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The HALLES are the kind of building to be erected in the 19th century to push a city in the progress of nations. The HOTEL DES TRESORIERS DE LA BOURSE and the HOTEL ST.COME were built in the 18th century. The last one has a nice theater hall. The TOUR DE LA BABOTTE is one of the rare remains of the old walls of Montpellier. At the other side of the inner city we have the CONVENT DES URSULINES, a former 17th century cloister. Its is the home of several festivals held in Montpellier.
Very agreeable to stroll and loiter is the ESPLANADE CHARLES DE GAULLE., which begins at the place de la Comédie.Along the esplanade a pretty cinema theater in Art Nouveau style and the important MUSEE FABRE. In this museum an important collection of the Italian, French and Spanish school. Plus sculptures and ceramics. At the end of the esplanade, a conference center annex opera: the CORUM, designed by architect Vasconi. It looks as an enormous brick stone, but I guess it must be beautiful inside.
Right at the east side of the place de la Comedie begins the POLYGONE, a half underground mall where you will find the most important of the Parisian shops.  Right behind the mall starts ANTIGONE. This area built in post modern style must become the link between the heart of Montpellier and the river Lez.
The designer, the Catalan Ricardo Bofill, likes to be inspired by a certain architecture already existing somewhere else.  In this case it is the neo-classical pomp architecture in Montpellier, or the Roman remains, somewhere in Languedoc. It is not “classy “in snobby environment to like Bofill. I think that the inner quarter surrounded by this strange architecture looks joyful and shine. With all the small shops. Despite you don’t expect a vegetable shop in a palace, and that the inhabitants complain about stuck doors and too small toilets.
Further down the river Lez, Bofill is finishing a yacht harbor, PORT MARIANNE.
The PARC DE LUNARET is the zoo of Montpellier. The animals are semi-free and the entrance is totally free.