Montpellier
Montpellier is the
capital of the Department of the Herault. A University town
with a world famous faculty of medicine that is also the
oldest. Montpellier was founded in the 8th century. In the
10th century, Montpellier was a trading center for imported
spices. In 1141, was given a city charter. During the rule
of Louis XIV, 1643 to 1715, Montpellier was made the
administrative capital of the Languedoc region.
Montpellier’s school
of law began in 1160. During the 12th century its medical
school became important. In 1220, the University of
Montpellier was founded and in 1221 its faculty of medicine
was founded. During the French Revolution the university
was suppressed. After 1799, the institution was gradually
reestablished. In 1970, it was reorganized into three
universities: Montpellier I, II, and III.
It is the fifth
largest town of France with a population of, more than
550,000 inhabitants, of which 55 000 are university
students. The population of the city of Montpellier at the
1999 census was 225,300. In February 2004, it was estimated
that the population of the city of Montpellier had reached
244,700, an increase of 8.6% since 1999. In 2007, the
estimated population of the metropolitan area was 531,000.
In the 1960s, its
population grew dramatically after French settlers in
Algeria were resettled in the city following Algeria's
independence from France. In the 1980s and 1990s, the city
enlarged with a number of major redevelopment projects, such
as the Corum and especially the Antigone District.
The city is
situated 10 km (6 miles) inland from the Mediterranean
coast.Montpellier has been the subject of many superlatives,
and battles with Toulouse for the title of capital of
southern Europe. The town center has many interesting
features not least the modern university buildings, and the
old town with its Arc de Triumph in honour of Louis 14th.
The hub of
Montpellier is the Place de la Comedie, known to the locals
as "place de l'oeuf", here you will find the theatre and the
statue "les Trois Graces" carved in white marble.
There are many
instances in England where Montpellier has been used to name
streets and buildings in the United Kingdom, the origins of
this stem from the Napoleonic Wars when many English,
trapped in France, were kept in Montpellier. Upon their
return to England they used Montpellier, frequently, to name
roads and squares.
The cosmopolitan
town center contains an assortment of shops and many parks
and gardens. Under the leadership of its exuberant Mayor
Georges Freches. Montpellier has expanded considerably and
edges ever near the coast, almost certainly to become a
coastal town in the future.
Montpellier was once
a medieval walled city. Like most older European cities, it
grew up around its old quarters. Today, the city is
contained within boulevards that were built upon the site of
the city’s former walls.
The city is famous
for the terraced 17th and 18th century Promenade du Peyrou.
From the Promenade, one has a magnificent view of the
Mediterranean and of the city's elegant mansions.
In the late 16th
century, 1593, Henry IV founded the Botanical Gardens, which
is France’s oldest. The city’s Fabre Museum and its Atger
Museum contain one of the richest French collections of
paintings in existence. The 14th century Gothic cathedral
has been heavily restored
Tramway
The latest acquisition of the town is its state of the art tramway
network consisting of 2 lines and several parking
facilities. Line 1 runs from Mosson in the west to Odysseum
in the east. Line 2 runs from Jacou in the northeast to St.
Jean-de-Vedas in the southwest. They intersect at Gare St.
Roch station, Place de l'Europe and again in front of the
Corum. Work on Line 3, which is planned to be in service by
2012.
The first section of line to be built, runs from (Mosson- La Paillade) to the south east, (Odysseum) a distance of 15.2kilometers, and has 28 stations. The trams run from 05.00 to 01.00 and normally there is a waiting time of no longer than 5 minutes between trains. The trains run at a speeds of between 20 km/h and 70km/h The carriages have been built so that there is no step between the platform and the tram, this allows access to all, including invalides in wheelchairs.
Montpellier is served by
railway, including
TGV
trains. The
Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport is located in the area
of Fréjorgues.
Good climatic conditions and
the reliability of air traffic and are one of the reasons
why Montpellier's airport is the International Training
Center for many airlines. Lufthansa and Air France are two
of the leading air companies who regularly train their 747
Jumbo jet pilots here.
Faculty of Medecine
It was in 1180, that Lord Guilhem VIII signed a surprising
and far-reaching edict. He declared that anyone, regardless
of religion or background, could teach medicine in
Montpellier… And thus was born, at the end of the 13th
century, what is today’s oldest medical school in the
occidental world.
The triumphal Arch
At the end of the 17th century, the king’s intendant decided
to erect this triumphal arch, a copy of the gates of Paris,
in honour of Louis XIV.
The Place de la Comédie
Montpellier’s central square. Also known as l’OEuf (the Egg)
because of its original oval shape, it is one of the largest
pedestrian areas in Europe.
One of
the new developments, is a city within a city.
Designed by Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill, it is
built in a neo-classical style of architecture that
leaves no-one indifferent. It centres round a pedestrian
walkway that leads through a series of squares. Antigone
has some large-scale facilities, such as the Olympic
Pool and the Central Municipal Library.
Corum
is a building that houses both a conference centre and a
opera house, and is located in the centre of the city.
It was designed by Claude Vasconi and opened to the
public in 1988.
Cambous
A short distance from Montpellier lies the prehistoric village of Cambous, that was discovered in 1967.
It is a European reference site for prehistoric
architecture.
The site presents digs in various states, in addition
to a full-sized reconstitution of a prehistoric dwelling.
Since that date, excavations and surveys have exposed many dwellings from the Fontbouisse culture, a local variety of the copper age, and dated 3000 years B.C.
The site consists of four groups of about ten houses each. One of these houses has been restored.
The houses have a double facing of dry stone walling and never exceed 1.50m in height. The roofs were supported by wooden beams and were covered with branches and thatch.
Various artifacts have been discovered including pottery, tools, weapons and ornaments. Hearths where the inhabitants made their fires are situated in the back of the houses . Some hearths were found outside the building, suggesting that they lived an outdoor life for large parts of the year. The village spreads over about 5 acres and is one of several sites known around the nearby village of St Martin de Londres.
Palavas
Palavasis a seaside
resort, some six km south of Montpellier, at the Gulf of
Lion and the Mediterranean Sea. It lies on a strip of sand
dunes that separates two lakes, the Étang de l'Arnel and the
Étang du Méjean, from the sea. It is one of the most popular
places in this part of France's coastline.
It is a family seaside resort, bordered
by a long fine sandy beach.
The village originated as a fishermen's village who sold
their catch on the markets of Montpellier. The Ancien Regime
used the village as a coastal defence, building the Redoute
de Ballestras.
The historical train from Montpellier to Palavas.
From the beginning of the 19th century, local tourists
and seasonal activities were drawn to the village. When in
1872 a local train to and from Montpellier started service,
seaside tourism really took off. This train operated until
1968, and is now now exhibited in Montpellier.
The "Phare de la Méditerranée"
This old water tower, located in the heart of the village,
has been reconverted into a conference centre, tourism
office, viewing platform and, at the top, a 65m high
panoramic, rotating restaurant.
Traditional seaside feria:
In the summer traditional ferias take place with Bullfights,
Spanish dances, exposure of art, traditional bull games
(akin to "It's a knockout"), bodegas.
St Martin de Londres
St Martin is a village typical of the region and worth a visit to see its clock tower. Many of its roads are stepped.
It is situated a few kilometers from Pic St Loup and the
Gorge de la Herault. Situated some 25 km inland from
Montpellier. The Pic-St-Loup is a high limestone ridge peak
that overlooks extensive vineyards of the Coteaux du
Languedoc appelation.
Normally the region is well known for being burnt by the sun, but St Martin has the distinction of holding the record for the coldest location of the region with a temperature of minus 26degs. Centigrade in 1956. At that time many of the Olive trees of the area died because of the cold.
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