France: Montpellier's Jardin des Plantes and Champ de Mars make it perfect for weekend breaks

By Max Davidson Grand design: The opulent Opera-Comedie, built in 1888, in Montpellier's Place de la ComedieFor the average holiday maker, Montpellier in south-west France is like Clapham Junction: a place to pass through, rather than a destination in its own right. Our flight there is packed, but no more than half the passengers are likely to be spending a night in the city.At the car-hire desks