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Montpellier
182.5 km
Thursday 19 July
"This stage, which follows the Mediterranean, should also give rise to a spectacular contest. No doubt, the wind will play an important role and will favour initiatives taken by the fighters. Those who will have lost the Tour already will have a wonderful opportunity to make their presence felt."
Montpellier - 182.5 km
Downtown Marseille (Picture: City of Marseille)
In Marseille, it’s always about full commitment: each project, each challenge is met with the greatest passion ! In 2007, the city center breathes with renewed vitality thanks to two new cablecar lines. The fully-renovated Canebière (Marseille’s legendary avenue) and the old harbor are just the place for a stroll or a bicycle ride. Close by, the Euromediteranean Project provides job opportunities and new urban development schemes. Thanks to its exceptional natural surroundings, Marseille also lives to the beat of winds and seas. Come summertime, the 57 km of coastline turn into one gigantic sandy stadium for beach soccer, beach volley and even beach rugby. This September, Haka will be the dance of the moment and black the color, as Marseille welcomes the All Blacks for their first match in the rugby world cup. The « Stade Vélodrome » will be chanting its support!
The Three Grâces (Picture: City de Montpellier)
Originally, Montpellier was merely an agricultural area, the « Monte Pestelario », before the 1000 year history which led to today’s metropolis. The « city of a thousand and one lives » was already prosperous in the Middle Ages. It was both a major commercial center and a place of learning, with law and medicine universities. It then became the capital of Lower-Languedoc, and pursued its development until the catastrophic phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century which brought an end to its economic prosperity. For a few decades, Montpellier dozed off amidst its vestiges from the past, the magnificent Peyrou Royal Garden, the majestic Saint-Pierre Cathedral, numerous superb townhouses... A growing population in the 60’s and 70’s keyed its revival. With new-found dynamism, the city expanded towards the sea, opened up to the world and leading-edge technologies, took on new economic sectors... becoming the city where the sun never sets, where everyone wishes to live!
