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EuropeFranceOccitanie

Montpellier

Occitanie, France · Europe

About Montpellier

Montpellier is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Lattes, 42km from Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue.

Montpellier is a city located in Occitanie, France. With a population of 248,252, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Montpellier sits in France, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Paris time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Montpellier to your route.

About Montpellier

Montpellier (UK: ; US: ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the department of Hérault. As of 2023, 310,240 people live in the city proper, while its metropolitan area has a population of 813,272 as of

Read more 2020. Montpellier is the third-largest French city near the Mediterranean coast, behind Marseille and Nice, and the seventh-largest city of France overall. The inhabitants are called Montpelliérains and Montpelliéraines. In the Middle Ages, Montpellier was an important city of the Crown of Aragon (and was the birthplace of James I), and then of Majorca, before its sale to France in 1349. Established in 1220, the University of Montpellier is one of the oldest universities in the world and has the oldest medical school still in operation, with notable alumni such as Petrarch, Nostradamus and François Rabelais. Above the medieval city, the ancient citadel of Montpellier is a stronghold built in the seventeenth century by Louis XIII. Since the 1990s, Montpellier has experienced one of the strongest economic and demographic growths in the country. Its urban area has experienced the highest population growth in France since the year 2000. Numbering 70,000, students comprise nearly one-fourth of its population, one of the highest such proportions in Europe. Its living environment, with one of Europe's largest pedestrian areas, along with its rich cultural life and Mediterranean climate, explains the enthusiasm for the city, which is nicknamed the "Gifted". Montpellier was nominated for "Best Emerging Culture City of the Year 2017" by the think tank LCD. It is ranked as a Sufficiency city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Montpellier

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Montpellier?

Montpellier offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Montpellier?

Plan your road trip to Montpellier with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Montpellier as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Montpellier located?

Montpellier is located in Occitanie, France, Europe. The coordinates are 43.6109 latitude, 3.8763 longitude.

What is the population of Montpellier?

Montpellier has a population of approximately 248,252 people, making it a city in France.

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Quick Information

Population
248,252
Continent
Europe
Country
France
Region
Occitanie
Timezone
Europe/Paris
Coordinates
43.6109, 3.8763

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in France

Police
17
Ambulance
15
Fire
18
All emergencies
112
Driving side
right

Carrying a warning triangle and hi-vis vest in your vehicle is mandatory. Motorway emergency phones connect to official breakdown services only.

Full driving guide for France

Tags

EuropeFranceOccitanieCity

Worth the detour from Montpellier

6 notable places within an hour's drive.

castle

Aigues-Mortes

A perfectly rectangular walled medieval port town rising from the Camargue salt marshes and pink lagoons.

26 km · about 30 min drive

bridge

Pont du Diable (Hérault)

A 11th-century 'devil's bridge' arching over the Hérault above emerald swimming pools in a sun-baked gorge.

28 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

A medieval pilgrimage village around a Romanesque abbey, hidden in a wild gorge of the Hérault.

30 km · about 35 min drive

national park

Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue

A wild wetland delta of pink flamingos, white horses and black bulls between the arms of the Rhône.

42 km · about 50 min drive

natural wonder

Cirque de Navacelles

A perfect horseshoe canyon carved by the Vis, with a tiny hamlet cradled in its abandoned river meander.

43 km · about 50 min drive

ancient ruins

Arena of Nimes

One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world, still hosting events nearly 2,000 years after its construction.

46 km · about 55 min drive

Driving roads near Montpellier

  • 28 kmPont du Diable (Hérault)A 11th-century 'devil's bridge' arching over the Hérault above emerald swimming pools in a sun-baked gorge.
  • 61 kmMont AigoualThe highest summit of the Cévennes at 1,565 m, crowned by a weather observatory with vast horizons.

Driving in France

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.85/litre
Motorway tolls
~€10.00/100km

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Montpellier.

Castelnau-le-Lez

🇫🇷 France

3 km awayPop. 18,011

Lattes

🇫🇷 France

5 km awayPop. 17,390

Juvignac

🇫🇷 France

5 km awayPop. 12,783

Clapiers

🇫🇷 France

5 km awayPop. 5,237

Saint-Jean-de-Védas

🇫🇷 France

5 km awayPop. 9,134

Lavérune

🇫🇷 France

6 km awayPop. 2,760

Jacou

🇫🇷 France

6 km awayPop. 5,111

Le Crès

🇫🇷 France

6 km awayPop. 7,621

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence