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Clermont-Ferrand

The city of Clermont-Ferrand came into existence with the union of two distinct towns, Clermont and Montferrand, initiated by Louis XIII and confirmed under Louis XV. For many years, despite the official decisions to unite the towns, Clermont and Montferrand were two municipalities on either side of the present-day Avenue de la République, separated by an empty area that has only just been urbanised.

Clermont-Ferrand has lots to offer. Its heart, nicknamed the Butte Centrale (Central Hill), has two sides to it. To the east, between the Place de Jaude and the cathedral, there are mainly leisure attractions and shops. To the west, the district of Le Port boasts impressive heritage around its Romanesque basilica. Stroll into Old Clermont and discover some real treasures, including private townhouses, picturesque little courtyards, Baroque fountains, ornate facades, balustrades, stair towers, and much more.

Clermont-Ferrand is bound to enchant you with its heritage and its cultural engagement. Since 2015, the metropolis has been working to secure the title of European Capital of Culture 2028, the next year the title will be given to a city in France.

Discover

Discover the likes of the majestic Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral, with its lava stones giving it its black colour; the Notre-Dame-du-Port Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (as part of the Camino de Santiago); the historic heart of Montferrand with its timber-framed houses; the Place de Jaude, lined with a range of monuments from different time periods (the 17th-century Saint-Pierre-des-Minimes Church and the 19th-century Opéra-Théâtre); parks and gardens like the Parc Montjuzet, which rises to an altitude of 486 m with a fantastic view of the city, or the Jardin Lecoq, a brilliant green space filled with remarkable trees, a pond, and a rose garden; the Aventure Michelin, featuring a 2000 m² exhibition on the company represented by the legendary Michelin Man; the ASM Expérience (a one-of-a-kind attraction in France dedicated to rugby); and the Musées Roger Quilliot, Bargouin and Henri-Lecoq.