century farmhouse, including a 16th-century chapel and pretty terraces staggered in the shade of plane trees.
L’Escale
A very comfortable restaurant 5 boulevard Sarrail F – 34250 PALAVAS LES FLOTS / Tel: 04 67 68 24 17 Its elegant dining room and veranda offer customers a beautiful view of the beach and the sea. A very appetising and contemporary cuisine, inspired by the proximity of the sea.
Domaine de Soriech
Very cosy and pleasant restaurant Chemin de Soriech F – 34970 LATTES / Tel: 04 67 15 19 15 A chic 1970s villa, with designer décor and contemporary artworks, as well as a pretty park planted with giant palm trees and pine trees. Regional cuisine.
What to see in and around Montpellier
- the Place de la Comédie, the true heart of Montpellier
- the Fabre Museum
- the many town houses in the city centre
- the Jardin des plantes de Montpellier, France’s first botanical garden, founded in 1593
- The Amazon Greenhouse
- Saint Peter’s Cathedral (14th century)
- the Porte du Peyrou, a triumphal arch
- the Saint Clément aqueduct
- the Antigone district and other contemporary districts created by the Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill
- the “folies”, elegant residences built on the outskirts of Montpellier for wealthy merchants
- Montpellier is very close to the Golfe du Lion, so there are plenty of opportunities for water sports. There are also numerous swimming pools, located just a few minutes from the city centre, and some beaches even offer more sophisticated sports such as jet skiing, kayaking, parasailing, etc.
Golf
Montpellier Massane Golf Club
This 18-hole golf course is located near the beaches of the Mediterranean and close to the wild landscapes of the Camargue. It was created in 1988 by Californian architect Ronald Fream, with the aim of offering golfers a unique course.
Its 9-hole pitch-and-putt course (par 27) is ideal if you want to improve your game or if you’re enjoying golf for the first time.
The training centre has 50 bays as well as practices for practising specific types of shot: long shots on mats or greens, sand shots, putting green, pitching green, etc.
Golf de Montpellier Massane also offers “David Leadbetter golf courses”, a world-renowned method founded by one of the world’s best coaches. His teaching and theoretical methods have revolutionised golf and have had an unrivalled influence at all stages of development.
Montpellier Fontcaude Golf Club
You’ll have a choice of two courses: the 18-hole ‘international’ course (par 72, 6292 m), which offers a wealth of variety and is set amidst scrubland vegetation and on the wooded banks of a river. And the 9-hole “executive” course (par 29, 1290 m), compact and complete, to satisfy the needs of players of all levels.