Discover Montpellier
The Méditerranée Burlesque Festival will take place in Montpellier.
Located in the South of France, the name of Montpellier first appeared in 985. Starting as a merchant hub, later becoming a university and commercial town, it is now the seventh-largest city in France by population.
You will find on this page a summary of essential information to help you plan your stay in the best possible way.
Traveling to Montpellier
By train
Regarded as the most eco-friendly means of transportation, Montpellier has two train stations:
. The Gare Saint-Roch is located in the heart of the city and provides direct access to the 4 tram lines.
. The Gare Sud de France (solely for TGVs - high-speed rail) is 5km on the outskirts, but thanks to the tram line 1 you can access the City Center in only 20 minutes.
By Car
To reach the Festival venue, while prioritizing carpooling, you can use highways A9, A709 and A75. The main benefit of traveling by car is the opportunity to elevate your stay by visiting must-see locations outside of the city.
You have 3 options to park:
. Park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts of the city combined with tram services
. Indoor or outdoor car parks in the city
. Parking areas in the streets usually free on the week-end
By bus
Montpellier is connected to both France and Europe thanks to the long-distance bus lines. The drop-off point for the bus companies is located on the tram line 2 route at the “Sabines” station, allowing you to access the city center in 15 minutes.
By plane
Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport is located 8km from the city center, just a 10 minute drive by rental car or taxi. Public transport is also available, by using the “Airport shuttle service” (Hérault Transport line 620) you can connect to tram lines 1 and 4, providing direct access to the city center.
Visit Montpellier
The Festival has planned several workshops during the day on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th. But if you are also in a mood for cultural outings, the Octopus Team has compiled a curated list of Montpellier's heritage sites that you might enjoy exploring.
Diverse architecture styles:
. The Place de la Comédie and its fountain “Les trois Grâces” (The three Graces) in front of the Opera house
. The pedestrian historic center, called "L'Écusson" allows you to go shopping and wander among numerous bars and restaurants
. The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre and its neighbor, the historic Faculty of Medicine open to the public
. The Antigone neighborhood inspired by ancient Greek architecture
Art exhibition venues:
. The Musée Fabre dedicated to fine arts
. The MO.CO, a multi-site contemporary art center
. The Pavillon populaire dedicated to photography
Bucolic locations:
. The Place du Peyrou with its Arc de Triomphe, water tower, and the Arceaux aqueduct
. The Botanical Garden
. The parks and gardens of the Château de Flaugergues
Don't forget to check out the various services and benefits offered by the City Card Montpellier. This tourist pass gives you access to 50 activities in Montpellier either for free or at reduced prices : https://www.montpellier-france.com/traveller-information/city-card/
Montpellier surrounding area
What if the Mediterranée Burlesque Festival was a pretext for a longer stay in the Mediterranean basin? From Montpellier, where land meets sea, you can explore other must-see destinations in the surrounding areas.
Inland
Classic visits:
. Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, one of the most beautiful villages in France
. The Grotte des Demoiselles and its incredible formations
. Nîmes and its famous arenas, the best-preserved in the Roman world
. The Pont du Gard, the highest Roman aqueduct in the world
. Arles with its 8 monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Exploring the great outdoors:
. Mont Bauzille offering a 360° panorama of Montpellier surroundings
. The Salagou Lake with its striking hills of red earth
. "Le pont du Diable" (the Devil's bridge) when following the Hérault Gorges
. The summit of Pic Saint-Loup and its view over the garrigue
. The Cirque de Navacelles with the largest canyon in Europe
Seaside
Heading west along the coast:
. The summer resort of Palavas-les-Flots
. Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone and its 7th-century Cathedral
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. From the top of Mont Saint-Clair, discover Sète, the hometown of George Brassens
. Agde with its Ephèbe Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Heading east along the coast:
. The protected natural site of Méjan
. For kite-surfing enthusiasts: Petit travers beach in Carnon
. La Grande Motte known for its 60s architecture
. The endless Espiguette located in Grau du Roi
. Aigues-Mortes and its medieval walls overlooking the salt pans
Montpellier and its surroundings hold even more hidden gems to explore. You can find out more on the Tourist Office's website https://www.montpellier-france.com/ or on their instagram account @montpelliernow.
