48h in Montpellier
Medieval old town, neoclassical architecture, sandy beaches and Pic Saint-Loup vineyards.
Two days in Montpellier, a university city since 1289 and the only major French Mediterranean city with no Roman past. The trip opens on the Ecusson, the medieval core of narrow lanes opening onto the Place de la Comedie and its opera house, then shifts to Antigone, a neoclassical quarter designed by Ricardo Bofill in the 1980s, a striking change of scale. The Grand Travers beach fifteen kilometres away, the Pic Saint-Loup and its vineyards for hiking, and the Jardin des Plantes, France's oldest botanical garden founded in 1593, complete the stay. The tramway links the centre to the beaches in thirty minutes, far easier than driving in summer. The Pic Saint-Loup takes two to three hours on foot and is best climbed early in hot weather.
Practical info
- Stops
- 5
- Duration
- 2 days
- Transport
- 🚗 Car
- Distance
- ≈ 60 km
- Best time
- All year round
Itinerary
- 1
Écusson et Place de la Comédie
Cœur médiéval de la ville, ruelles, place de la Comédie et opéra.
- 2
Quartier Antigone
Architecture néo-classique de Ricardo Bofill, esplanade et fontaines.
- 3
Plage du Grand Travers
Sable fin à 15 km du centre, dunes préservées et Méditerranée.
- 4
Pic Saint-Loup
Randonnée panoramique, vignobles AOC et garrigue.
- 5
Jardin des Plantes
Plus ancien jardin botanique de France, fondé en 1593.
