Montpellier – Hérault – Occitanie
About 25 min by car from our accommodation, to combine with the Planet Ocean aquarium
Looking for accommodation near Montpellier for your holiday? In Lunel-Viel, 25 minutes from the city, our holiday homes with a pool sleep 4 to 12: ideal for exploring Montpellier as a family, then enjoying the beaches and the Camargue.
Awarded the “Pays d’art et d’histoire” label, Montpellier blends medieval lanes, 18th-century squares and contemporary architecture. It is easy to explore on foot or by tram: here are the places not to miss during your stay.
Nicknamed the “Place de l’Œuf” (Egg Square) for its oval shape, Place de la Comédie is one of the largest pedestrian areas in Europe. It is home to the Opéra Comédie, an Italian-style theatre from 1888, and the Three Graces fountain, the city’s emblem, whose original is kept in the Opéra foyer.
It is the ideal starting point for exploring the city: the tourist office is close by, tram lines 1 and 2 meet here, and café terraces and street performers bring it to life all day long.
Behind the Comédie lies the Écusson, the medieval heart of Montpellier. It is a pleasure to get lost in its pedestrian lanes, among shops, small squares and the façades of grand mansions. The Tour de la Babote, a remnant of the 14th-century ramparts, was raised in the 18th century to house an astronomical observatory.
Keep your eyes open: street art is everywhere, from trompe-l’œil murals to the bicycles set into the walls by Monsieur BMX. Map in hand, young and old can turn it into a real treasure hunt.
West of the Écusson, the Arc de Triomphe was built at the end of the 17th century in honour of Louis XIV, on the site of one of the eight gates of the old ramparts. It opens onto the Place Royale du Peyrou, where the equestrian statue of the king stands.
At the end of the promenade, the water tower marks the arrival of the Saint-Clément aqueduct, whose arches stretch towards the Arceaux district. Its terraces offer a fine view over the city.
With its massive silhouette and its porch supported by two great round pillars, Saint-Pierre Cathedral looks like a medieval fortress. Pope Urban V, a former student in Montpellier, had a monastery and its church built in 1364, which became a cathedral in 1536.
Right next door, the Faculty of Medicine is a reminder that Montpellier saw the birth, in 1220, of the oldest medical university founded on a charter. It houses the Conservatoire d’Anatomie, a teaching tool for generations of students.
A stone’s throw from the faculty, the Jardin des Plantes is the oldest botanical garden in France. Created in 1593 at the request of Henri IV for the study of medicinal plants, it was enlarged and opened to the public in the 19th century.
Its shady paths make it a refreshing stop, ideal for catching your breath between two visits with the children.
One of the most important fine arts museums in Europe, the Musée Fabre traces the history of European painting from the Renaissance to the present day. Highlights include 17th-century Flemish and Dutch paintings, works by Frédéric Bazille and Alexandre Cabanel’s famous “Fallen Angel”.
The tour ends with a unique collection of works by Pierre Soulages. Good to know: most museums in Montpellier are free on the first Sunday of the month.
For a change of scene, head for the banks of the Lez: tree-lined and dotted with footbridges, they are perfect for walks or bike rides. Along the river, Montpellier shows its contemporary face, with the town hall designed by Jean Nouvel and François Fontès.
Don’t miss the Arbre Blanc, designed by architects Sou Fujimoto, Nicolas Laisné and Manal Rachdi: with its 17 storeys bristling with balconies, it has become the most photographed building in the city.
With the family, take tram line 1 from Place de la Comédie to the Odysseum district: the Planet Ocean aquarium offers a great journey from the depths of the oceans to the far reaches of space, meeting more than 3,000 animals.
An ideal outing to combine with a morning in the historic centre, especially on a rainy or very hot day.
In the Odysseum district, Pirates Paradise is a themed restaurant that is part restaurant, part cabaret and part theme park: waiters dressed as pirates, a show every day at every sitting, lunch and dinner, and a 130 m² play area for 3 to 12-year-olds.
An ideal family break after a morning in town or a visit to the Planet Ocean aquarium, in the same district.
Half a day in the historic centre. Start at Place de la Comédie and its Three Graces, then enter the Écusson through its pedestrian lanes. Make your way to Saint-Pierre Cathedral and the Faculty of Medicine, stroll through the Jardin des Plantes, then finish at the Peyrou, between the water tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Head back to the Comédie along Rue Foch and its shops.
A full day. In the morning, follow the same walk through the historic centre. After lunch on a terrace in the Écusson, choose what suits you: the Musée Fabre for art lovers, or tram line 1 to Odysseum for Planet Ocean with the children, handy if you have parked at the Circé car park. At the end of the day, head to the banks of the Lez to admire the Arbre Blanc before returning to the villa, 25 minutes away.
By car, allow about 25 minutes to the centre. To avoid hunting for a space, park at the Circé park-and-ride at Odysseum, about twenty minutes from our accommodation: the P+Tram package, €5.80 per car, includes a 24-hour tram ticket for each passenger. Line 1 then takes you to Place de la Comédie. The P+Tram car parks are open 24/7, with parking limited to 24 hours.
By train, some TER regional trains stop at Lunel-Viel station, 1 km away, and Lunel station, 5 minutes by car, has around sixty return services a day to Montpellier Saint-Roch, taking about 15 minutes. Saint-Roch station is a few minutes’ walk from Place de la Comédie. Check the timetables on the TER Occitanie website.
Once there, the tram and its 5 lines serve Montpellier and several towns in the metropolitan area, and the historic centre is best explored on foot.
The City Card, sold at the tourist office for 24, 48 or 72 hours, comes with or without public transport, from €22 with transport. It includes a free guided tour and discounts with many partners.
This map is provided by Google Maps, which sets cookies.
Open in Google Maps
25 min by car
Looking for accommodation near Aigues-Mortes for your holiday? In Lunel-Viel, 25 minutes from the walled town, our holiday homes with a pool sleep 4 to 12: ideal for discovering Aigues-Mortes and the Camargue, then enjoying the beaches, Montpellier and Nîmes.
20 min by car
Looking for accommodation near La Grande-Motte for your holiday? In Lunel-Viel, 20 minutes from the resort, our holiday homes with a pool sleep 4 to 12: ideal for enjoying its beaches, then discovering Montpellier and the Camargue.
1 hr by car
Looking for accommodation near Pézenas for your holiday? In Lunel-Viel, about an hour from the town, our accommodation with pool welcomes 4 to 12 guests: ideal for discovering Pézenas and the Hérault, then enjoying Montpellier, Nîmes and the beaches.
Our holiday homes with a pool in Lunel-Viel, 25 minutes from Montpellier, are the ideal base for visiting the city, then enjoying the Camargue and the beaches.
In a villa sleeping 12 or an apartment sleeping 4 or 8, enjoy a peaceful stay.
Accommodation for up to 12 guests
from 100 € / night
