Car Hire in Montpellier

Why hire a car in Montpellier?

I wrote this article to assist you with car hire in Montpellier and to advise you on why getting a car will help you get the most out of your trip. The easiest option is to hire a vehicle at Montpelier airport. All the major car rental companies operate there and all the car rental bucket shops will also be happy to book you a car with one of the main providers, usually at a discounted rate. Montpellier airport is situated just 10 kilometers outside of the city to the south east. You can pick up your keys from the rental agencies desks which are situated on the ground floor of the terminal at hall number 4. Staff there will then explain where to find your vehicle.

Most of the agencies also have locations within Montpellier itself, so that is another option if you don’t fancy navigating Montpellier’s suburbs straight off the plane. There are taxis and buses that can drop you in the center of town. If you are returning your rental car to the airport then follow the sign posts provided on your return and drop the keys back at the agency counter.

Montpellier City Center

Montpellier is in the Languedoc Roussillon region of France and in order to get the most out of your stay, and to save yourself considerable time, I would highly recommend hiring a car. The public transport system is almost nonexistent, although Montpellier itself has a great tram system, so to get out and about and discover everything that this great region has to offer a car is a real must.

Not wanting to contradict myself I will say that driving around Montpellier city center is neither necessary nor easy. There are vast expanses of suburbs here and it is all too easy to get lost, so once you’ve made it into the center, park up at any of the many car parks or in the garage of your hotel, and explore the city by tram or foot.
Montpellier has a lot going for it. It is an incredibly desirous location amongst the French themselves and has a thriving student population thanks to its many prestigious universities. With this vibrant atmosphere and its beautiful architecture there is plenty to see and do.

Like many old French cities Montpellier used to be a fortified citadel and much of the classical architecture reflects this. There used to be 25 towers surrounding the city and two of these, the Tour des Pins and the Tour de la Babotte can still be seen. Don’t miss out on other great buildings like the churches of St Anne and St Roch. Most imposing of all is the Cathedral of St Pierre. Possibly the most iconic building is the Opera house where there is always a show if you can afford it. There are plenty of picturesque gardens and walkways to explore and the winding streets within the old town are filled with great shops and restaurants.
Probably the best hotels and restaurants in the Languedoc are to be found here in its capital city of Montpellier. Whatever your budget you will find something to suit your tastes and there is plenty of night life to keep you occupied in the evenings.

Outside of Montpellier

However Montpellier is just part of the picture and you will surely want to get out of the city and explore everything else on offer, and it is at this point that hiring a car will become essential. Within an hour of the city the most obvious choices for an excursion are either south to the beaches and fishing ports of, say Cap d’Agde or Sete. Alternatively head north into the lovely rolling countryside with its many sweet villages and then on into the Cevennes national park.

There are some other historical and cultural trips that you will also want to consider. The large town of Beziers is steeped in history and was the location of one of the first and most bloody sieges during the Albigensian crusades. In 1209 there was a massacre here of the Cathar followers and this was ultimately the starting point of the complete rout of this faith by the Catholics. Today, thankfully, the vibe is quite different and a day spent strolling the tree lined streets interspersed with a few coffees is a great way to spend the day. The Canal du Midi also flows past nearby and again a stroll or a cycle ride is much recommended.

Down at the Mediterranean coast you will find both the ancient city of Agde and, a further ten minutes on, the seaside resort of Cap d’Agde. The former is a circular small city built on volcanic rock, with an arts and crafts feel to it, while the resort is a massive sprawling holiday resort with dozens of beaches and loads of activities to keep the whole family busy. You will need to hire a car in Montpellier just to explore Cap d’Agde!

Further along the coastline there are some very pretty and cosmopolitan fishing villages like Marseillan. These villages have a more exclusive feel about them and are a great place to sit and imagine yourself as the owner of some expensive yacht. If you’re a nature lover than take your hire car up into the grandeur that is the Cevennes national park. Here there is trekking for all levels of experience and plenty of flora and fauna to be enjoyed. Again a hire car is essential to enjoy all that this wide expanse of countryside can offer.

There are many more sites and places of interest in the Languedoc all accessible by car within an hour or so. I hope I’ve given you a taste of what to excpect and do, and that you can see the importance of a car hire in Montpellier. Bon voyage.