Daily discussion over breakfast at the château.

The first edition of Elective’s course in Montpellier unfolded as a weeklong exploration of how art, architecture, and daily rituals reflect a distinctive Southern French sensibility—one shaped by classical heritage, contemporary vision, and a deep appreciation for the pleasures of everyday life. Students lived in the renovated guest quarters of an 18th-century château, where daily discussions were held on site and the setting itself became part of the learning experience. The instructor, Armelle Cassanas, focused on how perception is shaped by signs, connotations, and cultural codes, highlighting the ongoing dialogue between eras in artistic creation.

Classical Art & Château Life

A private visit of the Château de la Piscine

Studying the château's fully renovated interiors

Heading into the city center for a Field Seminar

A medieval gate rebuilt as an 18th C. observatory

Throughout the week, students traced the evolution of classical art in Southern France—from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment—using the city as a textbook. One morning was devoted entirely to the Château de la Piscine, where students learned about the site’s layered history, the family that has inhabited it across generations, and the recent restoration of its interiors, furniture, and artwork. The château offered more than a backdrop—it became a case study in how beauty, craftsmanship, and cultural memory endure. It was also the students’ home base: daily discussions took place in the greenhouse, surrounded by classical sculpture and filtered light, and on the first evening, the group was welcomed into the main house by the château’s owners for an intimate dinner.

Contemporary Encounters

A behind-the-scenes glimpse of the FRAC's collection

A local artist discussing her technique in her studio

Montpellier’s cityscape revealed itself as a study in contrasts: medieval alleyways, airy 18th-century squares, neoclassical reinventions, and bold contemporary experiments. Field seminars took students through historic quarters and architectural landmarks while also opening doors to the city’s thriving cultural institutions. Highlights included a behind-the-scenes tour of the FRAC Occitanie—one of France’s regional collections of contemporary art—and a visit to the working studio of a local painter and ceramicist, who spoke candidly about her politically engaged practice and the realities of artistic life in today’s Occitanie.

The Art of Living

A toast before dinner at the Château de la Piscine

The market as a window into aesthetic traditions

Observing social life through the rituals of café culture

Art de vivre, in practice at the château

The rhythm of the week reflected the region’s own: thoughtful, convivial, and deeply sensory. Students visited the Marché des Arceaux—Montpellier’s beloved open-air market—to observe the rituals of Southern French food culture and assemble ingredients for a group picnic. Each day began in the château’s greenhouse, surrounded by sculpture and filtered light, with shared discussions that carried over into lunch and beyond. On the first night, the group was welcomed into the main house for dinner by the château’s owners—a warm introduction to the week’s themes of hospitality, beauty, and daily pleasure.

Extracurriculars

Learning to cook regional dishes in the kitchen of the château

The fishing town of Sète is known as the "Venice of Languedoc"

Two optional experiences rounded out the course. A hands-on cooking workshop in the château’s kitchen offered a flavorful introduction to Sètois cuisine, while a half-day excursion to the nearby port town of Sète gave students a chance to explore its canals, contemporary art spaces, and easygoing Mediterranean charm.