Heritage

Medieval beauty

A center of science and learning since the Middle Ages, Montpellier has always enjoyed a fruitful relationship with its university. Descended from the Faculty of Medicine founded in 1220, the University of Montpellier was one of the first to appear in the Western world.

Over the centuries, it has left its mark on the city. Today, the UM preserves a prestigious historical heritage in terms of both real estate and furniture, as well as scientific, artistic, and documentary collections of inestimable value.

Over time, it has continued to enrich its collections, a large part of which is classified as historic monuments.

Figures: 1220 Birth of the first University of Montpellier – 6,000 antique drawings and prints – 4.5 hectares in the heart of the city

History

Rooted in the history of its city and region, the University of Montpellier is one of the oldest universities in Europe still in operation.

Middle Ages

Montpellier appeared around the year 980 and was immediately a place of encounters and exchanges between Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures. The city's academic vocation was confirmed in the field of medicine with the authorization in 1180 to practice and teach medicine. A century later, medical education was recognized by the Church, making Montpellier the oldest practicing medical school in the Western world.

At the same time, lawyers began to gather in Montpellier around renowned professors such as Placentin of Bologna. In 1289, the University of Montpellier was officially created by Pope Nicholas IV's bull Quia sapientia. Known as a Studium generale, it offered courses in medicine, law, literature, and theology at the time.

The University of Montpellier was created by and for its teachers and students and enjoys a high degree of autonomy in its operations. One of its defining characteristics is the predominance of medicine and, increasingly, law.

Renaissance

In the 16th century, the city of Montpellier became a leading intellectual center and asserted its position as a European hub for law and medicine. At that time, it attracted many scholars and scientists who shared humanist values, including François Rabelais, Guillaume Rondelet, and Pierre Richer de Belleval.

Universities were developing rapidly in France and competing with Montpellier University. To counter its rivals, Montpellier University was granted unique specializations: anatomy, botany, biology, etc. Closely related to medicine, the study of medicinal plants became increasingly popular in Montpellier with the creation of the Jardin des Plantes (Botanical Garden) in 1593. The city was considered the capital of botany until the 18th century.

Revolution

Like all French universities, Montpellier University was abolished during the Revolution. This did not prevent medical professors from teaching in semi-secrecy. However, the need for structured teaching became apparent in Frimaire Year III (December 1794). The Convention then founded three Schools of Health in Paris, Strasbourg, and Montpellier.

It was at this point that the School of Medicine moved into the premises of the former bishopric, where it remains to this day. In 1803, the establishment of the School of Pharmacy completed the scientific education offering in Montpellier. As for the Faculty of Law, it was forgotten in 1808 and only founded in 1878.

19th century

The scientific landscape of Montpellier changed at the beginning of the 19th century with the creation of the Faculty of Sciences in 1809. At the time, it had seven chairs: transcendental mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, zoology, botany, and mineralogy. The end of the 19th century was marked by the unification of all the city's faculties into a single university, housed in the university palace, now the rectorate.

20th century

Montpellier's institutions continued to develop throughout the 20th century, playing a full part in the scientific boom that characterized this period and forging a dense network of teaching and research structures. The Faure Law (November 12, 1968) led to the creation of three new universities:

• Montpellier I University,
• Montpellier II University,
• Montpellier III Paul Valéry University.

The faculties (law, arts, medicine, science, pharmacy) ceased to exist and became either UERs (later UFRs) for medicine, law, and pharmacy (UM1), or fully-fledged universities for arts (UM3) and science (UM2).

21st century

A new chapter in the shared history of Montpellier 1 and Montpellier 2 Universities began with the launch of the merger process in September 2012. Seeking to increase their national and international influence, the two universities joined forces and the University of Montpellier was created on January 1, 2015. With 17 academic departments, 73 research units, and more than 48,000 students, it became the largest university in the Languedoc-Roussillon region and the sixth largest in France.