Porte du Peyrou Arch in Montpellier, France
Based on the triumphal arch of St Denis in Paris, the Porte de Peyrou is a 17th century triumphal arch in the southern French city of Montpellier. So what is a triumphal arch? One of the most famous and prevalent architectural styles to result from ancient Rome, these freestanding decorative arches – often spanning a road or footpath – are built to impress, celebrate and awe, as well as strike fear in the beholder. There are hundreds throughout Europe, each depicting different scenes and carvings. The Porte de Peyrou dates to 1693 with later panels added in 1715, highlighting four scenes from King Louis XIV’s life. In some, Louis is dressed as an ancient hero, in others, he is shown effecting his successes: digging the Canal du Midi, revoking the Edict of Nantes (not great if you were a Huguenot!), winning battles and capturing cities. Despite the rather grim nature of the arch by today’s standards, there’s no doubt that it – and the city in which it resides – is beautiful. Montpellier is a lovely city in southern France a few kilometeres from the Mediterranean Sea. About halfway between Marseille and Narbonne, Montpellier’s slight distance from the sea makes it marginally less popular with tourists. Grand on a compact scale, the centre is full of light-coloured stone, cobbled streets, leafy green spaces, vibrant flowers, and neoclassical architecture. No matter whether skies are sunny and blue or moody and rain-splattered, Montpellier is a cheerful French city that manages to feel elegant at the same time as accessible.
Top tip: Ever considered kite surfing? There are plenty of spots not far from Montpellier to give it a go. Continuing with the water sport theme, why not go canoeing on the Gardon River under the impressive Roman site, the Pont du Gard.
Top Most Beautiful Places in Europe 