Over the last few years Montpellier has enjoyed extraordinary growth, propelling it from the 25th to the eighth-largest city in France. It is one of France's most affluent cities, enjoying an mix of the historic and modern. Location is one of its greatest assets, being halfway between Paris (three-and-a-half hours by TGV) and Barcelona (four hours and 15 minutes).

Montpellier is the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon, just a few kilometres from the Golfe du Lion on the Mediterranean Sea. The port city of Marseille is along the coast to the east, and the historic Roman city of Nîmes lies inland approximately 50 kilometres away. The city became a key economic powerhouse for the south under the leadership of former mayor George Frêche and the current incumbant Hélène Mandroux is carrying on the momentum for development. "Our city is beautiful, and pleasant to live in and it should remain so. As the city develops I want the growth to be measured, harmonious and beneficial. The city must be able to breathe and avoid congestion. New neighbourhoods grow and old ones are regenerated; green spaces are retained and yet economic development is important – all these elements must be kept in balance", concludes Mandroux.

Phenomenal economic growth has been combined with social and artistic flair. As a result Montpellier has become a busy modern city, with higher education at the core – specialising in medicine, sciences and philosophy. Montpellier is easy on the eye with beautiful fountains, open squares and interesting architecture. The city centre has been transformed by Claude Vasconi's Corum conference and music hall, set in a landscaped esplanade, and by Ricardo Bofill's postmodern Antigone, a new town quarter near Place de la Comédie. Mandroux mentions congestion advisedly because roadworks have been a theme recently with a tramline being installed – a second is due to open in 2006, and a third in 2010. However, once the chaos is over there will be a slick public transport system, including a tramline to link the city centre to the nearest beach which is at Palavas-les-Flots.

With a large university population there is a young feel to the city and the usual array of cafés, trendy eateries and terraced restaurants that Francophiles are so delighted by (as well as the French, of course). On a cultural note, Montpellier's premier art collection, the Musee Fabre is scheduled to reopen in 2007 after lengthy renovation. At present most of its great French, Dutch, Flemish and Spanish works from the 16th to the 18th centuries are behind closed doors and temporary exhibitions are set up in the pavilion. Other museums are concerned with local history such as the Musée du Vieux Montpellier and the Musée Languedocien.

As for the Montpellier property market, "Sun, sea and quality of life have lead to a surge in demand for property", says Sandrine Ramir of Solvimo Immobilier. "Montpellier and its suburbs are rapidly expanding with many current property construction projects in full flow. "The large inward migration to the region has created a high level of demand for new property and housing stock and the construction of new housing has greatly increased", Ramir adds. City centre property developments in Montpellier are sold quite quickly, whether they are snapped up by Parisians or foreigners looking for an investment. "Property prices per square metre in the city centre are substantially higher than in the surrounding villages", says Michelle Reid of A Place in France. "You can expect to pay 270,000 euros for a three-bedroom apartment, whereas a two-bedroom apartment about half-an-hour away can be found for less than 150,000 euros. "Clermont-L'Hérault, for example, is a market town with traditional architecture and with excellent road links to Montpellier. Here, we have a property development planned with one-bedroom apartments from 119,750 euros and two-bedroom apartments from 124,250 euros." Will you too be joining Montpellier's march to modernity?

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