Montpellier, capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, has a long tradition as a University city and is the home to one of the biggest and best known Universities of France - more than a quarter of Montpellier's 260.000 inhabitants study here.
Montpellier offers a beautiful historic center with narrow picturesque streets, elegant private mansions dating back to the 16th century and many tree shaded cafes, and also an interesting cultural life. Thanks to its countless historical treasures, the city is officially called a « Ville d'Art ». Many street musicians and artists as well as a variety of famous festivals contribute to its cultural life. The warm, Mediterranean atmosphere is reflected in the day to day life of the town.
Montpellier opens like an amphitheater towards the Mediterranean with its long, sandy beaches and the étangs (lagoons) with huge colonies of wild pink flamingos. Thanks to its excellent location between Provence, the Camargue, the Cevennes mountains and the Pyrenees, Montpellier offers a wide range of excursion opportunities. The interior is fascinating and unspoilt with many gorges, creeks and picturesque villages.
This is also the biggest wine growing area of the world with excellent wines to be discovered and tasted. The climate is excellent. Summer lasts until the end of October and one can even sit outside in winter to drink ones coffee in one of the numerous cafes. The sun shines for more than 300 days per year...
A generally mild climate, the average temperature is about 11°C/51°F in January and 27°C/80°F in July.
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