The Good Life France Magazine Autumn 2017 | Page 47

How to get there:

Take the train – just 3 hours from Pars (check) 5 hours from Lille (both on the Eurostar route). Its extraordinary that in such a short time you’ll find yourself plunged into the heart of Languedoc Roussillon, Occitainie as the new super region is called (Languedoc Rousillon merged with Midi-Pyrenees).

By air - Montpellier airport is just 10 minutes’ drive from the city

Stay at

Hotel les Occitanes makes for a great base with roomy studios close to the station

Useful websites: www.destinationsuddefrance.com; www.montpellier-france.com

Get out of the city and take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea. With an unspoiled coastline, silky sand beaches and jut 10km from the centre of town, the beaches of Montpellier make for a fabulous day at the seaside.

Petit Travers and Grand Travers (between the Grande Motte and Carnon), Palavas-

les-Flots, Aresquiers in Frontignan, or Espiguette in Le Grau-du-Roi, are ideal for water sports or just lazing about. You can reach them by bus or tram from the city centre (check at the tourist office for services/times), for instance Tram Line 3 will take around 45 minutes to Pérols, a mere 800m from the Mediterranean Sea.

The seaside