Bike rental Bikes can be rented at Vill'a Vélo at the gare routière in place du Bicentenaire (tel 04.67.92.92.67).Books As You Like It, 8 rue Bras de Fer; Book Shop, 4 rue de l'Université; Travel books at Les Cinq Continents, 20 rue Jacques-Coeur. FestivalsMontpellier is renowned for its cultural life, and hosts a number of annual festivals. Le Printemps des Comédiens (mid-June to mid-July) is a theatre festival; Montpellier Danse (end June to mid-July) is a festival of dance. There's also the music festival, Le Festival de Radio-France et de Montpellier, held in the second half of July, and the Festival du Cinéma Méditerranéen, in the second half of October. The tourist office will provide information about programmes and booking. Internet There are lots of cybercafés around town; try Planète Jeux, 33 rue Roucher (Mon–Sat 10am–1am, Sun 2pm–1am; tel 04.67.60.40.50). Markets The best central food markets are Halles Castellane, on rue de la Loge, and Laissac, place A. Laissace (daily 7.30am–1pm). There's also a Sunday morning car boot fair at La Paillade on the city's western outskirts. Medical emergency Lapeyronie tel 04.67.22.81.67; Centre Hospitalier de Montpellier, 555 rte de Ganges tel 04.67.33.93.02. Post office The main office is on place Rondelet, 34000 Montpellier (Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 9am–noon). Shopping The most convenient place is the Polygone mall, which contains a FNAC and Galeries Lafayette. Swimming The nearest beaches for a dip are at Palavas (tram direction "Odysseum" to Port Marianne, then bus #28), but the best are slightly to the west of the town.
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