FRANCE 98 – Montpellier

A Thousand Years Young

The name Monspestellario is recorded as far back as 985. From its earliest days, the town on the edge of the Mediterranean coast has always been “on the up.” It was a stop for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela, traders would halt there on their way along the Salt Route, and students and scholars made it into the first
Euro-Mediterranean city by setting up the world’s first Faculty of Medicine. Rabelais, Rondelet and Nostradamus all contributed to the renown of the university, which attracted scholars from all over the world.

In 1204, with the “Charter of Customs and Liberties,” it became a true democracy, a free and prosperous town. The city, under Spanish Catholic rule for two centuries, then under Protestant influence during the reign of Henri IV, still bears the scars of the Wars of Religion. Only in the 18th and 19th centuries did peace and prosperity return, when, as the centre of the Languedoc states, Montpellier acquired true capital status.

A Mediterranean Eurocity
apital of the Languedoc-
Roussillon region, over the past few years Montpellier has created more businesses than any other city in France with a population of over 100,000, rising in the space of two decades from 21st to 8th city in the country. Since 1985, the Montpellier District has been conducting its economic development strategy under the aegis of the Association Montpellier Languedoc Roussillon Technopole, which is active in fields ranging from tourism to tropical agronomy, medical industries, telecommunications and real-to-virtual-world interfaces. The association also provides members with tools and services to support their development and company start-up strategies, and works closely with universities and research sectors. With 65,000 students, three universities and a wide range of curricula, Montpellier is constantly broadening its reputation as a Eurocity and one of southern Europe’s most prominent technological research parks.

Art in the heart of the city
s a university city, Montpellier has a young and dynamic population, and has made culture one of its priorities. With its philharmonic orchestra, two opera houses, rock ‘n’ roll venue and numerous music festivals, Montpellier’s dedication to music is undeniable. Dance is also a feature, with the Languedoc-Roussillon national choreographic centre of Montpellier, recently set up in new premises devoted entirely to dance, and unique in Europe. Lastly, the Mediterranean Film Festival is a yearly celebration of the movie industry.

Montpellier in the run up to the World Cup

“To use the event to project the best possible image for the city and the region, to involve the community, to offer our visitors entertainment and warm, well-organised hospitality, to provide the event with a true cultural dimension,” these, in a nutshell, are the aims underlying all projects developed by Montpellier over the past few months.

The FRANCE 98 crusade
he city and the surrounding area have been preparing for the Football World Cup for a long time, starting in 1996, when the Mayor of Montpellier and the President of the Languedoc-Roussillon Football League embarked on a vast regional tour to spread the word about the World Cup among the population. Montpellier is already in a position to measure the spin-off of the Football World Cup in terms of jobs, with many local companies working on the Mosson stadium renovation. The World Cup will also have a significant effect on tourism, given the world-wide profile of the event. As it is hosting six matches, Montpellier will be welcoming thousands of new visitors. The city is already well-known for its hospitality, as is borne out by its reputation. So it is not surprising that the entire tourist industry, both in the city and further afield, is dedicated to preparing for the event, so that visitors can discover and enjoy the many architectural, gastronomical and cultural treasures of Montpellier and the Languedoc-Roussillon region. In 1998, creativity will be an essential ingredient in tourist circuits and gastronomical menus, as well as in the city’s decorations, which are sure to be highly original.

A time to relax after the game
n December 1996, the city launched a wide-ranging press campaign highlighting post-match entertainment, an initiative acclaimed with an award by a jury of advertising professionals. The programme of events prepared by the city is highly appealing. For example, two orchestras representing two teams are to “play” each other, while a football game is projected onto a giant screen behind them. Another project is the world premiere of a large-scale dance event accompanied by 112 musicians. And Montpellier has much more in store. A year before the event, the city is ready !