Montpellier

Montpellier, the capital of the Hérault department, is best explored starting from the Place de la Comédie, the lively heart of the city centre, before heading to the Antigone district, a striking example of contemporary urban design, then on to the Halles du Lez market and Rue du Bras de Fer. The Jardin des Plantes, one of France's oldest botanical gardens, offers a green pause, while the Arc de Triomphe marks the entrance to the historic old town. For entertainment, the Odysseum district brings together shops, restaurants and the Planet Océan aquarium, a popular family outing. For a good meal, the Sushiboat restaurant serves carefully prepared dishes in a pleasant setting. About twenty minutes away, the beaches of Palavas-les-Flots offer boat trips, water sports and seaside dining, particularly along the Esplanade de l'Europe, with a funfair regularly livening up the resort. La Grande Motte, reachable by a small tourist train, rounds off the coastal offer, as does Sète, roughly thirty minutes by car. Montpellier thus combines urban heritage, a buzzing city centre and easy access to the Mediterranean coast.