This city is situated on hill ground inland from the Mediterranean coast, on the river Lez. The name of the city, originally Monspessulanus, is said to have stood for mont pelé (the naked hill, because the vegetation was poor), or le mont de la colline (the mount of the hill). An alternative theory is that it was named for the hill of Monte Pestelario.

This city houses's first botanical garden, founded in 1593. A sight to see would be 14th century cathedral of Saint- Pierre. Montpellier also houses a triumphal arch, and the 17th century Aqueduct Saint-Clément is an 800m span across the eponymous Les Arceaux ("The Arches") district of the city. Also the city is home to the association football club Montpellier Hérault SC, currently of Ligue 2 and to the ice hockey club Montpellier Vipers, who have their home stadium at the Patinoire de l'Agglomération de Montpellier at Odysseum.