Montpellier is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. It is in the region of Occitanie and the capital of the department of Hérault. The inhabitants are called Montpelliérains.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Occitanie |
| Department | Hérault |
| Arrondissement | Montpellier |
| Canton | Montpellier-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and Montpellier – Castelnau-le-Lez |
| Intercommunality | Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole |
| Government | |
| Mayor (2020–2026) | Michaël Delafosse |
| Area1 | 56.88 km2 (21.96 sq mi) |
| Population (2017-01-01) | 285,121 |
| Rank | 7th in France |
| Demonym(s) | Montpellérains |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Established in 1220, the University of Montpellier is one of the oldest universities in the world and 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 of France.
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.
Geography
The city is situated on hilly ground 10 km (6 mi) inland from the Mediterranean coast, on the River Lez. The name of the city, which was originally Monspessulanus, is said to have stood for mont pelé (the naked hill, because the vegetation was poor), or le mont de la colline (the mount of the hill)
Montpellier is located 170 km (106 mi) from Marseille, 242 km (150 mi) from Toulouse, and 748 km (465 mi) from Paris.
Climate
Montpellier has a Mediterranean climate with mild, damp winters, and hot, rather dry summers.
Population
In a study made by INSEE from 2007 to 2012 Montpellier saw the strongest population growth of France’s main communes (+1.1%), ahead of Paris and Lyon. In 2017, the estimated population of the metropolitan area was 616,296.
For most of its history, and even today, Montpellier is known for its significant Spanish population, heritage and influence. Montpellier also houses significant Moroccan, Algerian, and Italian communities.
Education
The University of Montpellier is one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1160.b It was suppressed during the French Revolution but was re-established in 1896.
It is not known exactly at what date the schools of literature were founded which developed into the Montpellier faculty of arts; it may be that they were a direct continuation of the Gallo-Roman schools. The school of law was founded by Placentinus, a doctor from Bologna University, who came to Montpellier in 1160, taught there during two different periods, and died there in 1192. The school of medicine was founded perhaps by a graduate of the Muslim Spain medical schools. Pope Nicholas IV issued a Bull in 1289, combining all the schools into a university, which was placed under the direction of the bishop, but which in fact enjoyed a large measure of autonomy.
The Montpellier school of medicine owed its success to the ruling of the Guilhems, lords of the town, by which any licensed physician might lecture there; there was no fixed limit to the number of teachers, lectures were multiplied, and there was a great wealth of teaching. Rabelais took his medical degrees at Montpellier. It was in this school that the biological theory of vitalism, elaborated by Barthez (1734–1806), had its origin. The French Revolution did not interrupt the existence of the faculty of medicine.
The faculties of science and of letters were re-established in 1810; that of law in 1880. It was on the occasion of the sixth centenary of the university, celebrated in 1889, that the Government of France announced its intention—which has since been realized—of reorganizing the provincial universities in France.
Universities
Main article: University of Montpellier
- University of Montpellier: sciences, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, business, sports
- Paul Valéry University: arts, languages and social sciences
University of Montpellier 1 and University of Montpellier 2 reunified in January 2015 to form the University of Montpellier. Paul Valéry University Montpellier, remains a separate entity.
Transport
Montpellier is served by railway, including TGV highspeed trains. Montpellier’s main railway station is Saint-Roch.
The Montpellier – Méditerranée Airport is located in the area of Fréjorgues, in the town of Mauguio, southeast of Montpellier.
The Transports de l’agglomération de Montpellier (TaM) manages the city’s public transportation, including its 56-kilometre (35 mi) tramway network consisting of four lines and several parking facilities.
The TaM also manages the large bike sharing scheme Vélomagg’, started in June 2007, comprising 1200 bicycles and 50 stations.
Sport
Montpellier was the finish of Stage 11 and the departure of Stage 12 in the 2007 Tour de France. It was also the finish of Stage 11 and the departure of Stage 12 in the 2016 edition. The city is home to a variety of professional sports teams:
- Montpellier Hérault Rugby, of the Top 14 who play rugby union formerly at the Stade Sabathé and now at the Altrad Stadium.
- Montpellier HSC of Ligue 1 who play association football at the Stade de la Mosson.
- Montpellier Red Devils who play rugby league in Elite 1 division at the Stade Sabathé
- Montpellier Agglomération Handball are a team handball club playing in the French National League.
Montpellier was one of the hosts of the FIBA EuroBasket 2015.
The city is home to the Open Sud de France tennis tournament since 2010, and will host the XXXI World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship.
The main athletics stadium is the Philippidès Stadium, which is owned by the University of Montpellier.
Culture
The city is a centre for cultural events as there are many students. Montpellier has two large concert venues: Le Zenith Sud (7.000 seats) and L’Arena (14.000 seats). Le Corum cultural and conference centre contains three auditoriums.
- The Festival de Radio France et Montpellier is a summer festival of opera and other music held in Montpellier. The festival concentrates on classical music and jazz with about 150 events, including opera, concerts, films, and talks. Most of these events are free and are held in the historic courtyards of the city or in the modern concert halls of Le Corum near historical city center.
- The annual Cinemed, the International Mediterranean Film Festival Montpellier, held in the fall, is the second largest French film festival after the Cannes Film Festival. Held since 1979, it offers screenings of over 200 long and short films, documentaries, animated films, trailers, and a special program of student films.[19] Other events include panel discussions, exhibitions, and gatherings. Venues include Le Corum and cinema halls.
