Honestly, most of our days in Montpellier are pretty close to perfect. But if you’re looking to plan a wonderful day, consider this!
If it’s Tuesday or Saturday, start off at the market at Les Arceaux, underneath the aqueduct. Browse the stalls, munch a pastry, and enjoy the atmosphere. If you’re lucky, there will be music!
Photo by Sandy Shroyer
Next, stroll through the Promenade de Peyrou. If you’re walking from les Arceaux, you have the choice of walking up the hill (stay on the left; the right is for bicycles only and you’ll be “bike shamed” if you walk there!) or climbing the steps. Be sure to take at least one selfie.
Photo by Sandy Shroyer
Now continue into l’Ecusson and simply wander the streets. Window-shop, people watch, get lost on the pedestrian-only streets, and enjoy the interesting sights you’ll find everywhere. Look for bicycles jutting out high from buildings, trompe l’oeil on other buildings, overhead banners, graffiti, floral décor over shop entrances, and more. Stop for lunch, perhaps at Ma Premiere Cantine.
Photo by Sandy Shroyer
After lunch (be sure to have dessert, peut-être with a glass of crémant!), continue your stroll. Stop by the most amazing toy store I’ve ever seen, Pommes de Reinette.
Photo by Sandy Shroyer
Take your time, and plan a repeat visit, as you’ll never be able to take it all in on a single trip. Buy a gift for someone. If the gift is for your granddaughter, tell the salesperson her name, and he’ll write it in glitter on the bag!
Photo by Sandy Shroyer
When you feel you can’t take in any more, walk over to the Cathedrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier. Admission is free, and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Photo by Sandy Shroyer
There are musical events held in this cathedral, most recently a Bach recital that some friends attended. We’re going to hear Mozart’s Requiem there in a couple of weeks. The organ is magnificent and I can’t wait to hear it!
Photo by Sandy Shroyer
After all this, you may want to hit our favorite bar, Smash Bar, for a cocktail.
Photo by Sandy Shroyer
After cocktails, there are tons of restaurants in the area; I recommend L’Endroit for global tapas. Or you may decide, as we did, to head home and have a quiet dinner. Either way, this will be a perfect day in Montpellier!
In early 2022, Sandy Shroyer retired from her professional career. Her jobs have included cooking for hired ranch hands, serving as a community mental health center staff psychologist, performing various leadership roles in healthcare firms, managing a lot of highly successful sales executives, and selling technology and services to health systems and health plans. The best part of her career was people—those who became lifelong friends, those who irritated her into learning important lessons, and those who taught her things through their kindness and genius. Her superpower is connecting people, whether it’s professional networking, introducing friends who become friends with each other, or just figuring out who might like to know someone she knows. She tried never to miss an opportunity to have fun at work. Sandy and her husband traveled full-time in the United States during the pandemic, and they are spending their retirement in Montpellier, France.
All articles by: Sandra Shroyer
