Coming from the United States, you have two options:

• Book your flight to Montpellier-Méditerranée Airport, with a connection through Paris. Give yourself plenty of time for the connection, since you will go through border control when you land in Paris. At the Montpellier airport, grab a taxi and it’s less than 30 minutes to the Château de la Piscine.

• Book your flight to Paris-Charles de Gaule and book a TGV (fast train) to Montpellier leaving straight from Charles de Gaule. It’s a comfortable 4-hour ride either to Montpellier-Saint Roch Station (15 minute taxi to the château) or Montpellier Sud de France Station (30 minute taxi to the château). Give yourself plenty of time to get from the airplane through border control and to the airport train station.*

Coming from Paris (if you’re already in the city):

• Book a TGV (fast train) ticket from Gare de Lyon to either Montpellier-Saint Roch Station (15 minute taxi to the château) or Montpellier Sud de France Station (30 minute taxi to the château). The train takes 3.5 hours.

Note: When booking a train, avoid having to change trains in Marseille or Lyon (or elsewhere). If you see the journey takes longer that what is indicated above, that probably means it’s not direct.

*When booking a train from CDG after an international flight, beware that a delayed flight leading to a missed train can cause undue complications. We don’t recommend this option unless you are booking the whole trip through a travel agent who can assist with rebooking if necessary, or if you are familiar with traveling on SNCF.

On this Elective you have the best of both worlds: you can lounge on the bucolic grounds of the château or be out and about in the city at any time.

To get to the center of Montpellier from the château, it’s an easy 20-minute trip on the city’s tram (which stops just down the street from the château’s main gate). Taxis and Ubers are also readily available, however, the majority of the center is reserved for pedestrians. So, once there, you will be walking to get from place to place.

Field Seminars mostly take place in the city and thus require quite a bit of walking.

Montpellier is one of the sunniest cities in France, with over 300 days of sunshine a year. In both late September and March, you can expect mild temperatures, clear skies, and golden light—ideal conditions for exploring the city’s open-air markets, gardens, and café-lined squares.

France uses the Euro. Euros can easily be obtained at ATMs at the airport upon arrival or at any bank in Montpellier. Visa and Mastercard are taken almost everywhere; AMEX is less widely accepted.

We recommend traveling with only a small amount of cash for tips or small purchases (a cup of coffee or a bottle of water). Check exchange fees with your credit card provider before traveling.

Montpellier has a strong healthcare infrastructure, with several modern hospitals and clinics offering high-quality medical care. It happens to be home to the world’s oldest operating medical school, which remains an important part of the city’s healthcare and academic landscape.

Travel insurance is mandatory for participation. Please reach out if you have questions about this or would like recommendations of providers.

You will need to have a passport that is valid until 6 months after your travel ends. We will ask you to provide your passport information along with health & dietary information, an emergency contact, travel insurance, and your arrival and departure information.

Montpellier is considered a safe city for travelers, with a walkable city center and a reliable tram system that’s widely used and known for being safe and convenient.

As with all international travel, we recommend that participants enroll in the U.S. State Department’s STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) to receive important updates and support while abroad.