2 GROUPS 2017 Montpellier Méditerranée Tourism & Conventions • Sales Department • +33 (0)4 67 60 19 19/30 • [email protected] 3 MONTPELLIER A HISTORIC & PEDESTRIAN CITY CENTER The oldest operating medical school in the western world, MÉDITERRANÉE medieval streets, squares and fountains, private mansions, etc. 1,000 years of history. A beautiful journey. BOLD ARCHITECTURE MÉTROPOLE Jean Nouvel, Zaha Hadid, Massimilino Fuksas, Ricardo Bofill… just to name a few ! Lovers of complex architecture and contemporary prowess, Montpellier is the place for you ! A VERY MEDITERRANEAN WAY OF LIFE Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole combines all the Creative, vibrant, captivating. Welcome to the heart of Montpellier Méditerranée ! comforts of a major city with a laid-back atmosphere; colorful markets, vast pedestrian squares, lively terraces, Whether you are looking for an urban getaway, nature, an exciting adventure or simply a good time to share, you’ll be beaches accessible by bike and not to mention 300 days of amazed by the Mediterranean atmosphere and the 1,001 sunshine per year. treasures Montpellier has to offer you. Don’t miss Place de la Comédie, the Faculty of Medicine, the private mansions, NATURE IN HERITAGE the contemporary heritage, the Fabre museum, Château de Maguelone Cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque art Castries and Maguelone Cathedral, just to name a few! Bike isolated on a peninsula between sea and ponds, the Natural paths leading to the sea, vineyards as far as the eye can see, Reserve of Méjean, Camargue, etc. From Montpellier, nature charming local villages and exceptional cultural and sporting events. Not to mention all the wonderful traditions that we takes over and adds to the richness of your experience in would love to share with you... southern France. Throughout these pages, Montpellier Méditerranée invites A LAND OF ARTISTS AND CREATION you to discover a vast and unique territory. An exciting experience in an extraordinary destination with 6 UNESCO Opéra National, international festivals where the greatest world heritage sites. dancers and musicians, luthiers (stringed instrument Welcome and have a wonderful stay ! makers) and craftsmen come together. Pure enjoyment Philippe Saurel awaits! Mayor of the City of Montpellier President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole THE WORLD’S LARGEST WINE-GROWING REGION Vines has been cultivated around Montpellier since ancient times. Come discover this tradition in local restaurants, wine cellars and vineyards ! IN THE HEART OF A REGION FULL OF MAJOR TOURIST SITES Less than 2 hours from Montpellier, there are at least 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the City of Carcassonne, Pont du Gard, Canal du Midi, Camino de Santiago, Vauban fortresses of the Pyrenees, the Causses Plateaus and the Cévennes Mountains. 2017 4 GROUPS CONTENTS GUIDED TOURS ..................................... 6 Major sites in the historic center .......... 7 Theme Montpellier ................................. 9 Theatrical tours .................................... 12 Montpellier from a different angle ...... 13 School special ...................................... 14 HALF-DAY DISCOVERY ....................... 16 FULL-DAY ENJOYMENT ..................... 20 RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ................ 24 USEFUL INFORMATION ....................... 30 Calendar ................................................ 31 Shopping............................................... 32 Leisure .................................................. 33 Museums .............................................. 34 Follies (châteaux) ................................. 36 Heritage ................................................ 38 Experts at your service ........................ 40 Arriving and parking in Montpellier ..... 41 Montpellier Méditerranée Tourism & Conventions • Sales Department • +33 (0)4 67 60 19 19/30 • [email protected] 5 GUIDED TOURS 6 GROUPES 2016 © Anatome - Marc Ginot - Marc © Anatome GUIDED The great historic center with 1,000 TOURS years of history VIEWPOINT THE ESSENTIALS for your first look at the city! VIEWPOJNT From Place de la Comédie to Place de la Canourgue or Place du Peyrou, through the THE BIG LOOP maze of medieval streets, let yourself be to quench your thirst for knowledge and guided and discover Montpellier through the satisfy your curiosity! ages. A complete tour that will allow you to enter Montpellier has many secrets. To discover the major monuments of the city, discover the them, our guides will lead you through the private courtyard of a mansion and visit two of doors to which only the Tourist Office has the keys: a courtyard of a private 17th or 18th the following three places: century mansion and access to one of the • Arc de Triomphe following two sites: • Mikvah The famous Mikvah (Jewish ritual bath of the • Urban V Tower* of Montpellier Cathedral 12th century), a real treasure in Montpellier, A view of the city seen from above: from the from €180/group top of the Arc de Triomphe ! € To access Urban V Tower: + €1/person. Access to Urban V Tower limited to 18 people. from €160/group * Good physical condition is recommended. 200 steps. € Groups of a maximum of 30 people. Duration: 2h Groups of a maximum of 30 people. Duration: 3h Professionals (TOs, travel agencies, coaches, etc.), receive an exclusive discount of 10 % off Personalised offer on request. Montpellier Méditerranée Tourism & Conventions • Sales Department • +33 (0)4 67 60 19 19/30 • [email protected] 7 GUIDED The great historic center with 1,000 TOURS years of history Don’t miss MONTPELLIER, HISTORIC CENTER & ACCESSIBLE TO ALL ! FABRE MUSEUM A route in the heart of the historic Why choose ? This tour includes center with an exclusive tour of two a visit of the historic center and private mansion courtyards so that a tour of the Fabre Museum everyone can enjoy the history of of Montpellier Méditerranée Montpellier. Métropole, its history and major HISTORIC CENTER & 3 trails adapted to people works of the permanent collection. TOURIST TRAIN with: A collection of images and • physical disabilities 40-minute guided tour by tourist emotions you simply cannot miss ! • visual impairments train followed by an 80-minute • hearing disabilities (tour in French walking tour of the historic center sign language) from €185/group from € + €5/person* from € €160/group € €160/group Based on a maximum of 25 people, entry + €6/person* ticket to the museum valid all day. Possibility Number of participants with disabilities Groups of a maximum of 30 people. of opting for a ticket to the temporary limited to 15. Free for 1 attendant per *Rate for a minimum of 20 peoplet exhibition. From Tuesday to Sunday. participant. Please contact us for more information. 8 GROUPS 2017 GUIDED TOURS Theme Montpellier Don’t miss New ! THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE Birthplace of medical education, Montpellier owes this fame to its university, the oldest operating SECRETS OF THE medical school in the western JARDIN DES PLANTES world. The Jardin des Plantes is the oldest The guide will take you on a botanical garden in France created ENTER THE LIVING tour of the building, a former by Richer de Belleval in 1593. It is ROOMS OF A PRIVATE Benedictine monastery founded a haven of peace for poets and the MANSION: HÔTEL DE in the 14th century, transformed green island of Montpellier. LUNAS into the episcopal palace and then It now has outdoor and greenhouse In collaboration with the Centre a school of health, and through plant collections, centuries-old des Monuments Nationaux, a the exceptional collections of trees old and a rich sculpted new tour of the living rooms and the Conservatory of Anatomy (20 heritage. gardens of Hôtel de Lunas, a large min.) and the new Delmas-Orfila- Whether you prefer «plants» or residence in the heart of the city, Rouvière room, displaying a special «poems», come and discover reflecting the evolution of the anatomical collection, that of the the monument of Richer de urban fabric of Montpellier and the former carnival museum of Dr. Belleval or that of Rabelais with transformations of society. Spitzner. A Tourist Office exclusive ! a guide and an expert and then, in a more privileged setting, the from Ecole Systématique and Martins €160/group € greenhouse. from € Groups of a maximum of 18 people. €230/group From Monday to Friday. Groups of a maximum of 18 people. from Prohibited to children under 12 years of age. € €230/group Groups of a maximum of 18 people. And that’s not all And that’s not all 17th century private mansions, 18th century private History of medicine in Montpellier, François Lapeyronie mansions, 19th century private mansions, Le and Saint-Côme amphitheatre, La Panacée, the Montpellier of the 19th century and Hôtel de Cabrières Queen’s Garden, famous botanists. Sabatier d’Espeyran, Le Peyrou, Les Demeures aux Please contact us. Champs and Montpellier et le Vin. Please contact us. Montpellier Méditerranée Tourism & Conventions • Sales Department • +33 (0)4 67 60 19 19/30 • [email protected] 9 GUIDED TOURS Theme Montpellier Unique ! VIEWPOINT VIEW FROM THE TOP OF URBAN V TOWER INCLUDED* MONTPELLIER CATHEDRAL SECRETS OF LUTHIERS A remarkable history: an ancient Benedictine chapel ordered by A rare, exceptional and heart- Pope Urban V in the 14th century, thumping visit. Meet a luthier it became a cathedral in the 16th (stringed instrument maker) in century thanks to its exceptional OPÉRA COMÉDIE his workshop, surrounded by the size. smells of wood and polish. Welcome to the Opéra Comédie! After reminding