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Montpellier

Montpellier: relatively young city

Like its Occitan neighbour Toulouse, Montpellier finds its vibrancy in its huge student population. With a population approaching 500,000, it's not a huge city but visitors will find more than enough things to pass the time.

Stadium: Stade de La Mosson. Capacity: 32,900

Stadium History: Stade de La Mosson started life as a collection of wooden stands with a capacity of 3,000. That capacity was gradually increased to about 18,000 in the mid-nineties before the ground was comprehensively rebuilt for the 1998 football World Cup. It has since held semi-finals of the Top 14. Its footballing anchor tenant, Montpellier Herault Sporting Club are currently languishing in the French second division. The stadium is served by the tramway line 1.

Town: When compared to many cities that surround it, Montpellier has a relatively young history, as its first settlement only dates back to the 10th century. Situated south of the roman road, the via Domitia, and close to well-travelled salt and pilgrim routes, the village grew rapidly in the 11th century as it became something of a pit-stop for pilgrims.

During the 13th century, Montpellier's proximity to the sea meant that it became a very important trading center between the Mediterranean, northern Europe, and Spain. The town became known as a centre of learning for Islamic thought and schools of law and medicine were established in the city. In 1289, Pope Nicholas IV granted the established schools the titles of Universities.

In 1349, Montpellier became a French possession, and for a while after it was considered to be one of the Kingdom's most important cities. However, throughout much of the 14th century, Montpellier suffered from successive plagues which decimated its population. The city became a major centre of the Huguenot faith in the 16th century and was thus heavily involved in the Wars of Religion which engulfed much of France.

But Montpellier recovered and its reputation as a trading centre grew. During the 17th century, the city became the royal capital of Languedoc. With the 19th century came the introduction of wine making to the area and the town boomed until a fungal disease destroyed nearly a third of the vines in the Languedoc.

The 1960's finally brought about a change of fortune for the city. The population rose by over a third as ex-patriots and immigrants arrived from Algeria. Over the past twenty years, Montpellier has continued to grow under the uncompromising vision of the socialist mayor, Georges Frêche and the city has became a major centre of research and development. Today, the city, with over 70,000 university students, continues in its role as one of the educational centres of France.

This is a beautiful, bubbly city. Its pedestrianised medieval core is relatively intact and the centre for all the action - shopping, dining and partying too. Although Montpellier is not in fact a very old city - it was founded in the 10th century - history winks at you from every street corner. To the south of the city, there are the beaches of the Mediterranean for those who want to escape the bricks and mortar. And to cap it all, the locals like a game of rugby too.

Local Rugby Clubs: Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club currently completes in the Top 14. They were founded in 1986 after the merger of the two local clubs, Stade Montpelliérain and Montpellier University Club (MUC). But the first club in Montpellier was actually founded in 1900, as Montpellier Sporting. This club later became Stade Montpellierain in the 1960's before a split created the aforementioned two clubs. Messy!

Montpellier currently play at Stade Sabathé (capacity 5,000). Several years ago, the ground was deemed too small for the club to compete at the top of French rugby. As a result, they will play next season at the newly finished 12,000 all-seater Stade Yves du Manoir.

In the early 2000s there was some success for the team too; they were promoted to the Top 14 (then Top 16), after becoming champions of the Rugby Pro D2 in the 2003 season. The following season the club contested the European Shield, winning the final 25-19 against Viadana.

Location: 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. The city itself is located about 10km inland from the Meditterean on the River Lez.

Tourist attractions: Montpellier's beating heart is the café-lined Place de la Comedie and it's also a great place to start exploring the historic centre of the city. Take rue de la Loge (the premier shopping street) where you will reach Promenade de Payrou, a beautiful park on two levels which gives great views of the city and the sea. The Musee Fabre is perhaps the city's most famous museum. It has recently undergone extensive renovations and houses an extensive collection of the luminophiles movement. Take time to visit Place de la Canourgue too - one of Montpellier's most beautiful and authentic squares. From there, you can admire the view of the 14th century St. Pierre Cathedral. On rue Auguste-Broussonnet, you will find Le Jardin des Plantes, France's oldest botanical gardens.

Transport connections:

By plane: Montpellier Méditerranée Aéroport is located in the area of Fréjorgues, in the town of Mauguio, southeast of Montpellier. Nimes Airport is a thirty minute drive.

By train: Montpellier Gare (TGV)

By car: Autoroute : A9 - links up with Lyon and Barcelona

Going to the stadium by by bus numbers 15, 25 & 34, or by Tramway Line 1 (La Mosson stop) takes 45 min from the airport, 25 min from Saint-Roch station, 20 min from town centre.

RWC Matches:
12 Sep: USA V Tonga
16 Sep: Samoa V Tonga
23 Sep: Australia V Fiji
30 Sep: South Africa V USA

Post-match hostelries: The medieval part of Montpellier is choc-full of countless bars and cafes. Place de la Comedie will probably be the first port of call for those looking to chill out on the terrace with a demi. However, if you are looking to let your hair down with the trendy student set, Place Jean Jaures and Place de la Chapelle Neuve are the quarters to hunt for.

The Planet Rugby Choice:

Café Joseph is the pick of the bunch in Place Jean Jaures while Le Vert Anglais has more of a laidback quality to it. Neither of these bars could be considered 'rugby bars' as such but both are wonderful spots for a good night on the tear. Fitzpatrick's also comes recommended for a bit of craic.

Café Joseph
3, Place Jean Jaurès
Montpellier 34000

Le Vert Anglais
3 Place Castellane
Montpellier 34000

Other bars:

Bar Le Saint Roch
22 rue du Petit St-Jean
Montpellier 34000

Cafe de l'Esplanade
21 Boulevard Sarrail
Montpellier 34000
Tramstop : Comedie

Fitzpatricks Irish Pub
5 Place Saint Côme
Montpellier 34000

l'Antirouille
12 rue Anatole-France
Montpellier 34000

Bière Academy
12 rue Boussairolles
Montpellier, France 34000
Tramstop : comedie

Accomodation:

Luxury:

Holiday Inn Metropole
3, rue du Clos René
Tel : 04 67 12 32 32
City Centre

Le Jardin des Sens
11 avenue Saint Lazare
Tel : 04 99 58 38 38
Fax : 04 99 58 38 39
Outskirts of Montpellier

Sofitel Montpellier Antigone
1, rue des Pertuisanes
Tel : 04 67 9 72 72
City Centre

Mercure Antigone
285, bld de l'Aéroport International
Tel : 04 67 20 63 63

Mid-Range:

Mercure Montpellier Centre
218, rue du Bastion Ventadour
Tel : 04 67 99 89 89
Location : City Centre

Hôtel Kyriad Antigone
890, avenue Jean Mermoz
Tel : 04 67 64 88 50
Location : City Centre

Hôtel Ulysse
338, avenue de Saint Maur
Tel : 04 67 02 02 30
Location : City Centre

Budget:

Hôtel les Fauvettes
8, rue Bonnard
Location : City Centre
Tel : 04 67 63 17 60
Location : City Centre

Best Hotel Euromédecine
861, rue de la Croix Verte
Tel : 04 67 61 01 30
Location : City Centre

Hôtel Cosmos
7 rue du Général Campredon
Tel : 04 67 92 43 97
Location : City Centre