Montpellier (Occitan Montpelher) is a city in the south of France. It is the préfecture (administrative capital) of the Hérault département. Population: 229,055 (1999).
Its University is one of the oldest ones in France (founded in 1289).
Montpellier became a possession of the kings of Aragon by the marriage of Peter II of Aragon with Mary of Montpellier[?]. James III of Majorca[?] sold the city to the king of France in 1349 to raise funds against Peter IV of Aragon.
Several housing projects have been designed by the Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill.
Many places in the New World are named after it, often with varying spellings: see Montpelier.
Montpellier was the birthplace of:
See also: Medieval university
Official web site (in French): http://www.ville-montpellier.fr/
