Street of the Old Courier, Medieval footpath in central Montpellier, France

The street of the Old Courier is a walking path lined with stone buildings that connects different sections of Montpellier's old town center. The route passes through narrow lanes with Renaissance structures featuring open arcades and carved stone details throughout.

This path originated in medieval times as a main route for couriers to deliver messages and goods across the expanding city. The street maintained its importance as a commercial passage for centuries afterward.

The street's name comes from the couriers of the Ancien Courrier district, and the painted sign at its entrance shows a horse-drawn mail carriage with a rider leading a second horse. The name is still read in the local Occitan form of the quarter, and the sign's Gothic lettering marks the old postal route through the centre.

The lane runs through the old town between the Place de la Comédie side and the Quartier de l'Ancien Courrier, whose painted sign with a carriage and post rider marks the entrance. The surface is paved and level, with arcaded passages giving shelter from sun and rain. It is a pedestrian lane, so expect deliveries and pedestrians rather than cars.

The street's name comes from the couriers of the bishop of Maguelone, whose residence stood in this quarter; the painted sign at its entrance shows a carriage, a rider and a led horse. Look up for the carved caryatids on the facades, female figures used as supports in place of columns.