Montpellier, capital of the Hérault département in southern France, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. A university town with a student population that keeps the centre young and lively, it combines medieval lanes with contemporary architecture and sits just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean coast. The tramway connects the city centre with the beach at Carnon Plage and the vast Odysseum leisure district.
Self-catering gîtes near Montpellier offer access to both urban culture and coastal day trips. The city has a thriving food market scene, impressive botanical collections, and enough family attractions — from aquariums to zoos — to fill a week without driving far.
No gîtes listed near Montpellier — yet
We're actively building our coverage in this area. In the meantime:
About Montpellier
Montpellier grew wealthy in the Middle Ages through trade and medicine; its university, founded in 1220, remains one of Europe's oldest. The historic Écusson district fans out from Place de la Comédie, a grand 19th-century square that serves as the social heart of the city. The old town is largely pedestrianised, with narrow alleys opening onto small squares shaded by plane trees.
In recent decades Montpellier has become known for bold modern architecture. The Odysseum quarter, built in the 1990s, houses shopping centres, restaurants, and leisure facilities including the Planet Ocean aquarium. The city's population has doubled since the 1960s, drawn by the climate, the universities, and proximity to both the Cévennes foothills and the coast.
Staying in the area gives you a base for exploring the Languedoc vineyards, the Roman aqueduct at Pont du Diable, and the lagoon beaches that stretch west towards Sète. Montpellier itself rewards a few days: wander the botanical garden, climb to the Promenade du Peyrou for views over the rooftops, or take the tram to Carnon Plage for a morning swim before returning to the city for lunch.
Things to do near Montpellier
The Jardin des plantes de Montpellier, France's oldest botanical garden, was founded in 1593 to grow medicinal plants for the university's faculty of medicine; today it's a quiet green space near the cathedral with mature trees and formal beds. The Promenade du Peyrou is an 18th-century terrace at the high point of the old town, crowned by a water tower and an Arc de Triomphe; it offers long views south towards the coast.
For families, the Montpellier Zoological Park in the Lunaret district is free to enter and home to over a thousand animals in a wooded hillside setting. The Planet Ocean Montpellier aquarium at Odysseum focuses on Mediterranean and tropical marine life, while the larger Seaquarium Institut Marin lies further south near the beach town of Le Grau-du-Roi. Carnon Plage, a 20-minute tram ride from the city centre, is a long sandy beach with windsurfing and kitesurfing schools.
The Marché du Lez is a modern covered market near the river, good for regional cheeses, charcuterie, and prepared foods. Halle Tropisme serves as a cultural centre hosting exhibitions, talks, and small concerts. The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier, with its distinctive twin tower porch, dates from the 14th century and anchors the northern edge of the Écusson.
Typical climate
Typical weather
Monthly averagesOn the map
Food & drink
Languedoc is serious wine country. The vineyards around Pic Saint-Loup and the terraced slopes of the Coteaux du Languedoc produce reds from Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre; you'll find them on restaurant lists throughout Montpellier. The coast brings oysters from the Étang de Thau, often served with local Picpoul de Pinet, a crisp white wine.
Pélardon, a small goat's cheese with protected status, comes from the nearby Cévennes hills. The city's markets — including the daily covered Halles Castellane and the weekend organic market at Plan Cabanes — stock regional olive oils, tapenade, and honey from garrigue scrubland. The Marché du Lez is particularly strong for prepared dishes and has several stalls selling rotisserie chicken, paella, and North African pastries reflecting Montpellier's close links with the Maghreb.
Getting there
Montpellier is well connected by air and rail. Béziers Cap d'Agde airport lies 53 kilometres to the southwest, with budget flights from several UK airports; Marseille Provence airport, 110 kilometres east, offers more frequent services. Both airports have car hire.
By train from the UK, take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord (597 kilometres from Montpellier) then cross Paris to Gare de Lyon for a direct TGV; total journey time is around seven hours. Driving from Caen/Ouistreham (700 kilometres, overnight ferry from Portsmouth) takes a full day via the A10 and A75 through the Massif Central, though the southern stretches of the A75 are toll-free and scenically dramatic.