Why you should visit Montpellier
Montpellier has become a hub for students and language exchanges. There are plenty of great things to do in Montpellier. You can wander the backstreets of the Old Town, hit the beach, or simply soak up the laid vibe. Don't miss the chance to sip a glass of local Languedoc wine at a pavement café. Think of all the attractions of the better-known Cote d’Azur without the overpriced restaurants and fake pretensions.
With its contemporary art museum, high-season flights from Heathrow and Bristol and places to try local food, it’s a great place to visit. With all its youthful charm, Montpellier is a beautiful place to visit.
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1. The art scene is booming
The opening of the Montpellier Contemporary (MOCO) is the latest development in a city embracing art. There was always a flirtation with street art and a regular summer arts festival but MOCO has really put the city on the map as a hub for all things conceptual. The temporary collections find a new home in the 17th-century Hotel Montcalm, providing a striking counterpoint to the classical building.
South of the Corum is the Musée Fabre, the city’s most trumpeted museum and one of the largest in the Languedoc. Its huge collection features seventeenth- to nineteenth-century European paintings. You'll find here works by Delacroix, Zurbaran, Raphael, Jan van Steen and Veronese, as well as ceramics and contemporary art.