Montpellier’s near Mediterranean location means the city has great weather and a relaxed lifestyle, plus there are interesting sights and a lively nightlife focused around clubs and bars. With the coast so close, the beaches can be enjoyed in the summer too!
The city of Montpellier offers a different study abroad experience to Paris as this is a smaller city, situated near the coast. Even so, this is still a popular destination for leisure tourists and language travel students with its appealing squares lined with cafés and restaurants, its interesting sights and its more relaxed way of life.
Montpellier is in the south of France and is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Montpellier isn’t quite a coastal city but it’s very close to the Mediterranean, situated 10km (6 miles) inland and on a hill and on the River Lez. This is a sizeable city with a population of around 250,000 people.
Being located just 10km from the Mediterranean means when you study abroad in Montpellier you’re never too far away from the coast where you can enjoy beaches, swimming and more. Montpellier has attractive city streets and some interesting old buildings like Montpellier Cathedral (also called the Saint Pierre Cathedral). This dates back originally to 1364, though the majority of the current building was rebuilt in the 17th century.
Other interesting structures include the Porte du Peyrou, a triumphal arch similar to the Arc de Triomphe. The main focal point of Montpellier is the Place de la Comedie. This popular square is a great meeting place with an impressive fountain in its centre.
Montpellier may not be right on the coast, but this very much feels like a Mediterranean city! The pace of life feels more relaxed when compared to larger cities like Paris, and so Montpellier will appeal to language travel students who want to learn French, but prefer a smaller and more intimate city than Paris.
During the summer, Montpellier is a great city for enjoying outdoor cafés and restaurants and there are several festivals and events which you might like to visit too. The largest festival in Montpellier is the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier. This mainly focuses on classical music and jazz plus there’s also opera, lots of concerts, films and more too. Montpellier is a lively city with plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs if you fancy dancing the night away
One great advantage with Montpellier is the weather. Being so close to the Mediterranean means that Montpellier has nice, warm summer temperatures with a high usually between 25 and 30C in July and August. During the winter it’s mild here too, averaging around 8 to 10C in December and January.
Looking for a school in the South of France ? Have a look at these French language schools in Montpellier.