Montpellier

Montpellier is one of France's youngest and fastest-growing cities — a Mediterranean university city in Languedoc with a historic core of extraordinary Baroque and Gothic architecture, a long tradition of medical scholarship (its university was founded in 1220, making it one of Europe's oldest) and a sunny, outdoor-oriented lifestyle that makes it one of France's most dynamic places. The Place de la Comédie, a vast oval square known as "l'Oeuf" (the Egg) and centred on the Three Graces fountain, is the social heart of the city. The esplanade leading north from it passes through the Antigone district, a vast postmodern neoclassical development by Ricardo Bofill that is either visionary or controversial depending on your architectural sympathies — either way, it is genuinely remarkable. The Fabre Museum holds one of France's finest provincial art collections, particularly strong in 17th-century French and Flemish painting. The medieval core around the Place Jean-Jaurès, the Écusson neighbourhood with its narrow streets and Baroque hôtels particuliers, and the covered market (Les Halles de la Comédie) are all excellent for wandering. Montpellier's beach, at Palavas-les-Flots and La Grande Motte, is 15 kilometres away. The city has excellent transport connections to the Languedoc wine region, the Camargue, Nîmes and Arles. Spring and autumn are ideal — summers are very hot.