France's most atmospheric southern galaxy offers countless delightful destinations.
A visit to the region demands a timetable (if not a lifetime) long enough
to acquaint yourself with endearingly off-the-beaten-path villages
and as much unruffled countryside as your heart can stand.
But any trip to the Languedoc would not be complete without a stop
in its most youthful and energetic city, Montpellier.
Montpellier is the capitol of Languedoc-Roussillon.
Located near the Mediterranean coast, it's not your typical coastal city.
Often lauded as France's fastest growing city (8th in the pecking order),
it's a study in contrasts, a reminder that globe-trotting surprises still exist.
In the town that produced Nostradamus and Rabelais, today's Montpellier
paints a cheerful picture that includes an army of students, legions of
adventure sports enthusiasts and a kaleidoscope of fun and funky trams
decorated by none other than famous French couture designer Christian Lacroix.
As you first enter the "old" city, you're immediately swept up by the
enormous main plaza -- which, being shaped like your favorite
breakfast food, is affectionately referred to as L'Oeuf (the egg).
The Place de la Comédie feels like a huge veranda, a welcoming
esplanade of open air dining and engaging people watching.
It seems like every café in Montpellier has outdoor seating.
Making the scene must be life's main diversion here.
Twisty old streets make way to a traveler's paradise where you can spend hours
embracing the genial and relaxed culture of the casual Montpellier locals.
Smell the sweet air and absorb a dose of sunny vitamin D while you
sip a glass of rosé and forget your troubles.
Soak it up, you'll need your energy later.....
Old Town Montpellier (Écusson neighborhood) manages to be
both timeworn and trendy at the same time.
The district charmingly manages to lure both tourists and locals, both
sharing the same hangouts without the usual panty lines that segregate.
the Écusson, you'll notice that this is definitely not just some stuffy museum city.
Every nook and cranny is filled with a liveliness that certifies the
community feel of the neighborhood, something not found in many urban spaces.
The term "youthful vibe" is often overused, but here, it seems like they invented it. The glow of the Young and the Restless sipping on a citron pressé,
taking on city life full on --- but, as they do in the south,
a little bit slower than their counterparts north of the Massif Central.
The Porte du Peyrou (built in the 17th Century to honor the Sun King)
isn't just one more triumphal arch set dramatically on a grand avenue
posed for another military or marketing campaign.
Montpellier's major art installation, Musée Fabre, though chock full of classics
dating from the Renaissance all the way to modern times, is a hands on affair
that offers workshops and changing exhibits every season.
You'll even get a chance to taste the daring cuisine of the famous Pourcel Brothers (of Les Jardins des Sens fame) at the museum restaurant, Insensé.
Colorful and somewhat disrespectful bollards (concrete posts used to keep
cars off pedestrian streets) line some of the streets making the old town
into a new town of cool and collaborative street art.
Wrought iron balconies and narrow streets give way to the Peyrou Promenade where you'll see locals and tourists sharing the same wide and welcoming space.
Take your time.
The Midi - another name for for the south of France -- is proud
that they've woven slow & easy into the fabric of its people.
entertained in this not-too-touristy southern city.
The Jardin des Plantes is said to be the oldest (dating from1593!)
botanical gardens in all of France.
Make some time for history under glass.
Chateaux, vineyards, and wine-tastings are within a stone's throw of the main
city center (Chateau de Flaugergues and Chateau de la Mogère).
Speaking of wine, you may be tasting some grape varietals you're
not familiar with -- Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre compete
with the more well known Grenache and Merlots.
What to eat? That one's easy.
My first thoughts roam to colorful local produce, duck confit
and platters of charcuterie --- and that's just for starters.
If you're already familiar with the more well-known cuisine from
neighboring Provence, you'll be glad to find a new friend in Languedoc.
It's equally delicious and pairs perfectly with the regional wine.
Hint: Take a peek at the cheese and chocolate shops on rue St. Guillem.
Delicious Montpellier is a food-lover's paradise.
Montpellier is also known for its craftsmanship of world-class violins.
Check with the tourist office for possible tours of violin making workshops.
The Sainte-Anne neighborhood (near the International Music Academy
of Montpellier) is still home to a handful of luthiers (violin artisans).
The Odysseum is a shopping center that catapults
much more than just your sense of style.
It features an aquarium, an ice rink and a planetarium for anyone
who might be allergic to shopping.
If that's not enough to keep you motivated, just north of the city
is a huge safari-like zoo with vast spaces for roaming wildlife.
Rhinos, hippos, giraffes and birds welcome you to their habitat.
It also features an Amazonian greenhouse that
features seven different climate zones and a host of scary creatures.
Like so many French cities, Montpellier has its own favorites.
The International Festival of Extreme Sports is tailor-made for the city's culture.
The annual event brings 350,000 fans of board sports to see the best of
rollerblading, BMX and wakeboarding -- and that's just for starters.
Need more wine....
and discover the new city in the Antigone District.
Side by side with Montpellier's historic neighborhood, Antigone mixes
neo-classical with a modernism that's easy to love.
Mayor Georges Frêche developed the project, initiating the plan in the late 70's.
He was proud of his domain and wanted to promote a more
cosmopolitan atmosphere as the city grew and prospered.
The blend of green space, cultural playground, shops, housing and restaurants
required a bold vision which Catalan architect Richard Bofill imagined and delivered.
The Antigone is more than just a handful of handsome buildings.
It's a feeling, a place to live out your dreams.
Many travelers come to France to see and admire the historical
old stones of a city -- but here in new Montpellier, you'll wonder why
your own hometown hasn't sired a design as daring and progressive as this.
It may be a town built for youth -- but whether you're young or old,
you'll feel a bounce in your step when you walk the streets of Montpellier.
Embrace the feeling, it's like finding a brand new set
of roller skates under the Christmas tree.
Watch out, you may outright sparkle in the sun.
"Brand New Key"
"I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I roller skated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone but you got something I need
Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together
And try them out, you see
I been looking around awhile
You got something for me
Oh, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car
Don't go too fast but I go pretty far
For somebody who don't drive, I been all around the world
Some people say, I done all right for a girl
I asked your mother if you were at home
She said yes, but you weren't alone
Oh, sometimes I think that you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone but you've got something I need
Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together
And try them on, you see
Oh, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key"
Songwriters
Safka, Melanie
Thanks to MetroLyrics:
Read more: Melanie - Brand New Key Lyrics | MetroLyrics