Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier

The Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier, the oldest in the Western world

A treasure of the city, the Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier is the oldest in the Western world still active. It celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2020 and continues to train doctors, perpetuating a unique teaching tradition. The Montpellier audio-guided tour stops here to salute this high place of learning, inseparable from the city's identity.

Eight centuries of medical teaching

Founded in 1220, the faculty has trained thousands of students over the centuries and counted among its figures great names of medicine and science. Housed partly in a former monastery, it preserves an exceptional heritage, old halls, a library and collections, that tell the history of Western medicine. Its longevity makes it a symbol of the transmission of knowledge in Montpellier.

What to see

The historic building, next to Saint-Pierre cathedral, imposes its solemn façade. Depending on the period, visits allow you to discover certain halls, the library and precious collections linked to the history of medicine. Even from the outside, the building strikes by its majesty and testifies to the prestige of an institution that made Montpellier a capital of medicine since the Middle Ages.

Practical information

The Faculty of Medicine lies in the historic centre of Montpellier, next to Saint-Pierre cathedral, reachable on foot. It is a working university institution: the façade can be freely admired, but access to the historic halls and collections is through supervised visits, with variable conditions and hours. It is best to enquire at the tourist office.

Why is the Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier famous?

Because it is the oldest faculty of medicine in the Western world still active, founded in 1220 and still dedicated to training doctors.

Can you visit the Faculty of Medicine?

The façade can be admired from the outside; access to the historic halls and collections is through supervised visits, whose conditions and hours are to be checked beforehand.