ZOOM IN
In Montpellier, you will find the Comédie square, the Peyrou garden, the Charles de Gaulle esplanade and the Saint-Roch church. In short: the historical and flamboyant Montpellier. However, like european capital cities such as London or Madrid, the city abounds with special neighbourhoods with individual and spicy identities. Their social mix makes them places which are full of life.
Off the beaten track, Montpellier opens its suburbs to the most curious.
In Figuerolles for example, the market on the Roger Salengro square is one of the cheapest in town but also one of the most colourful.
Here, in this multicultural community, one can find the best products to make a mint tea or a ‘taboulé’.
«Come and visit this market once and you will never want to go to a supermarket again!» shouts René, his overflowing basket in hand.
«The stall handlers are so helpful, the products so fresh and the atmosphere so characteristic that anywhere else seems bland by comparison » adds this retired man.
This neighborhood has another speciality. Here all the generations mix. When the evening comes, the night owls like to meet up in ‘La Pleine Lune’ bar which combines a good mix of international music with art exhibitions, making this place a cultural landmark.
« Aren’t we happy here? » asks Alain sitting on the bar terrasse and who has been living in this neighbourhood for 15 years.
A little further, is the Arceaux neighbourhood, in the shade of the huge aqueduct which used to bring water to the city, some people are playing ‘pétanque’ (a form of bowls), with family or friends.
«No!! You should shoot instead!» advises Jean-Jacques.
«That’s impossible ! Let me do it my way» answers his wife confidently.
«When my husband leaves me in peace, we have the best times of the week here, summer or winter! » admits Maryse.
In the Celleneuve neighbourhood there is a superb farmer’s market favouring local produce and direct trading with the producer.
«This market came to life thanks to the residents’ initiative.
All this was possible because we do everything together like in a small village » explains Claude, an ex-serviceman;
It is in this neighbourhood that Léo Mallet was born and also most probably here that his main character Nestor Burma took shape.
The tourist office welcomes you from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday,
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday and public holiday
Our tourist information offices
Lattes : +33 (0)7 72 43 65 08
Villeneuve-lès- Maguelone : 07 87 25 67 45
Castries : +33 (0)4 67 52 04 24
