Montpellier

A cozy and romantic French town, Montpellier, has a combination of everything that is necessary for a relaxing holiday - beautiful nature, gentle sea and pleasant climate. 

Since Ural Airlines started direct flights from Moscow to Montpellier in 2019, it is only 6-9 thousand rubles for a one way ticket and the travel time is about 4 and a half hours. Availability of such affordable and comfortable no-stop flight is an excellent occasion to visit this fabulous city.

1) Bus No.120 or no. 620. From the airport to Montpellier, the buses run from 08:30 a.m. up to 00:15 a.m. from the city center to the airport from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.  in May - October. There are 2 stops along the way. The final stop is Place de l'Europe, where you can get on the tram. You can buy a € 1.6.ticket from the tram driver. 

2) The bus going to BOIRARGUES. At the final stop of the bus, you can change to tram No. 3. Ticket price is € 1. It is available with the driver. The bus runs from 7 a.m. to 20 p.m.

Right after you go outside the terminal, on the left side from the exit there is a car rental service. The cheapest is Interrent, which I used myself. I shared with you, how to rent a car in Europe on this page.

It really makes sense to rent a car in Montpelier, if you plan to visit the near-by cities, wineries, castles or lavender fields. And in case you plan to move only around the city, public transport will be enough. In Montpellier, tram can take you to any part of the city, including the beach.

If you wish to have a professional photo shoot in Montpellier you can get more details on this page.

I started my acquaintance with the city from the Place de la Comédie, the square in front of the Opera House. This place with cozy restaurants and shops seems to be imbued with the spirit of the authentic France. In the center of the square, there is a fountain built at the end of the 18th century - Fountain of the Three Graces. Its elegant and graceful sculptures, together with the streams of water, create a feeling of inspiration and happiness.

The Opera House, located on this square, is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The building of cream-colored marble with carved facade, done in the neoclassical style, is one of the best works of the French architects.

From the square, I turned into narrow and neat streets of the Downtown and walked to the Cathedral of Saint-Roch of Montpellier. This Neo-Gothic church of the 19th century, built in the honor of the patron saint of the city of Montpellier, is a wonderful decoration of the city. The tall spires of the church and fancifully decorated walls of pale marble are surrounded by the tall cedars.

There are cozy café terraces near the cathedral, working in summer, from where it is so pleasant to enjoy the beauty of the city, while having a lunch or a drink.

After visiting the cathedral, I went to the Royal Square of Peyrou, one of the popular places among tourists and citizens. The greenery of the alleys, the beauty of the fountains, an original water tower, built in the style of the royal palace, and the statue of Louis XIV The Sun King - all will remain in your memory as bright and delightful scenery.

Very close from here, there is another iconic place of the city that might excite you as well - the Cathedral of St. Peter. It is a Roman Catholic Church of the Gothic style. Its towers, rising over the city, and gray marble walls, decorated in an unusual way, create a unique sight that fascinates tourists.

And right in front of the Cathedral, there is Botanical garden, Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier. The greenery of its landscapes and the beauty of its flowers are perfectly combined with elegant sculptures and fountains. During a walk in its wonderful alleys, you will feel harmony and peace being in total unity with nature.

Very small size of the town allows you to get acquainted with the amazing attractions of Montpellier within few hours. After that, you can take a tram No.3 and go from the city center to the beach that is just in a half-hour drive.

In Montpellier, you can either stay in the cozy city hotels, located in lively streets, or choose a more picturesque and peaceful place to relax, like gorgeous French chateau, Domaine de Biar, as I did. I am describing this hotel in more detail on this page.