Murals and Street Art Walk (Self Guided), Montpellier

For those unaware, sunny Montpellier is more than just a quick getaway with a beautiful blue sky, sunshine, Mediterranean vibes and southern architecture. In fact, Montpellier is one of the few cities in France where all forms of street art, from elaborate murals to little gems that a passersby might not even notice right away, are found in rich supply, practically on every side street.

The staggering variety of street art in Montpellier makes it a major scene for artistic expression in urban setting, where old and new (from the early 20th to the 21st centuries), amateur and professional creations complement each other beautifully. Despite a century separating some of the murals, stencils and grafittis, their objectives – to make a statement, to delight people, and also (as of lately) to make them raise their head from their smartphones – is the same.

In recent years, many more interesting pieces have sprung up throughout the city. Some of the coolest ones are found in the old town as well as the adjacent Rondelet district (here the street artist Mist enlivens the façade of a house, at Place Rondelet) and the Saint Roch neighborhood, where a large trompe-l’oeil (French: “deceive the eye”) mural, opposite the Saint Roch Church, depicts a reflection of the church and a “fake” building façade.

Alongside graffiti, other, real-life objects have also been used to decorate Montpellier’s walls, making it even more exciting. Several “half-bikes” stuck into the narrow medieval walls – created by locally-born Monsieur BMX – quite fit in with the ancient architecture, as if part of the original décor, but also highlight the importance of bikes in this bike-friendly city.

If you’re visiting Montpellier for the first time, make sure to check out the local street art, which is a true delight to discover! Take this self-guided walking tour venturing into the old town and further afield to encounter the city’s most iconic buildings and facades adorned by well-known street artists.