Montpellier Travel Guide
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758km (471 miles) SW of Paris; 161km (100 miles) NW of Marseille; 50km (31 miles) SW of Nîmes
The capital of Mediterranean (or Lower) Languedoc, this ancient university city is still renowned for its medical school, founded in the 13th century. Nostradamus qualified as a doctor here, and even Rabelais studied at the school. Petrarch came to Montpellier in 1317 and stayed for 7 years.
Today Montpellier is a bustling metropolis, one of southern France's fastest-growing cities, thanks to an influx of new immigrants. Except for some dreary suburbs, the city has a handsomely laid-out core, with tree-flanked promenades, broad avenues, and historic monuments. Students are about a quarter of the population, giving the city a lively, animated aura. In recent years, many high-tech corporations, including IBM, have settled in Montpellier.
