Montpellier is a city in the south of France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, as well as the Hérault department.
The city is situated on hilly ground 10 km (6 miles) inland from the Mediterranean coast on the River Lez. The name of the city,which was originally Monspessulanus, is said to have stood for mont pelé (the naked hill, because the vegetation was poor), or le mont de la colline (the mount of the hill)
Montpellier is located 52 km from Nîmes, 168 km from Marseilles, 248 km from Toulouse. It is at a distance of 750 km from the capital of France, Paris.
Montpellier's highest point is the Place du Peyrou, at an altitude of 57 m. The city is built on two hills, Montpellier and Montpellieret, thus some of its streets have great differences of altitude. Some of its streets are also very narrow and old, which gives it a more intimate feel. |
