{"id":12146,"date":"2012-11-12T14:01:24","date_gmt":"2012-11-12T18:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=12146"},"modified":"2012-11-12T14:01:25","modified_gmt":"2012-11-12T18:01:25","slug":"48-hours-montpellier-south-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2012\/11\/12\/48-hours-montpellier-south-france\/","title":{"rendered":"48 Hours in and around Montpellier"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-12148\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/place-com\u00e9die-montpellier-south-france.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of the Place de la Com\u00e9die in Montpellier\" width=\"585\" height=\"389\" \/>\n\t<div>Place de la Com\u00e9die in Montpellier  is the city\u2019s most emblematic square<\/div>\n<\/div>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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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!<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps\/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=208857790003288562267.0004cce41b98108258ae5&amp;hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;ll=43.596306,3.891907&amp;spn=0.198912,0.401001&amp;z=11&amp;output=embed\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"585\" height=\"400\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In recent years, the focus of the city has been on renewal and innovation, which can be seen in projects such as the new city hall and a new tram, which was designed by Christian Lacroix.<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll take you on a tour of Montpellier, and show you just <strong>how much you can see and do in 48 hours!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>10 am<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 <strong>Start your exploration of Montpellier by visiting the center point of the city: Place de la Com\u00e9die.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-12151\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/place-com\u00e9die-three-graces-fountain-montpellier-south-france.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of Montpellier\u2019s Three Graces fountain at the Place de la Com\u00e9die\" width=\"585\" height=\"439\" \/>\n\t<div>The Three Graces fountain at the Place de la Com\u00e9die in Montpellier<\/div>\n<\/div>This historical square is surrounded by shops and cafes and will immediately give you a feeling of the city\u2019s vibe. In the center of the historical square you\u2019ll find the <strong>Three Graces fountain<\/strong>, which was sculpted in 1790. The <strong>Op\u00e9ra Comedie<\/strong> is located at the southwest corner of the square, where you can see an opera in the evening. At the northeast corner of the square you\u2019ll find one of Montpellier\u2019s many parks: <strong>Esplanade de Charles de Gaulle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>After seeing the square and the park, get ready to do some shopping and see the city at the same time. To the east of the <strong>Place de la Com\u00e9die<\/strong> lies a huge modern <strong>shopping mall called Polygone<\/strong>, which contains several small boutiques as well as various French chain stores. After seeing Polygone and the Antigone complex, make your way west to explore the cobblestoned streets of Montpellier\u2019s city center and to shop at the quirky little stores you\u2019ll find all around. Have lunch in one of the many great cafes you can find in the alleys around the <strong>Place de Martyrs de la R\u00e9sistance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>2 pm<\/em> \u2013 After lunch, walk west from the Place de Martyrs de la R\u00e9sistance along Rue Foch for some more French shopping.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-12149\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/triumph-arch-montpellier-south-france.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Montpellier\u2019s Arc de Triomphe on Rue Foch\" width=\"585\" height=\"389\" \/>\n\t<div>The Arc de Triomphe on Rue Foch in Montpellier<\/div>\n<\/div>At the end of the <strong>Rue Foch<\/strong> you\u2019ll see the <strong>Arc de Triomphe<\/strong> towering over the road. This Arc was built on the site of one of the city\u2019s old ramparts. You can take a guided tour to the top of the Arc to get a great view of Montpellier and the countryside surrounding the city.<\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-12147\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/promenade-peyrou-montpellier-south-france.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of the Chateau de Eau at the Promenade Peyrou in Montpellier\" width=\"585\" height=\"389\" \/>\n\t<div>The Chateau de Eau at Montpellier\u2019s Promenade Peyrou<\/div>\n<\/div>Alternatively, you can also cross the Boulevard Professeur Louis Vialleton to the <strong>Promenade Peyrou<\/strong>, which is the highest point of Montpellier. The Promenade is crossed by a former aqueduct, which used to carry water to the city. The Chateau de Eau at the western end of the Promenade gives you an amazing view of the aqueduct\u2019s arches, and you can even climb to the top to get a view of the Mediterranean Sea on a clear day!<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>5 pm<\/em> \u2013 Like many of the Mediterranean cities, Montpellier is known for its farmers markets with fresh ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, bread, cheeses, meats, fishes and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-12150\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/market-fruits-vegetables-farmers-montpellier-south-france.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of fresh vegetables at Montpellier\u2019s Les Halles Castellane market\" width=\"585\" height=\"388\" \/>\n\t<div>Fresh vegetables at the Les Halles Castellane market in Montpellier<\/div>\n<\/div>At the end of the afternoon, make your way back to the city center and look for <strong>Les Halles Castellane<\/strong>, which is a local market that is open Monday to Saturday from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm. Here you can pick up ingredients to prepare your own Southern French dinner. If you need some inspiration on what to prepare, check out this article on <a title=\"Provence\u2019s Food Culture and Famous Southern French Cuisine\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2012\/07\/30\/provence-food-famous-southern-french-cuisine\/\">Southern French ingredients and cuisine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>To prepare a French dinner for friends or family, of course you\u2019ll need to have access to a proper kitchen. By renting an apartment in Montpellier, you\u2019ll not only be able to cook in a real French kitchen, but you\u2019ll also have enough space to invite people to your home for a dinner party. We have <a title=\"Vacation Rentals in Montpellier, South of France\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/south-france-apartment\/vacation\/montpellier-region\">vacation rental apartments available in Montpellier<\/a> that offer a perfect vacation accommodation to explore the city from, while providing you with a real Southern French experience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Day 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>10 am<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 Start the day with a cultural experience at the <strong>Mus\u00e9e Fabre<\/strong>, one of the most impressive Fine Arts museums in Europe. The recently renovated museum displays a collection of paintings ranging from the 17th to the 20th century.<\/p>\n<p>Make your way through the museum and get lost in the amazing art from different periods in history. Make sure not to miss the new modern gallery displaying works by Pierre Soulages, as it is a completely different space from that of the other galleries.<\/p>\n<p>For lunch make your way south from the museum along the Place de la Com\u00e9die to the Michelin-rated Les Bains on Rue Richelieu. The restaurant offers amazing Mediterranean cuisine, and even has an outdoor garden where you can enjoy lunch in the summer months.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>2 pm<\/em> \u2013 Spend the afternoon exploring the amazing seaside close to Montpellier!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Catch a tram to the Port Marianne stop in Montpellier, and from here you can hop on the 131 bus to <strong>Palavas-les-Flots<\/strong>, a small seaside resort just 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) south of the city.<\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter size-full wp-image-12152\" style='width:585px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/palavas-flots-beach-montpellier-south-france.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of a canal in the seaside resort Palavas-les-Flots\" width=\"585\" height=\"393\" \/>\n\t<div>The canal separating the west side from the east side of the seaside resort Palavas-les-Flots<\/div>\n<\/div>The town has white sandy beaches stretching kilometers along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Bring your bathing suit, a towel and some sunscreen lotion for a great afternoon on the beach. The beach is popular with families and young people alike, and you\u2019ll also see many amateur wind surfers and kite-surfers trying their skills on the bright blue waters of the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n<p>In the winter, a good indoor alternative to the beach is the <strong>shopping center Odysseum<\/strong>, which you can find on the outskirts of Montpellier. The Odysseum complex has a very interesting urban design, and also includes an aquarium, planetarium and an ice-skating rink!<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>6 pm<\/em> \u2013 End the day in Palavas-les-Flots by trying a fish dish at one of the local restaurants. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The town started out as a fishermen village, so you can be sure the quality of the dishes is excellent! A great activity to do with kids before dinner is to take the Transcanal, which is the world\u2019s smallest chair lift, across the canal that separates the west side from the east side of the town. Take the bus back to Montpellier after dinner, and if you still have some energy left you can check out the city\u2019s nightlife after a quick wash-up at your apartment. You\u2019ll find cafes and bars all over the city center, and Montpellier also boasts two great Irish pubs: O&#8217;Caralan&#8217;s and Fitzpatrick&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p>We hope you\u2019ve enjoyed our little tour of bustling Montpellier! What\u2019s your favorite city in France?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[102],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12146"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12146"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12165,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12146\/revisions\/12165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}