Editing Montpellier (section)

===After the Reformation===
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At the time of the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] in the 16th century, many of the inhabitants of Montpellier became Protestants (or [[Huguenots]] as they were known in France) and the city became a stronghold of Protestant resistance to the Catholic French crown. Montpellier was among the most important of the 66 {{lang|fr|villes de sûreté}} ('cities of protection' or 'protected cities') that the [[Edict of Nantes]] granted to the Huguenots. The city's political institutions and the university were all handed over to the Huguenots. 

Increasing tension with Paris led to King [[Louis XIII of France|Louis XIII]] [[Siege of Montpellier|besieging the city]] in 1622.  The city surrendered after a two-month siege.  Peace terms called for the dismantling of the city's fortifications and the building of the royal [[Citadel of Montpellier]] to secure the city for the government. The university and consulate were taken over by the Catholic party.  Even before the [[Edict of Alès]] in 1629, Protestant rule was dead and the {{lang|fr|ville de sûreté}} was no more.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

[[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] made Montpellier capital of [[Bas Languedoc]], and the town started to embellish itself, by building the [[Promenade du Peyrou]], the Esplanade and a large number of houses in the historic centre.