Montpellier in 3 facts

Despite being relatively young at just under 1,000 years old, Montpellier is packed with historical gems and quirky stories that have helped shape its identity. Here are three fascinating facts to keep in mind as you explore the city. First, as you walk through the streets of the Écusson, you might spot small golden medallions embedded in the cobblestones. Each one features a scallop shell and the words “Camin Roumieu,” meaning “path to Rome.” These markers trace the Arles route of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage, and Place Jean Jaurès was once a key stop where pilgrims exchanged currency before continuing their journey. Second, just off Rue de la Loge, you’ll find Rue de la Draperie Rouge — or “Red Drapery Street.” The name refers to the city’s booming textile trade in the Middle Ages, when Montpellier became famous for its fine red cloth dyed with cochineal, a tiny insect found in the local garrigue. These luxury fabrics were exported far and wide, particularly to the East via Italian merchants, and helped enrich the city through skilled craftsmanship. And finally, no overview of Montpellier would be complete without mentioning the legendary Faculty of Medicine. Though many great physicians passed through its halls, one of the most famous names is Renaissance writer François Rabelais, who joined in 1530 and lodged with the famously intense professor Guillaume Rondelet — said to have dissected not just animals but even people close to him. While Rabelais never pursued medicine seriously, he helped establish a lasting tradition: since the 16th century, students defending their thesis wear the red “Rabelais robe” and take their oath under the statue of Hippocrates. That same figure is honored in the school’s motto: “Once, Hippocrates was from Kos, now he is from Montpellier.”