CLERMONT-FERRAND
Prefecture of Puy-de-Dôme (63)
Population: 150,000; 300,000 within the 21 communes comprising the Clermont Auvergne Metropolis
clermont-ferrand.fr / clermontmetropole.eu
Free events
Place du 1er Mai (access by tramway), from 10-12 July: Tour de France Fan Park with many events focused on cycling and sport in Clermont. You can also discover the city by bike. - Place de Jaude: Monday evening, a grandiose show for the opening of the Clermont-Ferrand summer cultural festival “les Contre-Plongées” - Free guided tours of Clermont-Ferrand’s historic centre offered by the city’s tourist office. Information: + 33 (0)4 73 98 65 00
Chaîne des Puys-faille de Limagne
Since 2018, the Chaîne des Puys-faille de Limagne site has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to being a tectonic hot spot. The Puy de Dôme (1,465m), a Grand Site de France, is a symbol of the city’s identity and dominates the Chaîne des Puys and its string of 80 volcanoes. Accessible on foot or by narrow-gauge rack railway, it offers an exceptional panorama from the Limagne to the Sancy mountains.
Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption
The emblematic cathedral stands on Clermont’s central hill, in the heart of the old city. It’s the first and largest building built entirely of Volvic lava stone. Its construction began in the 13th century and was completed in the 19th century under the direction of the famous architect Viollet-le-Duc. He was behind the two 90m-high spires. The chevet is characteristic of the gothic style of the Île-de-France. The cathedral contains a unique collection of murals and stained glass windows from different periods, including rare Romanesque windows. Place de la Victoire, Clermont-Ferrand
Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Port
A masterpiece of Romanesque art! Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the French Pilgrimage Route to Santiago de Compostela, the 12th century basilica is famous for its pyramidal chevet decorated with rosettes, its sculpted portal and more than 250 Romanesque capitals (topmost part of a column) with remarkable decorations. 4, rue Notre-Dame-du-Port, Clermont-Ferrand
