Promoting the heritage of science and medicine education in Montpellier

[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 shapes the identity of the city and its university. On the occasion of the complete restoration of the south gate of the Jardin des Plantes and as part of a broader initiative to promote 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 south gate of the Garden, the press conference will be an opportunity to present the heritage master plan relating to the historical heritage and collections of the UM and to review the application to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register for the documentary collections related to the history of medical education in Montpellier from the 12th to the 19th century.

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

Inauguration of the restored gate to the Jardin des Plantes

A major symbol of Montpellier's Jardin des Plantes, founded in 1593, the south gate has been restored to its former glory thanks to meticulous heritage restoration work carried out with the support of the City, the Metropolis, and the University of Montpellier.  This opening marks the rebirth of a historic entrance that had long been closed to the public, the rediscovery of the exedra and its unique views of the Garden, and a new accessibility designed for all visitors, integrated into the overall development program for the Garden. The inauguration will offer the opportunity to discover this emblematic gate, restored using the finest craftsmanship (stone cutting, metalwork, gilding) and returned to its original role as the gateway to Montpellier's botanical heritage, before the general public. The inauguration of the restored gate will take place at 12 noon after the press conference.

The UM's master plan for historical heritage and collections

The event will also present the University of Montpellier's ambitious strategy to promote its collections:

• adoption of the first master plan for historical heritage and collections, a roadmap for making this heritage accessible to all,
• Overview of the ForUM project, a future heritage trail linking the Jardin des Plantes, the Institute of Botany, and the historic building of the Faculty of Medicine.

Nomination for inclusion in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register

Submitted for the documentary collections on medical education (12th–19th centuries), this application focuses on a unique corpus that bears witness to the long history, continuity, and specificity of medical education in Montpellier.