Place de la Canourgue

If Place de la Canourgue were to be described by its residents, discreet, beautiful, and romantic would certainly be the most recurring adjectives. Sure, from your current perspective, none of this stands out , but be ready, because in just a few seconds, you’ll see how fitting it actually is. Standing at the foot of this place, let’s retrace some of its history, or rather the different stories that led to its creation. In 1129, Guilhem VI, lord of Montpellier, chose this small hill to build his residential palace. He added an oratory, ito house several relics brought back from his journey to the Holy Land. In 1562, the devastating Wars of Religion erupted between Catholics and Protestants, and the oratory was quickly destroyed. By 1604, a Catholic brotherhood called the White Penitents purchased the ruined land and built a new Romanesque sanctuary. Sadly, like its predecessor, this chapel was demolished in a single night in 1621.
Once again empty, the square became a blank canvas awaiting its next chapter. That chapter would be written by Pierre de Fenouillet, Bishop of Montpellier, who envisioned building a grand cathedral here. Construction began in 1623 but came to a halt in 1629 when Cardinal Richelieu ordered that efforts focus instead on restoring Saint Peter’s Cathedral. What you see before you today are only the foundations of what might have been.
Between the 17th and 20th centuries, Place de la Canourgue was expanded and beautified. Elegant mansions were built around it, including the Hôtel de Belleval at the top of the steps, which once served as City Hall. The square was further enhanced with a basin and the Unicorns Fountain, honoring Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix, Marquis of Castries.
What a remarkable journey for Montpellier’s oldest square! Its name ‘Canourgue,’ from the Occitan word ‘Canorgua,’ reminds us of the canons of Maguelone who lived in this area centuries ago