Montpellier aka: Montpelhièr

Montpellier didn’t seem particularly touristy and is very lively due to the high student population. I had a wander around the narrow streets of the old town but ended up spending the majority of my afternoon there eating and relaxing in the Place de la Comedie.

My bf and I changed travel plans while on a train to Spain. We decided to can the plan and stay in France that weekend. Since we had to change trains at Montpellier to get to Spain, we replanned our journey there. We had time to kill before our next train out back to home, we decided to explore the area around the station.

Montpellier stood out amongst all the French towns and cities we had seen. The usual scene outside a railway station in France is dirty. But with its palm tree-lined streets, Montpellier took our breath away. We walked upto the city centre as it was nearing dusk. The merry-go-round all lit up is something I can never forget. One of the cleanest French towns. The richness (money-wise) of the town is evident.

Oh ya! Great chinese restaurant on the street leading to the city centre from the station.

I wish we’d spent more time there.

One of best experiences in france!!!

We stopped at this city on our ‘tour de france’, not knowing what to expect. As soon as we started exploring the city, we we’re absolutely charmed. It has a really nice tourist guide at the tourist office. And I believe they’re currently on a project to get to 100 fountains in the city.
I definitely want to go back!

I hope.

I’m here on foreign exchange. I leave day after tomorrow and currently feel like I’m about to make a huge mistake by getting on the plane home.
Be careful about public transportation, especially at Gare Routiere!! I’ve had three people try to rob me, and all of them occured either at that station, or on a bus coming from that station.
There is a higher English-speaking population than I expected. Most college-age people speak at least a little English, so if you’re lost and don’t speak French, they’re your best bet.
At Place de l’Europe (it’s a tram stop, get on one from Place de Comedie heading AWAY from Polygone) there is an awesome giant swimming pool with a waterslide and solarium.
If you go to the beach and see a man with a tray of beignets on his head, BUY ONE. They’re amazing.
Near Place de Comedie is a nice little park with an outdoor marketplace and it nearly always has people playing instruments in the street. It’s a good place to stop and eat or play a game of chess on the giant board (with some help from the other students I managed to communicate that I play chess to the guy who was setting up peices which were as high as my waist).
Oh, and I really think this should go without saying, but my friend did this: if you see a bum on the street whose hair is about three different colours and has peircings all over his face with about seven dogs on chains or tied up with ropes, DON’T GO NEAR THEM TO PET THEM; they’ll likely bite your arm off! Most people are okay with your petting their dogs, however.
For nightlife, there’s a club called Cubanito which is really good, the only other one I know of has strobe lights that’ll make you feel much drunker than you are…

The food was incredible!

It’s been years since I’ve last been, but from recent photos seen online, it seems to have changed very little. Fascinating, ancient city with some great new architecture, near beaches, not too touristy. Definitly worth a second or third or…visit.