Summer in Montpellier is the perfect time to combine language learning with sunshine, culture, and adventure. From lively festivals to sandy beaches, sporting events, historic museums, and lush parks, the city offers endless ways to practice your French while enjoying the South of France.
Whether you’re planning your stay in the South of France to sharpen your French skills, meet locals, or simply soak up the vibrant summer atmosphere, Montpellier has something to offer for everyone.
Here are five must-try experiences that will make your immersion stay unforgettable.
1 – Lively festivals
Montpellier is a beautiful and dynamic city in the south of France. It is full of activities and festivals of all kinds.
If you are doing a French immersion program in June, you will have the chance to attend the Spring Festival of Comedians. It is a lively theatre festival bringing together about thirty national and international groups in a large, open-air park. This is a great opportunity to work on your oral communication skills during your French immersion program in Montpellier.
There is also an architecture festival, in Montpellier around mid-June. During this festival you can discover the amazing mansions of Montpellier as well as the temporary and impressive installations by young architects.
If you like to move it and shake it, then you will definitely like the Montpellier Dance Festival which also takes place in June. You will have the chance to discover many international artists in Montpellier.
Learn more about the festivals and events in Montpellier.
2 – Beautiful sandy beaches
The coast near Montpellier has some beautiful beaches with fine sand. During your French immersion stay, you will have the opportunity to play beach volleyball, to swim or simply relax on the beautiful sandy beaches of Montpellier which are also accessible by public transport. There you can meet the locals and participate in relaxed conversation to improve your French.
On the coast, many restaurants and bars have small outdoor concerts that you can enjoy while enjoying a delicious dinner or cocktail. You can mix fun and vacation with some studious work during your French immersion program.
You can’t visit Montpellier without dining at least once in a paillotte. These temporary beachside restaurants pop up on the sand for the summer, offering fresh seafood and a relaxed dining atmosphere.
3 – Sports and outdoor activities
Montpellier is a very sporty city. After Paris, Montpellier has some of the best state of the art sporting facilities as well as high level professional clubs. It is also home to an Olympic size swimming pool. You will definitely not get bored during your French immersion program, as the city is filled with various sporting events and activities to explore or test out.
If you are looking for adventure, excitement and extreme emotions then Montpellier has something for you. In May, the city hosts the FISE Festival, which is the largest freestyle sports festival in Europe. If you are into BMX, skateboarding, rollerblading, wake boarding and slope-style Mountain biking then this event is a must see showcase of skill. If you are more into water sports, there is also kayaking and canyoning on the Mediterranean Sea or along the Hérault River, offering thrilling ways to enjoy the region’s natural beauty.
Read more about Montpellier’s athletic excellence and extreme sports events:
Montpellier: The Hidden Gem of French Sports – From FISE to Olympic Champions
4 – Art, culture, and museums
Are you an art and culture buff? Do you love spending a whole day exploring museums? Then Montpellier is the perfect place for your French immersion program. The city is home to many historical gems, such as the Château de Flaugergues, the Faculty of Medicine (the oldest medical school in the world still in operation today), as well as the Museum and Conservatory of Anatomy, the Musée Fabre, among many others.
Discover all the museums and art galleries
5 – Parks and gardens
For those looking to take advantage Montpellier’s sunny climate, the city offers a plethora of parks, gardens and green spaces to enjoy the Mediterranean pleasant weather. The leafy green public gardens make for the perfect place to relax, stroll, read a book, or converse with a local.
Montpellier has one of the oldest botanical gardens in Europe and served as a model for designing other botanical gardens in France. The city is also home to a zoo, which is free of cost and is also the largest park in Montpellier today. You should definitely go to the zoo during your French immersion program to take a stroll.
Explore all the parks and gardens in Montpellier
Montpellier is waiting!
Come experience the unique energy of this city and the laid-back energy of the South of France in the summer time.
