Montpellier was the first city to be twinned with Barcelona, on 23rd November 1963 in Barcelona.  In 1986, on 23rd April, the two cities signed a complementary agreement in the fields of economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

Both cities share a close geographical space and they are joined by solid historical and cultural ties.

Within the framework of the twinning agreement, student, cultural, medical and university exchanges have been carried out.  Both cities have started up a collaboration in the field of citizen participation, the democracy of proximity and youth policy, and also collaborate within the framework of the Committee of Cities and agglomerations for High Speed and the Mediterranean Corridor.  

2013 was the 50th anniversary of this twinning agreement which was celebrated within the framework of the festival Unicités de Montpellier, in which Barcelona participated with a promotional stand of the city and the performance of the Castellers del Poble-sec (Human Towers).