Bath had looked set for victory as two tries from lock Ryan Caldwell helped put them 22-17 ahead going into the final minute, but Montpellier snatched their first-ever Heineken Cup win when Timoci Nagusa went over for a score that was converted by Martin Bustos Moyano.
The result leaves Bath bottom of Pool Three on seven points, with Montpellier moving into second spot, level on 10 points with Glasgow but having played a game extra. Leinster lead the way on 16 points ahead of their meeting with Glasgow tomorrow.
It was Montpellier who were quickest out of the blocks at the Stade Yves du Manoir as they crossed for a try inside the opening minute through wing Pierre Berard.
Benoit Paillaugue added the extra points to make it 7-0 but Bath battled back from that early setback to take a 10-7 lead at the interval, Olly Barkley reducing the deficit with a penalty before then converting Caldwell's first try on the stroke of half-time.
A Paillaugue penalty levelled the scores up five minutes into the second half but Bath were back in front soon after when Caldwell went over for his second score, Tom Heathcote adding the extra points this time.
Bath's advantage lasted barely eight minutes before Montpellier made it 17-17 through a converted Alex Tulou score, but the Aviva Premiership side were soon back in the ascendancy as England international Matt Banahan scored their third try of the match in the 71st minute.
Heathcote was unable to add the extra points though, and that meant the French side, playing in only their second Heineken Cup campaign, knew a late converted try could still win them the match - and that is exactly what happened thanks to Nagusa and replacement Moyano.
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