France, Montpellier

Montpellier is a city in the south of France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon région, as well as the préfecture (administrative capital) of the Hérault département.

Population of the city (commune) of Montpellier at the 1999 census was 244,300 inhabitants, whereas the whole metropolitan area (in French: aire urbaine) had a population of 459,916 inhabitants in 1999.

Geography

The city is situated on hilly ground 10 km (6 miles) inland from the Mediterranean coast at the coordinates 43°37N 3°52E, on the River Lez.

History

Montpellier is one of the few cities in France without a (Gallo-)Roman background. In the Early Middle Ages the nearby episcopal town of Maguelone was the major settlement in the area, but raids by pirates encouraged settlement a little further inland.

University

Montpellier arche de Triomphe ad 1715.The University of Montpellier is one of the oldest in France, having been granted a charter in 1220 by Cardinal Conrad von Urach and confirmed by Pope Nicholas IV in a papal bull of 1289. It was suppressed during the French Revolution but was re-established in 1896.

The main focus point of the city is the Place de la Comédie.

Arts and Culture

Louisville and Montpellier have worked together in building exchanges for choral groups, the cities’ operas, and sports exchanges.
The Louisville Free Public Library has donated several book shipments to le Bibliothèque Americaine in Montpellier. Sister Cities International honored Louisville with a special award for arranging the French summer of 1989.

Sport

The city is home to a variety of professional sports teams:

Montpellier HSC of Ligue 2 who play association football at the Stade de la Mosson.
Montpellier Hérault RC, of the Top 14 who play rugby union at the Stade Sabathé.

Transport

Montpellier is served by railway, including TGV trains.

The Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport is located in the area of Fréjorgues, in the town of Mauguio, southeast of Montpellier.

The TaM (Transports de l'agglomération de Montpellier) manages the city's public transportation, including its tramway network and several parking facilities.