Authentic Montpellier, France

Planning a trip to Europe? Montpellier, France is a worthy addition to any itinerary. Located in the south of France, Montpellier is the eighth largest city in the country and the third largest on the French Mediterranean coast. Montpellier is booming these days– it’s the fastest growing city in France. While its name may not carry the same luster as nearby Nice or Marseille, the cozy city is full of charms that shouldn’t be overlooked. Here’s five reasons why you should add a stopover in this Mediterranean city on your next trip.

In southern France, Montpellier is located halfway between Spain and Italy. The city is only a little more than three hours from Paris by high speed train and is less than two hours from Marseille, a popular port city on the French Riviera. Oh, and its also a short tram ride away from the beach!

Tickets were around $700 from NYC and we stayed with my girlfriends family who is from here so we saved alot on that! There are however incredibly cheap and quaint airbnbs just about everywhere :)

Rock Jumping by the sea

Between the big urban beaches at La Grande Motte and Carnon (Montpellier) is a long, very flat strip of beach named 'La Grand Travers'. ... The end closest to Carnon is called Le Petit Travers, and is the closestbeach to Montpellier - it's quite a popular beach in winter for joggers and people with kids and dogs and during the summer it feels like the scene of a James Bond movie with beautiful people, sail boats and sunhats everywhere.

Port of Carnon-Plage

We rented a boat and went down the canal admiring all the rowboats docked along the side. Each had more character than the last and most have been in peoples families for decades. A few looked as if they could barely float but apparently the are still used quite often!

Markets take place on the port every Wednesday in July and August from 10am to midnight, or the traditional market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. An amusement park also takes place every day in July and August.

Rent a car and drive into the country

Montpellier Horses

There really are loads of places offering horse riding excursions in the Camargue, most of them lined up along the roads that lead into the main towns; Aigues Mortes, Le Grau-du-Roi and Saintes Maries de la Mer. There are rides to suit every level lasting any time from half an hour to a full day. We chose a ranch along Route de l’Espiguette, near Le Grau-du-Roi and our ride took us on an hour’s slow trot through the Camargue’s marshes.

In the fields you’ll see the Camargue’s famous black bulls grazing next to the white horses that have traditionally been used for herding. The riders of these horses, the gardians, are decked out in large-brimmed hats, spurs and cowboy boots.

Countryside

Carmargue Bullfighting

In a Camargue bullfight, known as la course Camarguaise, the goal of the Camargue matador, or razeteur, is to pluck a ribbon from between the bull's horns. The bulls aren't killed or injured, but it's extremely dangerous for the men trying to get that ribbon.

Unlike with corridas (Spanish bullfights) which show the matador's name in big letters, posters publicising the match put the bull's name before that of the razeteur. The name of the manade (farm) from which the bull comes is also given. The true star of the show is really the bull! From fight to fight, his qualities make him a very sought-after animal.

As for the razeteurs, they are just support acts, their fame being based on the reputation of the bull that they are facing. No blood is spilled in the Camargue bullfight; the Camargue bull does not come to kill, unlike his Spanish cousin! When this bull kills, which unfortunately can happen, his name is scratched from all lists and he never participates again.