Cool rooftop bars, sunny beaches within cycling distance and your very own Arc de Triomphe – this is how you discover the many surprises of Montpellier

Each week our holiday hero, Neil Simpson, delves into a great holiday theme and does all the legwork so you don’t have to. This week: short break in Montpellier.

Not many city breaks allow you to scale a triumphal arch in honor of the life of the Sun King Louis XIV, swim in a swimming pool designed by Philippe Starck or ride a tram with Christian Lacroix-designed paintwork.

But Montpellier in the south of France also promises many surprises and Gallic style.

On the edge of Provence and just minutes from the Mediterranean Sea, this sunny university town has one of France’s youngest residents and is a growing hotspot for food, entertainment and culture.

A growing hotspot for food, entertainment and culture, Montpellier promises many surprises and Gallic style

Perfect days start with coffee, croissants and people watching from a large cafe on Place de la Comedie in the old town. The tourist office on the square can organize guided tours through the streets, dubbed ‘Paris in Miniature’, up to the top of the city’s own (but slightly smaller) Arc de Triomphe.

Art lovers can visit the extensive collections of Raphael, Delacroix, Rubens and Reynolds at the Musee Fabre or explore the Mo.Co Museum of Contemporary Art.

Montpellier is also home to one of the oldest medical schools in the world, the Faculty of Medicine, which dates back to the 12th century and has a garden where medicinal herbs are still grown today.

Art movement: a light rail vehicle with color work designed by Christian Lacroix

On the top floor is one of the oldest medical schools in the world, the Faculty of Medicine, which dates back to the 12th century.

Montpellier’s sprawling Gothic cathedral (pictured) is a great place to visit on a hot day

With plenty of benches shaded by tropical trees, it’s perfect for a picnic in the city when temperatures rise. Or escape the heat in the sprawling Gothic cathedral, surrounded by massive fortress-like pillars at the door.

Modern trams will take you to the sea, or ride the city’s bike hire service to the beach (around £5 a day). Look out for flamingos in the wetlands at Pancake Flat, a 45-minute drive from the coast.

Striking modernist architecture is Montpellier’s other major draw. Zaha Hadid’s library, Pierresvives, resembles a sprawling, futuristic cruise ship, while Starck’s “bubble” sports center, The Cloud, has a 16-foot swimming pool at its colorful heart.

Cycle to beaches like Palavas Les Flots (above) with the city’s bike sharing system.

Pictured is Zaha Hadid’s library, Pierresvives, which looks like a giant, futuristic vessel

Take a dip in the 16-metre pool at Philippe Starck’s ‘sparkling’ sports center The Cloud (pictured)

Or combine architecture, aperitifs and sea views with a drink at the rooftop bar at L’Arbre Blanc, a gleaming white apartment complex that has been compared to both a concrete tree and a giant piece of origami.

Back in the compact and very walkable town center there are many wine bars serving Languedoc from local vineyards and offering tastings throughout the day. Locals recommend hole-in-the-wall bars with outdoor tables, such as Les Canons.

Or choose from 32 self-service wine dispensers in the modern bar Le Verre-a-Soi in the heart of the old town. The meaty cassoulets, seafood and oysters are particularly popular at Les Bains de Montpellier, a converted bathhouse.

Mix architecture, aperitifs and sea views over a drink at L’Arbre Blanc’s rooftop bar (above)

L’Arbre Blanc has been compared to both a concrete tree and a giant piece of origami

Stay at the elegant Hotel Richer de Belleval pictured from £403 per night

Montpellier will be easier to reach from May when British Airways launches its new route, complementing existing easyJet services – both costing from around £75 return. Or take the Eurostar from London to Paris and then switch to a fast TGV service, from around £60 each way (seat61.com).

Hotels range from the stylish and centrally located Golden Tulip Montpellier (montpellier-centre.goldentulip.com) with rooms from £98 per night to the elegant Hotel Richer de Belleval (hotel-richerdebelleval.com) from £403 per night.