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Languedoc-Roussillon /
Montpellier
The exciting city of Montpellier is the capital of the Langedoc-Roussillon region to the southwest of France, established since the rule of Louis XIV in the 17th Century
Bounded by diverse geographical terrain—from beaches of the Mediterranean, soaring mountains and roaring rivers—main activities of public life in Montpellier take place in the Place de la Comédie, with every landmark just a stone’s throw away.
Visitors and locals alike patronize the Opera House on the Place de la Comédie for a night of artistry. It is also common to stroll along the cobblestone streets to the old quarters of the city with its rows of private gardens, courtyards and mansions reminiscent of regal times.
The city houses an active university population as part of an anicent academic heritage, with the earliest medical schools established by the Moors in 9th Century and in Christian Europe in the 11th Century.
With region’s wine-producing reputation, so is wine culture pervasive in its capital city. The regional specialty tends to be rose or blush wines. The typical liquor that visitors are encouraged to try in the cafes that line the city streets is pastis, whose licorice taste is a true part of the local culture.
Cosmopolitan for a city of its size, Montpellier houses a wide variety of ethnic cuisines in addition to traditional French food from the south of France. The street cafes in the city offer a wide selection of seafood, cheese and wines—the best that the region has to offer. For a taste of life in Montpellier, the esplanade farmers’ market is open to early mornings for visitors and locals alike enjoy regional specialties such as goat’s cheeses, olive and bacon fougasse breads, and oysters.
