Montpellier

Montpellier is our closest really big city, but we haven't been there as much as we expected we would.  Even though it is only about 40 miles away, everything we need is closer, and whenever we rent a car we tend to go somewhere further away.  We've been to the excellent zoo and to the airport a couple of times, but hadn't really explored.
So this week I got the train there, and spent the day wandering the streets, seeing the sights, window shopping, and generally enjoying being away from the kids for the first day in four months!
It is a truly beautiful city, but my main impression of the architecture on wandering round was that everything was "inspired by" (aka a copy of) something else.

First the Arc de Triomphe, based on (according to my free guide from the Tourist Information Office) the famous Paris landmark.

Then the aqueduct, built in the 19th century and inspired (according to the same book) by the Roman Pont du Gard.

 

Then I got very confused, walking through the really attractive neo-classical Antigone district to discover it is younger than me!  That one is not such a big deal, but still struck be as a bit strange.

 But, not understanding the city, and why its landmarks are copies kind of makes it more interesting.  And it is really lively, liveable and city-ish compared to the quiet life we lead in little old Marseillan.  Made me miss city life in Canada for the first time, actually.  Don't miss shops though - how did the high streets of the world become so homogenised? Zara, Gap, Claire's accessories (true!).