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758 Km (471 miles) SW of Paris; 161 Km (100 miles) NW of Marseille; 50 Km (31 miles) SW of Nîmes
The capital of Mediterranean (or Lower) Languedoc, this ancient university city is still renowned for its medical school, founded in the 13th century. Nostradamus qualified as a doctor here, and even Rabelais studied at the school. Petrarch came to Montpellier in 1317 and stayed for 7 years.
Today Montpellier is a bustling metropolis, one of southern France`s fastest-growing cities, thanks to an influx of new immigrants. Except for some dreary suburbs, the city has a handsomely laid-out core, with tree-flanked promenades, broad avenues, and historic monuments. Students are about a quarter of the population, giving the city a lively, animated aura. In recent years, many high-tech corporations, including IBM, have settled in Montpellier.
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