The Musée Fabre is housed in an old high school that once was a former Jesuit college during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today the museum displays paintings of major European artists and schools of the 15th-18th Centuries, including Ingres, Véronèse, Courbet and Brueghel. There is a major collection of the works of Bazille, a painter from Montpellier whose rich family lived in a large townhouse on the rue Jean Moulin and whose fortune supported other painters including Monet (1840-1926). There are also sculptures, ceramics and contemporary works by Degas and Nicolas de Staël (1914-1955).
This historic building is located three kilometers (one mile) east of the city center. Once a country house, this family property now finds itself and its surrounding parks and vineyards entirely swallowed by the city. The Château de Flaugergues which dates from the 17th Century and its collection of 17th and 18th-century furnishings and art (including a large collection of optical instruments) can be visited throughout the year (though the timings differ). Outside the house one can admire the gardens à la française as well as the château's own vineyards (Coteaux de la Méjanelle) whose wines can be tasted and bought on site.
Established in December 2007, Planet Ocean Montpellier is a part of the Odysseum. An Aquarium (Mare Nostrum) cum planetarium (Galileo Planetarium), Planet Ocean Montpellier boasts of being home to over 400 species of aquatic life and spaces for the exploration of the galaxy. Other facilities here include interactive displays, a restaurant and a cafe.
Les Rochers de Maguelone is an amusement park that is conveniently located just outside Montpellier. The park offers a host of fun activities, rides and attractions that are sure to delight both young and old. For the curious and inquisitive, the EXPLOR'parc is an ideal choice. Enjoy water-slides, solve puzzles and explore, or make your way through the pirate-themed maze, solve clues and complete fun-filled tasks to move on to the next zone of the maze where more adventures await. Thrill seekers, on the other hand, are sure to revel in the adrenaline-pumping rides and attractions of the ACCRO'parc. Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, rappelling and rock climbing, or make your way through the obstacle course, zip-line across the park and swoosh down thrilling slides. The LASER'parc is best enjoyed with a group. Run amok and have a great time chasing down opponents at this outdoor lasertag arena. With such a varied offering, Les Rochers de Maguelone is truly a delight for visitors of every age.Visit just one of the three separate theme parks that make up Les Rochers de Maguelone, or divide your time between two or all three and enjoy great discounts.
Montpellier takes pride in this massive complex called the Odysseum. It is here that one can journey through seas and stars while chomping down a baguette. With brand-name boutiques and over a 100 other stores, you can even get a good deal on shopping done. Unbelievable as it may seem, the Odysseum includes its own aquarium, ice rink, planetarium and even a mini amusement park. You can even be among the less adventurous and just come here to catch the latest movies. The complex features wonderful restaurants, each boasting a unique cuisine. In all, the Odysseum is a fantastic attraction that cannot be done justice to with a single visit.
First built in 1972, Mosson Stadium was completely rebuilt in 1998 to host six games during the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The stadium can host nearly 33,000 spectators, which in turn made it the choice venue for several group stage matches that took place during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. 2014 was an unusually rainy year for Montpellier, resulting in the flooding and subsequent closure of the stadium. After serious renovation work, Mosson Stadium was re-opened in December 2014 itself. This stadium plays host to home matches of Montpellier HSC that plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football.
The city of Montpellier has some of the oldest historical buildings, sight-seeing and other cultural attractions. Montpellier Gourmet Walking Tour provides a visit to the winery, local cuisine outlets and the old town of Sete. The culinary adventure will let you discover the various scents and flavors of the south of France. Here, you can learn about their various seasonal produce and also the tips to make them at home. This is a guided tour and many of the guides speak English for you to understand more about the place.
Opened in 2015, Théatre Jérome Savary is owned and run by the municipality. A part of the Centre Culturel Bérenger de Frédol, it is a versatile space offering a diverse range of programs for all ages. These include theater, puppetry, movie screenings, school performances, musicals, concerts, dance and movie screenings.
This annex of the Musée Fabre is situated on the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle not far from the museum. It hosts temporary exhibitions on particular themes throughout the year. Recent exhibitions have included the contemporary painters Soulages and Delaroche. Another exhibition focussed on less well known and underappreciated works representing American abstract expressionism from 1940 to 1960. Guided tours of exhibitions are also arranged and it's well worth telephoning before turning up.
Located in the town of Perols, a few kilometers away from Montpellier, this historic wine estate came into being only in 1954, before which it operated as a private estate and a chapel before that. The Carriere family has been producing aromatic wines ever since, with modern winemaking techniques and a revamped cellar.