Citadel of Montpellier, Military citadel in Montpellier, France.
The Citadel of Montpellier is a four-sided fort built with corner bastions arranged in a square pattern to control the city. The southern section with its bastions and defensive walls faces the flat plains toward the Mediterranean Sea.
King Louis XIII ordered this fortress built between 1624 and 1627 after the city endured a long siege due to its Protestant population. The structure was a direct response to restore royal control over the city.
The citadel now functions as a school complex where students move through former military buildings as part of their daily routine. This transformation shows how defensive structures became spaces dedicated to learning and youth development.
The site sits on Avenue des États du Languedoc and is accessible on foot from several directions, with parking available on the north side. Walking from central Montpellier takes just a few minutes and is mostly flat.
Two southern bastions, Bastion de la Reine and Bastion de Ventadour, still stand and connect through a wall lined with palm trees. This planted area creates a calm contrast with the heavy stone structures all around.
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