What to visit in Montpellier: top tourist spots

The historic heart of the city, with its narrow cobbled streets, cozy squares and ancient buildings, is wonderfully combined with wide avenues, elegant boulevards and the latest architectural structures.

One of the main architectural symbols of Montpellier is the Arc de Triomphe, built in honor of King Louis XIV. This magnificent building, decorated with columns and sculptures, is the central element of one of the most beautiful squares in the city - Europe Square.

Nearby is the Old Market, where you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a real southern French city. The beauty of Montpellier is also its numerous parks and gardens, which provide the city with a green oasis among the stone buildings.

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Comedy Square (Place de la Comédie)

Place Comédie is the heart and main square of the city of Montpellier, which is the real center of public life. Comedy Square is surrounded by magnificent buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries, which are harmoniously combined with each other. Here you can see lush facades with exquisite styles, balconies decorated with stucco. Special attention is drawn to the Town Meeting House with luxurious columns and sculptures on the facade.

The heart of the square is decorated with a magnificent fountain with bronze sculptures. There are always many people around it - townspeople and tourists who enjoy the atmosphere of this picturesque place. Here you can meet street musicians, artists, traders, which creates a special lively and cozy atmosphere.

Theater of Comedy

Place Comédie got its name from the Comédie Theater located here, which is one of the most beautiful theaters in France. This majestic building in the neoclassical style with a colonnade and a pediment serves as the hallmark of Montpellier.

Peyrou embankment

It is a picturesque walking area along the River Les, which flows through the city center. Located in the heart of Old Montpellier, Peyroux Quay attracts tourists and locals with its special atmosphere. Cozy cafes, restaurants and shops are spread along the embankment, offering a wide selection of local cuisine, fresh seafood and fine wines. Walking along the promenade, you can admire the beautiful historic buildings surrounding the square and enjoy views of the River Les.

Fabre Museum (Musée Fabre)

The Fabre Museum is one of the largest and most prestigious art museums in France, located in the heart of Montpellier. Its collection includes more than 800 works of art spanning different eras and styles.

The museum building impresses with its architecture - it is a majestic palace of the 19th century, built in the neoclassical style. Inside the museum, a real artistic treasury awaits visitors. The works of prominent French, Italian and Flemish artists are presented here, ranging from the Middle Ages to modern times. The canvases of Rubens, Rembrandt, Delacroix, Gauguin and Monet are especially impressive.

In addition to paintings, the Fabra Museum houses a large collection of sculptures, engravings, furniture and other decorative and applied arts. Expositions are regularly updated, so each visit gives new artistic impressions.

Peyrou Triumphal Arch

The Arc de Triomphe of Peyrou is a majestic architectural monument located in the center of Montpellier. It was built in the 18th century in honor of King Louis XIV and as a symbol of the victory of the French monarchy.

The building impresses with its impressive dimensions - the height of the arch reaches 18 meters, and the width - 9 meters. It is made in a classic style of white stone, decorated with columns, pilasters and sculptural compositions. The central arch resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but has a more refined and elegant design.

La Panacée (La Panacée)

La Panasseia in Montpellier is a unique nature reserve that attracts with its picturesque beauty and diversity of flora and fauna. Located south of the city center, this reserve is a large green area that stretches along the banks of the Eze River. Here you can find peace and enjoy communication with nature.

The main highlight of La Panassea is its incredible landscapes, formed by the combination of river banks, hills and pine forests.

Montpellier Opera House (Opéra Orchester National Montpellier)

Built in 1825, this theater is one of Montpellier's most notable landmarks. Its neoclassical facade with columns, statues and bas-reliefs creates a majestic and monumental image.

Passing through the theater's massive doors, visitors enter a luxurious interior space. The luxurious interiors, decorated with gilded details, exquisite paintings on the ceilings and decorations, make an incomparable impression.

The main hall impresses with its smooth lines of balconies, luxurious chandeliers and exquisite acoustics. It is considered one of the most beautiful opera halls in France.

Aqueduct Saint-Clément (Aqueduc Saint-Clément)

Built in the 17th century, this aqueduct served to supply drinking water to the city. Its arches, built of stone, rise to a height of more than 27 meters, creating an extremely majestic and impressive image. Massive supports, slender columns, elegant cornices and decorative elements demonstrate the skill and talent of the builders of that time.

The aqueduct of St. Clementine not only performed the practical function of water supply, but also became an important architectural landmark of Montpellier. Its silhouette contours can be seen from many points of the city, which gives it a special monumentality and attractiveness.

Old quarter Écusson (L'Écusson)

The old quarter of Équsson is one of the most attractive and romantic historical areas of the city of Montpellier. Located near the center, it retains the special medieval charm and atmosphere of the old town.

The narrow winding streets of Ekyusson are paved with cobblestones and surrounded by houses of the 16th-18th centuries. These buildings with characteristic facades decorated with Renaissance elements create a unique medieval atmosphere. Walking through these cozy streets, you can imagine how the city looked several centuries ago.

Martyrs Square

Located in the heart of the old town, this square has witnessed many key events in the history of Montpellier. The main dominant feature of the square is the majestic fountain, which was installed in honor of the residents of Montpellier who died during the Second World War. The sculptural composition of the fountain symbolizes the sacrifice and heroism of these people who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of their native city. Around the fountain are houses in a typical Montpellier style - with characteristic balconies, columns and arches.

Antigone Quarter (Quartier Antigone)

The Antigone district is a modern and innovative part of Montpellier that impresses with its architectural expressiveness and functionality. Located on the south bank of the Ayr River, this quarter is a prime example of successful urban planning and development.

Antigone stands out among other areas of Montpellier with its bold and creative architecture. Here you can see buildings of unusual shapes, made in a modern style, using glass, concrete and metal. A striking example is the Congress Center with its silver dome, reminiscent of a futuristic structure.

One of the most visible buildings of the quarter is the Antigona Bridge, which, with its arched structure and slender supports, gives the whole district a special elegance and dynamism. This building has become a new symbol of Montpellier, attracting the attention of visitors to the city.

St. Pierre Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre in Montpellier is a majestic Gothic temple that dominates the center of this French city. Its construction began in the 13th century and lasted for almost three centuries, giving the cathedral a multifaceted appearance with elements of various architectural styles.

The exterior of the cathedral is impressive with its scale and details. Its western facade is decorated with three slender towers, and the main entrance is crowned with a luxurious Gothic portal. Majestic arches and buttresses give the building a powerful and monumental look.

The interior of Saint-Pierre Cathedral is no less impressive. A huge nave with high pointed vaults, painted stained glass windows, wooden choir stalls and an organ create an atmosphere of reverence and spirituality. The majestic columns supporting the vaults and the carved wooden elements of the interior decoration are especially impressive.

Montpellier Botanical Garden (Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier)

The Montpellier Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical gardens in France, founded in 1593. Located in the very heart of the city, it is a true oasis of peace and greenery amidst modern buildings.

The garden occupies an area of ​​about 4 hectares and impresses with its variety of flora. Here you can see collections of rare and exotic plants from different parts of the world - from subtropical palms to alpine flowers. The garden is decorated with wonderful greenhouses, which feature unique plants, including orchids and carnivorous plants. There is also a Japanese garden, a pond with water lilies and fountains that add a special atmosphere.

Luntal-de-leseinas Zoo

Located on the outskirts of Montpellier, the Luntal de Leseinas Zoo is a true oasis of nature and a refuge for many species of animals. This large natural park, which covers an area of ​​more than 50 hectares, is one of the largest and most famous zoos in France.

The Luntal de Leseinas Zoo stands out among others for its scale and diversity of species. Here you can see more than 1000 animals belonging to 150 different species - from wild cats and birds of prey to rare primates and exotic reptiles.

The territory of the zoo is divided into several thematic zones, which allows visitors to make a real journey through different continents. For example, there are special enclosures for African elephants, giraffes, rhinos, as well as for predators such as lions and tigers. A separate area is dedicated to Australian animals, including kangaroos and koalas.