Busy in Montpellier

From Arles we went to Montpellier, which seems like the antithesis of Arles. Montpellier is as young (founded in the middle ages) as Arles is old (even before the Romans, Arles was either settled by or traded with Ligurians/Celts/Greeks/Phoenicians). Montpellier has a turbulent history, becoming Spanish as a part of the dowry for an Aragon King, only later to be sold to France. It was France's second city (to Paris) before plagues killed a third of the population....

Yet, Montpellier has one of the oldest medical schools in Europe. Today the Intellectual tradition continues. University students account for a quarter of the city's population. The city also prides itself for a history of social tolerance. Since we spent all the good weather days making trips out of town, we ended up seeing Montpellier on a raining afternoon, not best time to gather evidence. Also, the temperature dropped from 70s to 50s. It's probably a good thing; otherwise, Montpellier might be more crowded.

What was evident was that the city has a very extensive and popular public transport network. We made good use of it and so was everyone else!

From Arles we rode the local bus to Nimes, then took the TGV to Montpellier. As it should be, the Nimes train station is adjacent to the bus station. Here's the Gare de Nîmes.


On the TGV AVE. We booked a TGV but it turned out to be a Spanish AVE headed to Madrid. ;-)


Gare de Montpellier-Saint-Roch - that's some roof.


All 4 of the city's tram lines stop at the train station; and the intercity bus stations are located at tram stops outside the city. Very nice!


Place de la Comédie - the heartbeat of Montpellier in the sun and in the rain




View at dusk of the train station from our apartment window.


Our apartment stairs. 3 flights = 66 steps.


See it here in the red circle.


Cinématographe PATHE.


At dusk it was hard to get an infocus shot of this souped up touring bike with solar roof.


More train station.


Walking around Montpellier on a very rainy day; cold too, we are wearing our rain jackets and rain pants mostly to stay warm.






Jardin des plantes de Montpellier.




From this angle, the Cathedral seems to be mainly two towers with a giant portico.


The Triumphal Arch circa 1715.


The 18th century Saint-Clément Aqueduct used to bring water into the city, ending at the the very swanky water tower in Peyrou.




Back streets in the heart of the old town.




An excellent trompe l'oeil.


Lots of competition in the food-delivery-by-bike business in Montpellier such that I could get two of the competing companies in one shot; that being Deliveroo and Foodora. Not shown is the green livery of the ubiquitous Uber Eats.