I've been to Montpellier in Languedoc once before, with Dot a decade or so ago. It was nice to return there for a conference and, this time, to have a much better look around the city. It is home to one of France's oldest universities and today is a modern city with a high-tech base and a lot of history behind it. For some time, it was part of Spain - tied in with Aragon - or quasi independent, and the citizens spoke a cross between French and other dialects ... the Language of (D)'Oc. Hence the name Languedoc. If you recall, there is a retail chain called Occitane en Provence. We have it in Australia. Provence is in the same part of the world and Occitane is where the language of Oc was spoken. Montpellier itself is in the Department of Herault.
During our conference, we took a guided tour around the city centre and this is some of what we saw, starting with the Opera House and square in front of it with its pavement cafes.
Some famous people lived here, including Rabelais, author of Gargantua and Pantagruel ... I presume you've read it - my copy is in French!!
The blocks of apartments concentrated in the city centre are frequently built around interior courtyards and this one was home to a restaurant. Some also had little scenes etched into the wall.
Downtown was, like Paris, home to boulevards of varying width. This one shown here has a view to the arch discussed later on.
And close by there were the remains of a Jewish Mikve (or bathing area) reminding us if the city's considerable Jewish heritage.
Then there are the little parks which seem to appear out of nowhere.
The arch noted earlier seems to resemble the Arc de Triomphe, but is much smaller and I think earlier. It lies close to the impressive Palais de Justice.
We had a key to the arch's stairs which took us up to some great views over the city. These show Louis 14th on his horse and a more general view over inner suburbs.
And finally we listened to something of the city's musical life.
AS
During our conference, we took a guided tour around the city centre and this is some of what we saw, starting with the Opera House and square in front of it with its pavement cafes.
Some famous people lived here, including Rabelais, author of Gargantua and Pantagruel ... I presume you've read it - my copy is in French!!
The blocks of apartments concentrated in the city centre are frequently built around interior courtyards and this one was home to a restaurant. Some also had little scenes etched into the wall.
Downtown was, like Paris, home to boulevards of varying width. This one shown here has a view to the arch discussed later on.
And close by there were the remains of a Jewish Mikve (or bathing area) reminding us if the city's considerable Jewish heritage.
Then there are the little parks which seem to appear out of nowhere.
The arch noted earlier seems to resemble the Arc de Triomphe, but is much smaller and I think earlier. It lies close to the impressive Palais de Justice.
We had a key to the arch's stairs which took us up to some great views over the city. These show Louis 14th on his horse and a more general view over inner suburbs.
And finally we listened to something of the city's musical life.
AS
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