48 hours in Montpellier

Montpellier's city center is commonly referred to as the Écusson, a sort of pentagon roughly bounded by Place de la Comédie, Rue de la République, Promenade du Peyrou, Jardin des Plantes, Boulevard Louis-Blanc and the Corum. There's no risk of getting lost inside, just follow the movement and you'll pass by all the interesting places. More than compulsory visits, there are moments in Montpellier that are a must: taking a refreshing dip on the sunny steps of Saint-Roch church, a fine example of neo-Gothic architecture with its superb rose window overhanging an ogival pediment; sipping a drink on the Place de la Canourgue terrace, under the trees or umbrellas; strolling through the Jardin des Plantes, the city's green lung; visiting Saint-Pierre cathedral and its strange conical towers that make it look like a fortified castle; stroll through the narrow streets of old Montpelllier, between Rue Petit-Saint-Jean, Rue Roucher and Rue Alexandre-Cabanel, to join the vibrant Rue Saint-Guilhem and Place Castellane; walk down Rue de l'Aiguillerie to the esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle and its beautiful Musée Fabre, before joining the whole city on the immense Place de la Comédie. There's no shortage of gastro-tourists, with top restaurants, neo-bistros and the Occitan tradition all abundantly represented, as evidenced by the 40 or so restaurants selected by Gault&Millau. And if you're looking for something to fill your shopping basket, there's no shortage of places to visit. You won't want to miss the Halles Castellane, in the heart of the city, or the Halles Laissac, on the edge of the Écusson, or the little Arceaux district, full of character and with its many food artisans. Finally, Montpellier is the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding area: to the north, the vineyards of the Pic-Saint-Loup appellation and the superb landscapes of the Haut-Languedoc park; to the south, on sunny days, you can head for the Mediterranean and Montpellier's favorite resorts, Palavas-les-Flots and Carnon-Plage. Montpellier is more than just a place to visit, it's also a place to be: taking a rejuvenating bath on the sunny steps of Saint-Roch church, a fine example of neo-Gothic architecture with its superb rose window overhanging an ogival pediment; a drink on the Place de la Canourgue terrace, under the trees or umbrellas; a stroll in the Jardin des Plantes, the city's green lung; Saint-Pierre cathedral and its strange conical towers that make it look like a fortified castle; the narrow streets of old Montpelllier, between rue Petit Saint-Jean, rue Roucher and rue Alexandre Cabanel, to join the vibrant rue Saint-Guilhem as far as place Castellane; rue de l'Aiguillerie down to the esplanade Charles de Gaulle and its beautiful Musée Fabre, before joining the whole city on the immense Place de la Comédie. There's no shortage of gastro-tourists, with Michelin-starred restaurants, neo-bistros and traditional Occitan establishments all well represented, as the 40 or so restaurants selected by Gault&Millau prove. And if you're looking for something to fill your shopping basket, there's no shortage of places to visit. You won't want to miss the Halles Castellane, in the heart of the city, or the Halles Laissac, on the edge of the Ecusson, or the little Arceaux district, full of character and with its many food artisans. Finally, Montpellier is the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding area: to the north, the vineyards of the Pic Saint-Loup and the superb landscapes of the Parc du Haut-Languedoc; to the south, on sunny days, you can head for the Mediterranean and Montpellier's favorite resorts, Palavas les Flots and Carnon Plage.