Promoting Montpellier's historical heritage and university collections

[Press Release] - Published on December 11, 2025 in Press Room

For more than eight centuries, Montpellier has been home to an exceptional scientific and medical heritage that has shaped the identity of the city and its university. To mark the complete restoration of the south gate of the Jardin des Plantes and as part of a broader initiative to promote the region’s heritage, Pierre-André Durand, Prefect of the Occitanie Region, Prefect of Haute-Garonne, Carole Delga, former Minister and President of the Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region, Kleber Mesquida, President of the Hérault Departmental Council, Michaël Delafosse, Mayor of Montpellier and President of Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, and Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier. In addition to the restoration work carried out on the garden’s south gate, the press conference will provide an opportunity to present the heritage master plan concerning the historical heritage and collections of the University of Montpellier and to revisit the application for inclusion in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register of documentary collections related to the history of medical education in Montpellier from the 12th to the 19th century.

The event will be attended by Carole Drucker-Godard, Rector of the Occitanie Academic Region, Rector of the Montpellier Academy, and Chancellor of the Universities; Michel Roussel, Regional Director of Cultural Affairs for Occitanie; and Patrick Berg, Regional Director of the Environment, Planning, and Housing for Occitanie.

Inauguration of the restored gate at the Jardin des Plantes

A major landmark of Montpellier’s Jardin des Plantes, founded in 1593, the south gate has been restored to its former glory thanks to a meticulous heritage restoration project carried out with the support of the City, the Metropolitan Area, and the University of Montpellier.  This opening marks the rebirth of a historic entrance long closed to the public, the rediscovery of the exedra and its unique views of the Garden, and a new, redesigned accessibility for all visitors, integrated into the Garden’s overall development plan. The inauguration will offer an opportunity to discover this iconic gate before the general public, restored using exceptional craftsmanship (stone masonry, metalwork, gilding) and restored to its original role as the gateway to Montpellier’s botanical heritage. The inauguration of the restored gate will take place at 12 p.m. following the press conference.

The UM’s Master Plan for Historical Heritage and Collections

The event will also showcase the University of Montpellier’s ambitious strategy for promoting its collections:

• adoption of the first master plan for historical heritage and collections, a roadmap designed to make this heritage accessible to everyone,
• An overview of the ForUM project, a future heritage trail connecting the Jardin des Plantes, the Institute of Botany, and the historic building of the Faculty of Medicine.

The nomination for the UNESCO Memory of the World Register

Submitted on behalf of the documentary collections on medical education (12th–19th centuries), this application focuses on a unique collection that attests to the long history, continuity, and distinctive character of medical education in Montpellier.