Highlights of Montpellier During A 1 Week Stay

A while ago I wanted to take a French course in the south of France. I was able to spend a week in Montpellier not only taking classes at Accent Francais but also have time to explore the city and do an excursion to the seaside town of Sete——all without a car. I would go back in a heartbeat as Montpellier is a beautiful city that isn’t TOO big. Here are some highlights of Montpellier during my 1 week stay as well as information about my experience at Accent Francais: 

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1. Some Highlights Of Montpellier

La Place de la Comedie

La Place de la Comedie, Montpellier
La Place de la Comedie, Montpellier featured img (J. Chung)
Le Grand Bazar in Montpellier
Le Grand Bazar in Montpellier (J. Chung)

One of the highlights in Montpellier has to be La Place de la Comedie (first photo). It is one of the largest pedestrian areas in Europe and when I was there in October, nearby was the “Le Grand Bazar”, a market on the esplanade with all types of vendors and antique dealers.

Promenade du Péyrou

The promenade is an esplanade with lovely parks and gardens. It runs from the Chateau d’eau du Péyrou to the Porte du Péyrou.

Chateau d’eau du Péyrou

Chateau d’eau du Peyrou, Montpellier
Chateau d’eau du Peyrou, Montpellier (J. Chung)

A 7 kilometre aqueduct was built to supply water to Montpellier in the late 1700s culminating in a water tower called “Chateau d’eau du Péyrou”.

Porte du Péyrou (Montpellier’s Arc de Triomphe)

Montpellier Arc de Triomphe and Statue of Louis XIV
Montpellier Arc de Triomphe and Statue of Louis XIV (J. Chung)

It’s one of the 8 famous arches that I wrote about in a previous post and this one in Montpellier is triumphal arch dedicated to King Louis XIV of France  in 1690 and is located at the end of the Promenade du Péyrou. You can go to the top during a guided visit.

Place Royale de Péyrou

Brocante at Place Royale de Péyrou Montpellier
Brocante at Place Royale de Péyrou Montpellier (J. Chung)

One of the highlights of Montpellier is to visit their markets. There was a brocante (antique) and farmer’s market during the weekend at Place Royale de Péyrou. The antique selection was small but interesting. There were about two dozen vendors located there.

Paysan market on Avenue Samuel de Champlain

Paysan market in Montpellier
Paysan market in Montpellier (J. Chung)

The other market was on Avenue Samuel de Champlain and it was crowded,  The lineups at certain vendors were evidence of their popularity. There were the usual vegetables, meats and cheeses as well as paella, oysters, wines, organic breads, and onions. Lots of different kinds of onions!

Faculty of Medicine:

Why visit here? It is the birthplace of medicine in Montpellier and is located in a former monastery. It is the oldest medical school in the west and located beside St. Peter’s Cathedral.

St. Peter’s Cathedral and Faculty of Medicine in Montpellier
St. Peter’s Cathedral and Faculty of Medicine in Montpellier (J. Chung)

Vieille Ville (Old Town)

Toy store in Montpellier (J. Chung)
Toy store in Montpellier (J. Chung)
Montpellier Vieille Ville
Montpellier Vieille Ville (J. Chung)

I really enjoyed walking around in Montpellier. There is a whole area that is pedestrians-only and the Vieille Ville is particularly nice as the area has retained the medieval aura and many stores have turn-of-the-century storefront designs.

Apartment Rental recommendation

Apartment In The Historic Center Of Montpellier

I stayed in this perfect apartment for a week. It was a big 1 bedroom apartment with a balcony and was within walking distance of central Montpellier. I’d definitely stay here again. 

2. Excursion To The Seaside Town Of Sete

Sete, France
Sete, France (J. Chung)

I headed by train to Sete. It is south of Montpellier and by train only takes 20 minutes from Montpellier’s Saint-Roch station. It’s a short walk into Sete’s main area.  A return fare was about $17 Cdn. It is a port and seaside town and reminds me of Honfleur in Normandy, although this town is much bigger. There is a network of canals, reminiscent of Venice and a wonderful, panoramic view from Mont St-Clair. Getting to the top was a hike. It took me about 45 minutes to get to the top and it was a steep hike, but the view was worth it.

View from Mont St-Clair in Sete
View from Mont St-Clair in Sete (J. Chung)

On the way down, I stopped at Musée Paul Valery which is an excellent museum and while it is small, it often has some well-known exhibitions. At the time I was there they had a Joan Miro exhibit. Miro was a Spanish artist (painter, sculptor, and ceramicist) known for his surreal works.

At the end of your visit, I also recommend sitting by one of the canals and sipping on a glass of wine. Sete is definitely a town worth visiting.

3. Dining In Montpellier

Esprit Vin in Montpellier
Esprit Vin in Montpellier (J. Chung)

Sadly two of the restaurants that I wanted to recommend  have closed; however, you won’t have any trouble find a good meal in this town. Fortunately, Esprit Vin (3 Place Chabaneau) is still around. It has a covered terrace and is a perfect spot for a drink especially at “l’heure de l’apéro ” (happy hour or cocktail hour).

4. My Experience Taking French Classes At Accent Francais

Accent Francais Preposition Cards
Accent Francais Preposition Cards

There’s nothing better than learning French in France. In my research I was looking for a school that would allow me to just attend for one week. I also wanted the option to stay in my own place (rather than stay with a family). The reviews for Accent Francais  were good, so I decided to try this school.

Prior To Starting

Before heading to France I did the online test and on the Monday morning I did a one-on-one oral test. What a way to wake yourself up in the morning!  I was then placed in a level-appropriate class with 8 other students.

My Classmates At Accent Francais

My classmates were from the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Switzerland, Africa and…..Canada. And not only was the Canadian from Toronto, but it turns out we went to the same public school!

The Lessons

Most of the students were taking Accent Francais classes for 2 weeks or more and were staying with families in the area. We were all at the same level and on the first day we spent the next 3.5 hours getting acquainted and corrected on our grammar.

Each morning we had two teachers (they switched halfway through) and my brain certainly got a workout. There was lots of laughing and activities to keep us engaged.

After watching a video called, “Elle me dit” by British singer-songwriter Mika (see below) we not only discussed the lyrics but also transposed what was being said into the indirect. It’s basically a video about a mother nagging her son.  It has a catchy tune and is funny.

My Impressions

Learning a foreign language is not always easy and there was one particular day that was tougher than usual.  I realized that my ability to read and write French is so much better than my ability to understand. The accents from the students who spoke Dutch, African, or German really made it difficult for me to comprehend what they were saying. And there was a time when i couldn’t even understand the instructor, but suffice to say I got through the morning.

If you’re interested in pursuing some French immersion while in France, be sure to check out my post to learn about some other schools:  What To Expect When You Take  A French Immersion Course In France.

5. Travelling In Montpellier

Montpellier tram
Montpellier tram (J. Chung)

Montpellier is a city that is so convenient for walking….everywhere. However, for those who want to take the tram, there are 4 lines and the designs on the trams were created by French fashion designer, Christian Lacroix.

6. Accommodations

Esplanade Leo Mallet in Montpellier (J. Chung)
Esplanade Leo Mallet in Montpellier (J. Chung)
Montpellier apartment
Montpellier apartment (J. Chung)

I rented an apartment through VRBO and it was located in the Place aux Marche des Fleurs, just north of the Place de la Comedie (a 5 minute walk), the main square of the entire city (Esplanade Leo Mallet). The location was great, except for the Friday and Saturday revellers who were boisterous into the early (ie. 4:00 am) morning hours. The apartment was near everything one could want—many boulangeries, a grocery store (Monoprix in Place de la Comedie has a great grocery section), a market, and many cafes and restaurants.

My apartment had one bedroom and a terrace which was perfect in October. It overlooked a square where I could watch the student protestors while savouring my Tarte au Citron that I picked up from a local bakery. Highly recommend this apartment. Here’s a link: Apartment In The Historic Center Of Montpellier

7. Getting Into Montpellier From The Airport

Depending when you arrive, you might be able to get the shuttle bus from the airport to Place de la Europe. Unfortunately, it does not run frequently and during my trip, I joined three other travellers in a cab to Place de la Europe. The cost was 6 Euros each. It beat waiting an hour for the next shuttle. The tram is relatively cheap (1.5 Euros) and takes you into the heart of the city. I went to Place de la Comedie and took the Number 1 tram with the end point “Mosson”. You buy your ticket from a machine at the stop. Don’t forget to validate it on the tram.

8. Travelling Into Montpellier From The Train Station

Montpellier’s train station is Montpellier Saint-Roch and it is a major stop coming from all directions in France. It is also located in the south part of the city and only a 5-10 minute walk to Place de la Comedie.

Highlights of Montpellier

Are there any highlights of Montpellier that you’d like to add to the list?

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4 Comments

  1. Keith Van Sickle says:

    We have friends who stayed in Montpellier for three months once, 10 years ago. They liked it so much they have been back every year, each time for several months. That speaks volumes to its livability. Especially with the city’s excellent tram system, they don’t need a car except for the occasional excursion.

    1. That’s what I love about certain towns–the ability to just stay without a car!

  2. Your photo of Montpellier’s colorful tram is eye-catching and the city sounds like a delightful place to spend a week … a month … or even longer! I especially admire your stalwart dedication in studying French. I have no doubt that knowing the language makes each visit to France feel like you’re returning to your second home!

    1. So true. So much easier to “learn” french IN France too! You’re surrounded by the language, culture, and food (of course) all the time. Of course the wine loosens you up so you’re more apt to take risks speaking French.