The Mediterranean coastal city also enjoys a fascinating Jewish heritage dating back 10 centuries, the remains of which can be visited today. Historians Carol and Daniele Iancu have done extensive research on the Jewish presence in and around Montpellier. In the old days, visitors used to slide on the snow on sheets of plastic. These days there are some 25 km. of ski runs and the ski center has some 2,000 sets of ski equipment for hire. On weekends they are virtually sold out.
Nothing can quite match the peace and contentment of several hours of fishing, so they say.
The official city map lists 34, and dozens more advertise their rooms with hand-painted signs. Like many city dwellers, I often dream of giving it all up and going to live on a mountaintop somewhere. Like many urban people, I know I couldn't really take the quiet life too long. Fortunately, I've discovered a way to cheat and just pretend to live in the country while returning to reality when I get bored. It was a little too early to search for mushrooms, one of my favorite pastimes, but by now there should have been enough rain for the mushrooms to flourish.