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    Clermont-Ferrand

    France

    Clermont-Ferrand

    CityCulture

    Clermont-Ferrand is the largest city in Auvergne and the gateway to the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of extinct volcanoes that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. France
    7. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
    9. Clermont-Ferrand
    Clermont-Ferrand is the largest city in Auvergne and the gateway to the Chaîne des Puys, a chain of extinct volcanoes that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is known for its Gothic cathedral built from dark lava stone and as the headquarters of tire manufacturer Michelin.

    Sights in Clermont-Ferrand

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    L'Aventure Michelin

    1L'Aventure Michelin

    Ausstellung über die Firma Michelin und ihre Innovationen für den Straßenverkehr, mit Filmen und Fahrzeugen.
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    Kathedrale von Clermont-Ferrand

    2Kathedrale von Clermont-Ferrand

    Römisch-katholische Kathedrale aus dem 13. Jh., erbaut aus Lavagestein, mit Wandmalereien und 2 Türmen.
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    Basilique Notre-Dame du Port

    3Basilique Notre-Dame du Port

    The Basilique Notre-Dame du Port is a masterpiece of Auvergne Romanesque art and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998, as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. It is one of the five great Romanesque churches in the region. It was built primarily in the 11th and 12th centuries on the site of a predecessor building, which had been destroyed in the 9th century during Norman incursions.Typical of the Auvergnat style is the stepped structure of the choir with its ring of chapels. Inside, you will see sculpted capitals depicting biblical scenes and mythical creatures. Unlike the cathedral, the church is predominantly built from light sandstone (arkose), with decorations on the choir highlighting dark volcanic rock.Our Tip: In the morning, you'll have good light for exterior photos of the choir. Also, visit the crypt beneath the choir.
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    Statue of Vercingetorix

    4Statue of Vercingetorix

    Attraction in 5 Pl. de Jaude.
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    Jardin Lecoq

    5Jardin Lecoq

    The Jardin Lecoq is the large city park in the centre of Clermont-Ferrand, named after the naturalist Henri Lecoq. It was laid out in the second half of the 19th century as an English-style landscape garden. It features lawns, winding paths, a pond with ducks and swans, old trees, flowerbeds, statues, and a bandstand.Our tip: It's quietest here on weekday mornings.
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    City walks in Clermont-Ferrand

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    A Journey Back to the Middle Ages: The Charming Montferrand District

    Discover another facet of Clermont-Ferrand and explore Montferrand, a fully preserved medieval bastide district. Once an independent fortified town, Montferrand, with its narrow lanes, charming squares and unique architecture, offers a fascinating contrast to the volcanic core of Clermont. A walk through Montferrand is a journey back in time through the rich history of the Auvergne, away from the busier paths of the main centre.

    ~1 Std. 30 Min.
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    Stops (7)

    Food and Drink

    Amphitryon Capucine

    Restaurant in 50 Rue Fontgieve.
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    Le Chardonnay

    Restaurant in 1 Pl. Philippe Marcombes.
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    Le Clair Mont

    Bar in 28 Pl. Saint-Pierre.
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    Restaurant Gastronomique Apicius étoilé Michelin

    Restaurant in Place du Marché.
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    Le Bistro de la Mairie

    Bar in 11 Rue Philippe Marcombes.
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    Food & Drinks

    The Auvergne offers hearty, cheese-laden cuisine. Five cheeses with Protected Designation of Origin originate here, appearing in almost every dish.

    Truffade and Aligot

    Potatoes with fresh Tomme cheese: Truffade keeps its pieces discernible; Aligot is stirred into a stringy, sticky mass.

    Cheese of Auvergne

    Cantal, Salers, Saint-Nectaire, Fourme d'Ambert, and Bleu d'Auvergne all have PDO status. The range extends from mild to very strong.

    Pâté with potato filling

    A puff pastry pie with potatoes, onions, and cream, served warm. A Sunday dish from country cuisine.

    Lentils from Puy

    The small green lentil from Velay was the first French vegetable with a designation of origin. It retains its bite when cooked.

    Wines of Auvergne

    On the volcanic slopes around Clermont, Gamay and Pinot Noir grow. The Appellation Côtes d'Auvergne is small, but on the rise.

    Cultural Heritage of Clermont-Ferrand

    The history of Clermont-Ferrand dates back to antiquity, when the Roman settlement of Augustonemetum was established on this site. Its development was shaped by significant eras, including the Middle Ages, when Clermont became the site of the Council of 1095, which called for the First Crusade. The city, which gained its current form in the 17th century through the unification of Clermont and Montferrand, is deeply rooted in this past.Architecturally, Clermont-Ferrand stands out due to the use of the dark volcanic stone "Pierre de Volvic," which gives the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption its striking, imposing appearance. In addition to Gothic masterpieces, the region also features numerous Romanesque churches that bear witness to a rich architectural culture. The unification of Clermont, an ancient episcopal city, and Montferrand, a medieval fortress town, continues to shape the cityscape with its distinct characters to this day.Culturally, the city is inextricably linked to the legacy of Michelin, which has influenced its social and economic development for generations. Local traditions also manifest in regional festivals and markets that preserve the heritage of the Auvergne, as well as in a hearty, local cuisine. This blend of Roman past, medieval history, and industrial influence makes Clermont-Ferrand a place of remarkable cultural richness.

    Nightlife

    Clermont-Ferrand's nightlife centers around a variety of bars and pubs, particularly popular with students. Here you'll find cozy pubs like the The Salvation Jane Pub for a relaxed beer, or dancing opportunities at the Hype Club.
    1

    Hype Club

    Rue des 2 Marchés, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, Frankreich
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    2

    La mêlée des jeux

    Bar in 4 Rue Saint-Vincent de Paul.
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    3

    Bar Loup Garou

    Bar in 6 Rue Boirot.
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    4

    The Salvation Jane Pub

    Bar in 14 Rue Terrasse.
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    5

    Fracass Club

    Bar in 6 Rue Breschet.
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    6

    L'osteria Bar

    Bar in 1 Pl. Louis Aragon.
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    7

    Le Clair Mont

    Bar in 28 Pl. Saint-Pierre.
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    8

    Le Bistro de la Mairie

    Bar in 11 Rue Philippe Marcombes.
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    9

    Bistrot le Royan

    Bar in 23 Rue Maréchal Foch.
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    10

    Le Massillon

    Bar in 15 Rue Massillon.
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    11

    LA BAMBOCHE - BAR CLERMONT-FERRAND

    Bar in 5 Rue Saint-Dominique.
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    12

    Le Berthelot

    Bar in 40 Bd Berthelot.
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    13

    Le Mayerling

    Bar in 4 Rue Saint-Dominique.
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    14

    Le Salford

    Bar in 2 Rue Bansac.
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    Exploring locally

    Clermont-Ferrand has a good public transport network: A tram line crosses the city, plus numerous bus routes. Explore the old town around the cathedral on foot. For trips to the volcanic landscape, like the Panoramique des Dômes valley station in Orcines, it's best by car.

    Accommodations in Clermont-Ferrand

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    Campgrounds in Clermont-Ferrand

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      Trip to Clermont-Ferrand

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      • 1L'Aventure Michelin3 days
      • 2Kathedrale von Clermont-Ferrand4 days
      • 3Basilique Notre-Dame du Port5 days
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    Nearby

    Puy de Dôme

    Puy de Dôme

    At 1465 meters, the Puy de Dôme is the highest volcano of the Chaîne des Puys, a World Heritage site since 2018 as part of “Chaîne des Puys – Faille de Limagne”. You can reach the summit on foot or by the Panoramique des Dômes rack railway. From the top, enjoy panoramic views of the volcanic chain and the Limagne plain, and see the remains of a Roman Mercury temple.
    Regional Natural Park of the Auvergne Volcanoes

    Regional Natural Park of the Auvergne Volcanoes

    Founded in 1977, the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne is, with nearly 390,000 hectares, the largest Regional Nature Park in mainland France. It encompasses the Chaîne des Puys with around 80 volcanoes, including the Puy de Dôme, the Monts Dore with the Puy de Sancy, the Cantal Massif, and the Cézallier high plateau. The landscape is characterized by volcanic cones, crater lakes, alpine pastures, and forests, and boasts a dense network of hiking trails. In the villages, you can find cheeses like Saint-Nectaire, Cantal, and Salers. The hiking season usually runs from May to October; early mornings are the quietest on the well-known peaks.
    Lac Chambon

    Lac Chambon

    The **Lac Chambon** is located at the foot of the Massif du Sancy in Auvergne and is of volcanic origin: A lava flow from the Tartaret volcano once dammed the Couze valley. With its bathing beaches, lakeside path, and the visible Murol castle, it is a popular destination for families, hikers, and water sports enthusiasts.
    Mont-Dore

    Mont-Dore

    Le Mont-Dore is a traditional spa town in the valley of the young Dordogne, at the foot of Puy de Sancy in the Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne. Thermal springs, Belle Époque buildings, and its location between extinct volcanoes make the town a starting point for hiking and winter sports in the Massif du Sancy.
    Salers

    Salers

    Salers, at an altitude of around 950 metres in the green highlands of Cantal in Auvergne, is one of the 'Plus Beaux Villages de France'. In its cobblestone streets stand well-preserved towers and mansions made of dark lava stone, most dating from the 15th and 16th centuries.

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