La huitième ville française, Montpellier est aussi l'une des plus jeunes, en ce qui concerne la population. De niveau international, la Faculté de la Médecine est la plus ancienne du monde occidentale, datant du XIIe siècle ; il y a aussi des facultés des arts et de la loi.
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| Place de la Comédie © LKL |
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| Jardin du Champs de Mars © LKL |
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English translation Please scroll down for the side-by-side translation.
Montpellier
The 8th largest French city, Montpellier is also one of the youngest, in terms of population. The world-class university of medicine is the oldest in the western world, and dates back to the 12th century. There are also humanities and law schools.
Place de la Comédie is the heart of Montpellier, and is nicknamed l'Œuf (the Egg) by locals. This oval-shaped pedestrian zone is one of the largest in Europe. Numerous cafés and restaurants offer the possibility of admiring the Comédie opera house and the Trois Grâces statue, Montpellier's emblematic goddesses, or watching the world - and the colorful trams - go by.
With its very cute old town, the Champs de Mars and Plantes gardens (the latter is one of the oldest in Europe), the Arceaux aqueduct, and its own Arc de Triomphe, Montpellier is really worth the visit. For us, the only hitch was the little tourist train, which got caught in downtown traffic jams several times. It's too bad that it doesn't stick to pedestrian streets, like in other cities.
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Side-by-side translation
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Montpellier La huitième ville française, Montpellier est aussi l'une des plus jeunes, en ce qui concerne la population. De niveau international, la Faculté de la Médecine est la plus ancienne du monde occidentale, datant du XIIe siècle ; il y a aussi des facultés des arts et de la loi. La place de la Comédie, cœur de Montpellier, est surnommée l'Œuf par les citadins. Cet espace piétonnier de forme ovale est l'un des plus grands d'Europe. De nombreux cafés et de restaurants offrent la possibilité d'admirer l'opéra Comédie et la statue des Trois Grâces, déesses emblématiques de Montpellier, ou bien de regarder passer le monde - et les trams très colorés. Avec sa très mignonne vieille ville, les jardins du Champs de Mars et des Plantes (ce dernier est l'un des plus anciens d'Europe), l'aqueduc des Arceaux et son propre Arc de Triomphe, Montpellier vaut vraiment le coup. Pour nous, la seule anicroche (mot du jour) était le petit train, qui s'est fait attraper plusieurs fois dans un embouteillage en centre-ville. C'est dommage qu'il ne suive pas plutôt les rues piétonnes, comme dans d'autres villes. |
Montpellier The 8th largest French city, Montpellier is also one of the youngest, in terms of population. The world-class university of medicine is the oldest in the western world, and dates back to the 12th century. There are also humanities and law schools. Place de la Comédie is the heart of Montpellier, and is nicknamed l'Œuf (the Egg) by locals. This oval-shaped pedestrian zone is one of the largest in Europe. Numerous cafés and restaurants offer the possibility of admiring the Comédie opera house and the Trois Grâces statue, Montpellier's emblematic goddesses, or watching the world - and the colorful trams - go by. With its very cute old town, the Champs de Mars and Plantes gardens (the latter is one of the oldest in Europe), the Arceaux aqueduct, and its own Arc de Triomphe, Montpellier is really worth the visit. For us, the only hitch was the little tourist train, which got caught in downtown traffic jams several times. It's too bad that it doesn't stick to pedestrian streets, like in other cities. |
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Comments
I spent a year at the Faculté des Lettres at the University of Montpellier, way back in the 1960s. The city was lovely then and still is. It was large enough to offer plenty for students to do and yet small enough to get to know. I returned for a two-day visit in 1996 and enjoyed that visit immensely. Thanks for writing about my favorite French town!
Absolument, Montpellier est superbe et n’oublions pas que la mer est a seulement a 10 km.
Malheureusement et en depit du tres grand nombre de touristes durant l’ete, il y a peu de toilettes publiques (1 sur 10), ce qui tourne vite l’agreable en desarroi.
Laura, I realize I’m again interrupting during my French lessons but I just have to tell you, your Jardin du Champs de Mars © LKL is another glorious photograph. Truly a beautiful composition worthy of reproduction by one of the French Impressionists.
Je crois que le magnifique arbre en arrière-plan est un “Chestnut”?
Comment pouvons-nous dire “Chestnut” en français?
(now, I return to my lesson). Lauriate.
Chère Laura,
Montpellier est magnifique!
Les châtaigniers sont si beaux…
J’aime bien cette ville, elle est charmante.
Adieu,
Jacqueline
Chère Laura,
Montpellier est majestueux!
habitez-vous là maintenant?
Adieu,
Jacqueline
Laura,
Just getting into brushing up my schoolboy French (now that I’ve retired!).
Re the difference between un châtaignier et un marronnier I’m a novice French student, but know a bit of botany – I suspect that the answer is that the châtaignier is the Sweet Chestnut (in British English) which bears edible chestnuts (or marrons in French!) whilst the marronnier is the Horse Chestnut which bears conkers (again British English – don’t know about US) – much loved by schoolboys for conker fights in my youth!
Ian
I have a grammar question, if I may ask.
You have “De niveau international, …”, which I would translate “Of level international”, and you have “the world-class ” … can you explain why it would be “De” at the beginning of that? As well, in the 2nd paragraph, you have “De nombreux cafes”, where I would think it would be more like “Des nombreux cafes” or “il y a nombreux cafes”. I don’t quite understand the “De” in the front.
Thanks in advance, Susan
“Chestnut” en français?
I’m so glad I asked the question. The resulting enjoyable and edifying replies, and related comments, are themselves, “Chestnuts”. All most interesting and useful knowledge.
(but please Laura, remember to send us the “change of address” information).
Lauriate.
In your comment above, “J’annoncerai notre nouvelle ville d’habitation quand nous y arrivons,” would the future tense of arriver be required since the arrival will take place in the future? That is a little detail that has always troubled me. Could you also say, “quand nous y serons arrivés?”
I love this website and appreciate Laura’s work, but I don’t think it’s necessary for readers to know where Laura is living. I find these questions and similar personal comments to be inappropriate here.
I wasn’t to know that it didn’t bother you. I’m surprised that it doesn’t because some of the comments sound obsessive and akin to stalking. But yes, it’s your call.
I love this french learning site, Laura. Thank you so much for all your hard work, I am enjoying it immensely. Je l’aime beaucoup! I find it very interesting and exciting!! In 2007, we drove by Montpellier and Perpignan, and discovered another gorgeous, quaint ville called Ceret! I fell in love with it! J’aime France beaucoup! Merci encore! kt
Dear Laura: I studied at the University of Heidelberg in Germany which is une universite jumelle and was accepted as a transfer student, but lacked the money to do so in 1966 (wow!). Since then I went from being a simultaneous German/English interpreter to ships’ officer to medical doctor who is close to retiring and was wondering how I might realize my dream of still studying at Montpellier mais je ne sais pas comme je peux faire cela. Merci