Montpellier

Cruise ships calling on Montpellier dock at the canal port of Sète, a laid-back fishing town about 30 km from Montpellier on the Languedoc coast. Sète itself is charming — its canals, fresh seafood restaurants, and the hilltop Saint-Clair cemetery (resting place of poet Paul Valéry) make it worthy of a half-day exploration. The train from Sète to Montpellier takes about 25 minutes, providing access to one of France's liveliest university cities with its grand Place de la Comédie.

Ships dock at canal-laced Sète; Montpellier's vibrant university city is 25 minutes by train.