Locals get fresh fruits and vegetables and wine; and farmers get to make money.
Because the city offers so much, it is expensive to live in Montpellier. France in general offers a lot of benefits for tax payers, including inexpensive healthcare; however, the taxes French citizens pay are astronomical. If you ask a French person about this, they'll voice their opinion on the topic for hours. Another downside to Montpellier living is the amount of tourism the city experiences. While it is good for the economy, a lot of tourists can cause harm to the environment if they do not respect it. Locals see this and feel uncomfortable. They would wish to keep their city of Montpellier their own.
Montpellier citizens have been adapting to the environment by building their city further away from natural sites, in an effort not to disrupt these areas. The beach is well maintained, and there are not many houses, shops or restaurants nearby, like you woud see at populated beach towns in the United States. The mountains are near, but the farmland and suburbs separate them from the city. The people of Montpellier take pride in the nature surrounding them and draw attention to the landscape by featuring it on their marketing materials.
