Hey all. Didn’t want to hijack the other Montpellier thread so here I am starting a new one. Hope that’s OK.
I’d love some input on Montpellier and area from anyone willing to share their thoughts, but first up, let me tell you a little about us so that it might better inform your comments.
We’re a small family. Not that we’re little people, just that there’s only three of us; me, the missus and el kiddo (daughter, currently a year old). I’m an internet geek and do all my work remotely and have a long leash professionally speaking. All I need is an internet connection and I can work from anywhere (sooo lucky). I have French passport, wife is Canadian. We’ve had jack of Canadian winters and are heading to the south of France to explore - and perhaps relocate.
We’ve got a place to stay in Saint Chinian for a couple of weeks, then off to Cannes/Nice area for another couple weeks, then two final weeks open ended. This will conclude the “official” part of our vacation. I say official because after that we’ll be returning the rental car and having to decide whether we make use of the return ticket … or stay!
As it stands we are planning on staying for the winter. If that plays out well, well stay for good. So (and thank you for sticking around for the introduction!) right now we understand that Provence is priced like another planet and Langedoc seems awesome enough so we’ve got our eye on Montpellier (my wife, afer 4 years of rural living tells me she’s bored to death and “needs some urban!” hehee).
From here, and just from web research, it seems like Montpellier might be a good fit? If so, are their any areas in Montpellier to avoid? Is getting around without a car easy enough? What are some of the areas of Montpellier you would recommend? Any good resources or tips for finding a place to live/rent there?
Montpellier aside, we’d be happy with any community that scores well on the following…
-
- A good "pulse". That is, enough general activity to feel busy and alive even when it's not tourist season
- Frequent year round market activity
- Close to the coast
- Good public transport
- Reasonable rental prices (2-3 bedrooms would be nice)
Totally open to any recommendations.
Cheers!
Hi Dan, I know this is a little late to jump in on the discussion, but hey, I read all of the posts and now I am going to jump in where you were 3 years ago! Are you still in Montpellier? My two children and I are moving there in Aug 2015 and I have all the same questions!!!!
If you can share in any way your experiences, I would be really appreciative!
Anne (Edmonton, Alberta Even colder winters than Nelson!! We were in Nakusp for the summer)
I just love it - it is my sized town. Years in big cities - London and Bristol were fine when we were young. Lovely to be in a place where everything is so close. The good thing about this side of the Rhone is it is not so posh or expensive - more authentic. Do it - sure you will love it - we do.
Great if you can earn a living - not good for employment
Robin, there has been a great response regarding information on Montpellier.
I’m curious, what is it you like/dislike about Pezenas?
Great Julie - you can also get news updates in English from a French angle if you subscribe on the website
And if you have any good eating places to share … let me know
Dan - if you would like to be in a smaller pretty little place - have a look at Pezenas
Montpellier about 300,000 - Pezenas about 8,000
BUT Montpellier has theatre, galleries, music AND fast train to Paris, London and Brussels and low cost flights from Airport - though Beziers Airport really excellent now - see my WoW travel pages
It is a great area to be in with over 300 days of sunshine
Good - have a great time here in what I like to call the “real” South of France
thanks Robin! We’ve been looking for info about fresh-water places - this has a very nice link to lakes and rivers 
Julie
Hi Dan
If you want a website about the area, news, events, places to eat etc etc - go to www.heraultwhatson.info
Ah thank you for the thoughts! I love that you gave pros and cons to consider.
We’re getting closer to our trip and in mad renovation mode to get our life here wrapped up! Cheers.
Well, my mother in law lived in a village called Castelnau le lez. Honestly, it was a great place to live. they are building apartments and the villas there are amazing. We sold hers last year after her death and we used to spend most of our summers there. There is a tram that goes directly to centre ville and I find it a really charming village. Also, my father in law lives in Carnon. Great suburb to live in. Also Maugio isn’t half bad. If you live in Carnon, make sure you have a garage in your building or home. My father in law lives near the beach and he still has parking. We leave everyday during the high season and no one parks in his parking place. One good think it is just across the street from the beach. the bad news is that you have all kinds of people walking around there which is a pain. I’ve been spending my summers in these two towns for ten years and I envy you seriously.
LOL it does sound like a brand of detergent!!
Ah so you know our part of the world quite well by the sounds of it. I mentioned to Karen here on the boards that the cloud and rain just won;t quit and that I feel like getting violent with the weather widget on my computer…
And if I start complaining about the heat when we get there, you guys are allowed to put me in a box and ship me wherever you want 
A very good point, and even with our seemingly lightning fast connection, if the rest of the village / commune / dept. is surfing away and downloading whatever it is they download, it can get sluggish.
St Chinian is a busy small town, all facilities available, and one of the better markets in the area Thurs and Sundays. Walking thru the market in summer you’ll hear as much of other languages as French. Lots of English, Dutch, scandi, Belgian (there is a Belgian buying an entire village nearby, bit by bit) and Spanish. In Winter, it’s quiet… too quiet (misquote from Sam Spade?). Would I live in town? Maybe. Just outside the town itself? Yes I would, it sits in a gorgeous valley and has access to everywhere, but the centre is too touristy and seasonal for my taste.
débit= speed in tech. vocabulary (literally: rate, output, flow etc)
Thanks for the link!
‘très haut débit’ … hmm “very up/high … something”?
Yeah that’s the same out here Josette. Fierce windstorms rip through a couple times a year and take down trees onto the power/phone/cable lines.
Are there many service providers to choose from in LR? Does one seem to shine over the other in terms of price or speed or customer service?
OK thanks for the thoughts David. More votes for Montpellier and Narbonne.
Las Matelles looks nicely tucked away and still reasonably close to Montpellier and the coast. I can see why’d a guy could love a spot like that. I bet those areas are only going to rise in popularity with my parents generation as they gear down a bit but still want to be near “stuff”.
Wind the clock back 4 years and a town like that would have been my definition of heaven