Vacation Rentals in Montpellier
Montpellier is unique in many ways; this southern French city often hides in the shadows of better known southern cities like Nice or Cannes, but it actually has a great deal to offer to those who would take the time to discover it – so secure yourself an apartment in Montpellier and start wandering!
Montpellier's History
Montpellier is one of the only southern French cities not to base its history in Roman antiquity. But this doesn't mean that it's all modern – the oldest part of town known as l'Ecusson is a beautiful, pedestrian area to wander and a lovely place to find a vacation home in Montpellier. Montpellier was first founded in the 10th century as a trading port, but it quickly established itself as a capital for culture, with Place de la Comédie as its central square, surrounded by the 19th century opera house and a variety of cafés; choose an apartment in Montpellier in this area, and one of them may well become your local. Montpellier also offers elegant private mansions to visit and large boulevards that give you a great view of all it has to offer. Be sure to visit the St Roch Church, dedicated to Montpellier's patron saint and the 14th century Saint Pierre Cathedral.
Modern Montpellier
Today, Montpellier is a center for students as well as tourists looking for a different experience in the South of France, so not only do vacation rentals in Montpellier abound, but so do many other attractions. Chic boutiques, classy wine bars and nearby beaches combine to make Montpellier the ideal place to spend a holiday. Nightlife is bolstered by the enormous student population, who take advantage of cheap apartments and local universities to make Montpellier their home. Montpellier is also a center of experimental electronica music in France. As far as daytime culture, consider the Musée Fabre, home to collections from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Eating in Montpellier
As in most French towns and cities, visitors to Montpellier have a variety of choices when it comes to local cuisine. Outdoor cafés are the most classic example of traditional eateries; you'll see people enjoying the sunshine and a coffee or a meal on many of the open squares. Wine bars are a more recent but no less enjoyable addition to the local gastronomic landscape. As for accompaniments, local southern ingredients like goat cheese, eggplant, olives and tomatoes are on nearly all the menus. If you'd rather cook at your guesthouse accommodations, you can take advantage of the Les Halles Castellane market, which sells all sorts of fresh, local provisions. And Montpellier isn't all about the city – nearby beaches allow you to rent seaview apartments or even a villa with a pool from which to take advantage of local culture and activities.