Montpellier Region

Place de la Comédie in Montpellier is the city’s most emblematic square

Montpellier in the South of France offers an exhilarating combination of the old and the new. The city is located just a mere 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the Mediterranean Sea, and has a lovely mild climate. Montpellier is a great base to make day trips across the region, but the city itself also has some amazing attractions to keep you occupied for days.

Montpellier has a city center filled with cozy small cobblestoned streets and sun-filled squares, while it also features sprawling parks. The city houses one of the oldest universities in Europe, and almost a fourth of the city’s 250 thousand inhabitants are students. This great presence of young people also explains the fantastic selection of shops and cafes present in the city, and of course the bustling nightlife! Read the entire story here…»

Montpillier South of France

Summer not only means vacations at the beach; it’s also a great time for music festivals, both indoors and out.  Many larger cities in the South of France offer events in the summer such as festivals, highlighting just about every musical genre. In the next few weeks, we’ll be looking at some of the best and letting you know what vacation rentals New York Habitat has to offer in the South of France.  This week, we’ll explore Le Festival de Radio France et Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon, a two week festival featuring classical music and opera.

Beginning on July 14th, and continuing on through the end of the month, this festival a must for classical music lovers.  Nightly events include recitals, choral concerts, and operas, both staged and in concert format.  There are also numerous free events going on throughout the festival, including recitals by young musicians, films, and even some jazz and electronic music.  Many of these events are held in the city’s historic courtyards.  There are also two museum exhibits to see: one featuring Stradivarius violins and violas, and a retrospective of the work of 19th century artist Gustave Courbet, which was just recently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Read the entire story here…»

Montpellier, France (Provence)

In the heart of the Languedoc Roussillon region, among all the South of France events is Montpellier, a dynamic city known for its intellectual life centered around the University, one of the oldest in the country. Though a far cry from the pastoral Provencal villages nearby, Montpellier is worth seeing for its own more cosmopolitan attractions.

The city boasts diverse examples of architecture representing a tour through history:  the 12th century Mikvé is one of the oldest Jewish baths in Europe; a 13th century Benedictine monastery became the Faculty of Medicine in 1289, Europe’s oldest medical school. From the 14th century, Saint Pierre Cathedral still stands as the only church to have survived the religious wars. And at the heart of historic Montpellier are over 70 private mansions, examples of classic 17th and 18th century architecture, which are open to visitors.  Surrounding Montpellier are grand buildings, lit beautifully at night.  One is the famous Place de la Comédie, the focal point of the city, which  houses the statue of the Three Graces, the symbolic Greek “goddesses” of the city.  Two opera houses, the Opéra Berlioz and the Opéra Comédie, are home to famous orchestras and  many year-round performances.  Modern design is also a part of Montpellier, displayed in the city’s Antigone district which was designed in 1979 by Catalonian architect Ricardo Bofill. Read the entire story here…»