From 69.90€ / adult

Unveal Nostradamus’ secrets and discover the hidden side of Montpellier

You will discover

This street tour will guide you, through some of the iconic sights of Montpellier :

• The Place de la Comédie
• Rue du Bras de Fer
• The Botanical Gardens
• Montpellier’s renowned medical school

Complete description

Astrologer, alchemist, apothecary, seer to kings! The name of Nostradamus has echoed down to us through the ages. Imagine if only he were here to show you all that is hidden in Montpelier. He should know, having studied in its historically renowned school of medecine, and whence he was booted for reasons remaining entirely mysterious. Leaving aside his stills and beakers, his athanor and other alchemical accouterments, this personage has come to take you through his old haunts, in Montpelier’s historic heart

He will show you the thirteenth century Jewish mikveh, or ritual bath of the fairer sex, and teach you the rudiments of the “language of birds” whereby the alchemists communicated their secrets, named for a language that can neither be written nor read, only heard to understand its import. On then to Church of St. Roch, protector against plagues, born in this city famed for its medical school since the High Middle Ages. You will learn the innerworkings and inner quarrels of the apothecaries, who with their potions might extend a life as easily as snuff it out on the sly.

From the Pine Tower he will predict the fall of the city, all while teaching you divination and astrology, but also alchemy. While this study sought the elixir of long life, it more easily discovered violent poisons. It’s only natural then that your guide will then lead you to the world’s first university botanical garden, giving you to understand why it is utterly forbidden to grow flowers there.

This esoteric journey will reach its end at the famed School of Medecine. Colorful characters straight out of history books (the writer François Rabelais, the alchemist professor Arnaud de Villeneuve, confidant of kings and popes or again François Boissier de Sauvages, doctor of love) await you there, but not before the Magus himself shares the recipes for few of his electuaries and tinctures that will remedy your daily ills. He might even share why he was expelled.

Cancellation policy

You may cancel up to 24 hours before the tour departure time and receive a full refund.

Important information

• Visit duration : 1h30
• Immediate confirmation