Montpellier, just inland from the Mediterranean Sea, is the prefecture of the department of Hérault. It is a vibrant university city with a population of 300,000 and is home to the annual Festival de Radio France, the reason for my visit.

The University of Montpellier, established in 1220, is one of the world’s oldest and has the oldest medical school still in operation. Notable alumni of the university include Petrarch, Nostradamus and François Rabelais.

University of Montpellier Faculty of Medicine

The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier was originally the church of the monastery of Saint-Benoît, which was founded in 1364. The building was elevated to the status of cathedral in 1536.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Montpellier

Arc de Triomphe, Montpellier, erected in 1691