All our (half-) discovery days

A foray into the classical era and ancestral know-how

9:30 am: Meet your guide at the Tourist Office. Discover a more intimate side of Montpellier. As you walk through the streets of the historical city centre, you’ll be able to open the doors to some beautiful Montpellier homes.

Discover the “hostals”, residences of Montpellier’s merchants in the Middle Ages, and then the private manors of the 17th and 18th centuries through their courtyards and open stairwells. A foray into the classical era to learn about the families of local notables like doctors, bankers and lawyers.

12:30 pm: Lunch at a restaurant in the city centre.

2:30 pm: The day continues in the muted ambiance of the Opéra Comédie and its recently restored Molière Room, before ending in one of the instrument makers’ workshops in the Ecusson. This little-known profession is intimately linked to the city of Montpellier. A rare opportunity to share in the know-how of a craftsman, amidst the creative process and surrounded by the scents of wood and varnish.

5:00 pm: End of the tour.

10:30 pm: Possibility of an overnight stay in Montpellier in a hotel with adapted services before continuing the discovery during the day 2 **.

From 49€/indiv.*

*Base rate for 20 people. Includes tour guide, admission to the various sites, lunch (welcome cocktail, starter, main course, dessert, water, wine and coffee), as well as the guide’s meal at the restaurant. Does not include personal expenses.

**Day of enjoyment: Authentic and Contemporary Montpellier for example

From the Pont du Gard to the Maison Carrée

Set off for the Pont du Gard, the famous aqueduct inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It supplied water to the ancient city of Nîmes, extending more than 50 kilometres in length. Its triple row of arches, length of 275 metres and height of 48 metres make it a truly extraordinary structure.

Launch at Les Terrasses, across from the monument.

Continuing on towards Nîmes.

Nîmes is synonymous with Roman life… The whole city is impregnated with it. Enter the best-preserved amphitheatre in the Roman world to get a sense of the ambiance at great matches, explore the Maison Carrée and follow your guide through the old neighbourhoods to gain an appreciation for the city. Other key sites include the Jardins de la Fontaine (one of the oldest public gardens in Europe, dating from the 18th century) and the Carré d’Art (library, multimedia library and contemporary art museum) built by Sir Norman Foster.

From 180€ /indiv.**

**From €180/person, based on 20 people. Includes tour guide, admission to the various sites, lunch (starter, main course, dessert, water, wine and coffee), the guide’s meal at the restaurant, and accommodation with half board based on double occupancy rooms in a four-star hotel. Does not include transport, tourist tax, any single occupancy supplements, or personal expenses.

*Sample overnight excursion: Day 2 after spending Day 1 in Montpellier (Authentic and Contemporary Montpellier day excursion).

From Palavas to Lattara

Set off for Palavas-les-Flots and a morning of nature and heritage. Between the sea and the lagoons, discover the rich natural heritage of the region and its amazing wildlife: egrets, terns, pink flamingos and more.

In the middle of Lake Levant, the Ballestras redoubt, an old 18th century alarm tower, will surprise you with both its location and its history. Continue on towards Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone and a tour of Maguelone Cathedral. Surrounded by lakes and grapevines, this magnificent Romanesque edifice, nicknamed the “Cathedral of Sand”, was the site of the episcopal see until 1536 and is sure to win you over with its simple lines, its setting and its history.

Lunch at Le Phare, a revolving restaurant with panoramic views.

Departure for Lattara, a Gallic port on the Mediterranean. The ancient port of Lattara, occupied from the 6th century BC to the 3rd century AD, was an important place for economic trade and cultural exchange between all the peoples of the Western Mediterranean Sea: Etruscans, Greeks, Iberians, Romans and local populations.

Located nearby Archaeological Site of Lattara, the Henri Prades Museum invites visitors to discover the remains of the ancient city, discovered during digs carried out since 1963.

From 180€ /indiv.**

**From €180/person, based on 20 people. Includes tour guide, admission to the various sites, lunch (starter, main course, dessert, water, wine and coffee), the guide’s meal at the restaurant, and accommodation with half board based on double occupancy rooms in a three-star hotel. Does not include transport, tourist tax, any single occupancy supplements, or personal expenses.

*Sample overnight excursion: Day 2 after spending Day 1 in Montpellier (Authentic and Contemporary Montpellier day excursion).

From an underwater exploration to the Lake Thau Museum

Departure for Sète. Board a glass-bottomed boat and discover the singular island from its ports (fishing, commercial and marina) to the sea as you enjoy your underwater views.

Next, you will rise above sea level as you travel up the Mont Saint-Clair to admire a superb view of the home town of Brassens and beyond, past Lake Thau to the Gulf of Lion.

Continuing on towards Bouzigues, where you will meet an oyster farmer who will discuss the production techniques used on the famous local molluscs.

Launch at a restaurant in Bouzigues.

Further explore shellfish farming traditions with a tour of the rich collections of the Lake Thau Museum.

From 180€**

**From €180/person, based on 20 people. Includes tour guide, admission to the various sites, lunch (starter, main course, dessert, water, wine and coffee), the guide’s meal at the restaurant, and accommodation with half board based on double occupancy rooms in a four-star hotel. Does not include transport, tourist tax, any single occupancy supplements, or personal expenses.

OPTIONAL: Muscat tasting: sweetness blended with freshness, with hints of white blossoms and dried fruits, making it a real delicacy. Please contact us.

*Sample overnight excursion: Day 2 after spending Day 1 in Montpellier (Authentic and Contemporary Montpellier day excursion).

From Pézenas to Saint-Guilhem

Departure for Pézenas. Tour of its historical centre. Around its cobblestone streets, you will discover private manors dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as 16th century bourgeois homes.

Although the town was made famous for hosting Molière and his Illustre Théâtre troupe, it is also known for the political role it played as the seat of the States of Languedoc

Free time in Pézenas.

Lunch at a restaurant in Pézenas or Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.

Continuing on towards Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. Stop at the 11th century Pont du Diable (Devil’s Bridge) and admire the incredible view of the Hérault Gorges. Tour of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, a medieval village inscribed on the World Heritage List.

This village, located along the Camino de Santiago, was chosen in 804 AD as the site of Gellone Abbey. In addition to a tour of the abbey church, one of the most prestigious Romanesque sites in Lower Languedoc, discover one of the most beautiful villages of France as you explore its medieval streets.

From 170€ /indiv.**

**Base rate for 20 people. Includes tour guide, admission to the various sites, lunch (starter, main course, dessert, water, wine and coffee), the guide’s meal at the restaurant, and accommodation with half board based on double occupancy rooms in a four-star hotel. Does not include transport, tourist tax, any single occupancy supplements, or personal expenses.

*Sample overnight excursion: Day 2 after spending Day 1 in Montpellier (Authentic and Contemporary Montpellier day excursion).