Montpellier (Hérault) is still in the running to become the vseuropean capital of culture, in 2028. The town, which joined forces with the city of Sète to win this title, was shortlisted by an independent jury, alongside Bourges, Clermont-Ferrand and Rouen. The winner will be announced by the end of the year.
In a press release released on Friday, Carole Delga (PS), the president of the Occitanie region, is delighted “with this first step taken” and announces that the community undertakes, if Montpellier is designated, to offer “a train offer to one euro to go to all the cultural events planned in the 2028 program”. And so, continues the elected official, “to make culture accessible throughout the territory”.
Michaël Delafosse (PS), the mayor of Montpellier, for his part, expressed on Twitter of his “tremendous pride that the candidacy [de la commune] be selected among the finalist cities to become European Capital of Culture. Montpellier is the city to which all eyes are turned”. In France, the title of European Capital of Culture was awarded to Paris in 1989, to Avignon in 1999, to Lille in 2004 and to Marseille in 2013.