Day 6 - Montpellier

My time in St. Christol had been relaxing and pleasant at the home of Marie France Maisonneuve, a woman sculptor in wood, who also happened to be a good cook, and who claimed not to be fond of cooking.  This woman of 72 years was quite amazing, unpretentious and most enjoyable to spend time with,  I missed my gîte-mates from the previous evening, though, but understood Francoise's desire to save money, and wondered how Anne-Laure was fairing.

Montpellier is huge and sprawling, the 7th largest city in France, and the fastest growing one.  To avoid spending too much time in its suburbs, I walked 9 km to Vendargues and then took a bus from there. I had hoped to benefit from stopping at the post-office there for the illusive SIM card, as the bus stop was right in front of it, but it was closed for lunch.

 

Montpellier itself was first mentioned in 985, it was founded under the local feudal dynasty of the Guilhem, who combined two hamlets and built a castle and walls around the united settlement. The Tour des Pins and the Tour de la Babotte are two surviving towers from city walls built later, around the year 1200.  The name Guilhem was quite present and you will hear more about it later...

The city's faculties of law and medicine were established in 1220, and it has since remained a leading center in Europe for the teaching of medicine. Today the student population is nearly 1/3 of the total population because of 3 universities and several other major  institutions of higher education located there, notably those of science and business.  Everyone seemed young, there were many, many eating options, and there seemed to be a vibrant energy about the place.

In the 16th century many of the inhabitants of Montpellier became Protestants (Huguenots) and the city became a stronghold of Protestant resistance.  In fact, in the days to come, there would be further evidence of the former Protestant presence in the region, most notably in the form of the Occitan cross.

Place de la Comédie

Trompe l'oeil 

Trompe l'oeil from another angle--it really is quite realistic!

Eglise St. Roch

I found my gîte, the Gîte St. Roch, and, to my surprise, was joined by Anne-Laure. There was also a group of 9 people from a group walking a portion of the route in reverse, from St. Guilhem to St. Gilles, in celebration of the anniversary of it becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site some 20 years earlier.

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:6