CLERMONT-FERRAND
City of
views
The Romanesque church of Notre-Dame-du-Port, and the Gothic church of Notre-Dame-del’Assomption, silhouetted against the Chaîne de Puys, and the dominant Puy de Dôme, are landmarks of the city. On the Puy de Dôme, a mythical volcano reaching a height of 1,465 m, we find one of the great Gallic shrines, the Temple of Mercury.
A At daybreak, poetry surrounds the church steeple in Montferrand and the strange shapes of the industrial architecture.
At Vulcania, designed by the architect Hans Hollein, you become explorers in a fascinating world, up to now reserved only for vulcanologists.
The Valley of Chaudefour, formed by a glacier, is classified as a nature reserve.
The Puy de Pariou has a 100 m deep crater; this is a strombolian type volcano.
city
Clermont-Ferrand has an exceptional setting - born of fire, water and air, in the land of the Auvergne volcanoes: a mere stone’s throw away, eighty sleeping volcanoes are silhouetted against the sky, dominated by their landmark, the Puy de Dôme. At Vulcania, the unique European Park of Volcanism, your heart will beat to the rhythm of the Universe. To the North, are the fertile cereal plains of the Limagne; to the East, the sun rises over the wooded mountains of the Livradois-Forez, highlighting their remarkable beauty;
on a volcano
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Auvergne is a secret rather than a province. It torments you with dreams.
It is when you have found it that you will look for it the most.
“
Alexandre Vialatte.
This golden stater engraved with the name of Vercingétorix is part of the coin collection in the Museum of Archaeology.
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nearer still is the Oppidum of Gergovie, where the young chief of the Gauls, Vercingétorix, defeated Caesar. ClermontFerrand is the natural gateway to the vast territory of the Massif Central, and has a strategic position in the centre of France at the crossroads of the main highways of Europe. For each season the region changes its mantle, offering visitors a new variety of rich colours over the wide open spaces An oculus window frames the image of the great clock in the former 17th century Jesuit college.
Salvaged from a church which is no longer in existence, this Romanesque lintel can be seen at the top of the Rue des Gras. It shows the biblical scene of the Washing of the Feet.
in the two regional Parks, the Auvergne Volcanoes and the Livradois-Forez, both very close to the city. Hidden away within the magic of the panoramic landscapes, we find lakes, castles, and Romanesque art treasures. Unsuspected curiosities can be discovered in the flora and fauna. Both man-made and natural historical phenomena can be found
The church of Orcival is one of the major Romanesque constructions of the county. Its silver-gilded statue of the Virgin in Majesty is visited by many pilgrims.
A city on a volcano
along the winding paths leading to the most beautiful sites. It is a paradise for walkers, but Auvergne can also be visited by bike and for the more intrepid, by hang-glider, by paraglider, or aboard a hot air balloon. After invigorating activity in the pure air, you will be tempted by the local gastronomy, steeped in tradition.
The vast network of marked paths is ideal for those who fancy a gentle stroll or for more confirmed hikers.
The iridescent ballet of the paragliders takes your breath away.
Fruit jellies and crystallized fruit are local specialities. Auvergne cheeses have an international reputation: here we see Saint-Nectaire cheeses during maturing.
The hamlet of La Godivelle is surrounded by two lakes; the “top lake” is in an old volcanic crater.
If you are quiet and patient, you will perhaps see a mouflon on a mountain top.
In May 1966 Apollo caterpillars were reintroduced onto a sunny mountain slope of the Puy de Dôme. Since then this majestic butterfly flutters alongside the paragliders.
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There are many pavement cafés where you can spend time chatting in the sun or dreaming under the stars.
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This amazing greyhound is one of the gargoyles on the Gothic church of Montferrand.
Notre-Dame-du-Port is registered on the Unesco world heritage list, under the theme of Santiago de Compostela.
Work on the cathedral began in 1248 and finished in the 19th century under the supervision of the architect Viollet-le-Duc. It was the first and biggest construction in Volvic stone.
This detail of the Candlemas Virgin is a marvellous example of the Tender Virgins painted in the Gothic period. It can be seen in the ambulatory of the cathedral.
Detail of the Amboise fountain erected in the Renaissance period for the bishop Jacques d’Amboise.
N° 4 Rue Blaise-Pascal, the Chazerat mansion in neo-classical style.
thousand years
of history “
What a wonderful position! What a splendid cathedral! … The view of the Puy de Dôme, only a stone’s throw from the town, stimulates the imagination.
“
Stendhal
In the Place de la Victoire, the statue of Pope Urban II stands watch over a large fountain.
The city is bicephalous, two towns united over the centuries, much to the delight of today's visitors: the old town of Clermont, and only a league away the mediaeval town of Montferrand, created by the Counts of Auvergne. The two towns developed simultaneously, the first under the control 6 of the bishop, the second 7 under the control of the counts. Catherine de Medicis gained possession of the bastion of Clermont and claimed it for the Crown. Then, two edicts pronounced during the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XV sealed the union between the two towns.
Richness and diversity resulted from this forgotten union of two historical towns. In Clermont, the Middle Ages were prosperous. This period began with the 1095 Council, In the Place de Jaude, when Pope Urban II chose the town to make the statue his blessing of the first crusade. Two prized examof Vercingétorix on horseback ples of the period’s sacred architecture are: the is the work Romanesque basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Port and of Bartholdi, who also the unusual Gothic cathedral made of lava stone, designed where a unique collection of stained-glass the Statue of Liberty windows and murals can be found. History continued in New its way and produced the beautiful mansions York. of the Renaissance period and the Age of Enlightenment;
The workshop and home of the Bernardin iron-work craftsmen, in Rue Eugène-Gilbert, is an example of elaborate Art Nouveau decor. It is listed as a Historical Monument.
fifty fountains spill their water over the ancient stone. Examples of statuary in the town are the statue of Vercingétorix, designed by Bartholdi, and for lovers of contemporary art, monumental sculptures by international artists. In Montferrand, one of the best historically preserved towns in France, urban life is woven from the town’s heritage and its foundation in the 12th century. The heritage of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance can be seen throughout the town, timber houses, spiral staircases, inner courtyards and fine sculpted decors. You are invited to discover these two ancient towns, with the help of the “Parcours dans la ville” brochure or with a professional guide.
In 1997, the town invited eight international artists to a conference on sculpture. This batrachian made by the Dutchman Marck Brusse is part of a collection which is mysteriously called Dans la mémoire des crapauds (In memory of toads).
Two thousand The city has been awarded the national label of Villes et Pays d’art et d’histoire (Towns and Regions of art and history) and these educational visits are part of this label. The three museums contain a thousand treasures: archæology, carpets and textile art in the Bargoin museum, mineralogy and natural history in the Henri-Lecoq museum, textile arts in the carpet arts museum, and the fine arts collections in the Roger-Quilliot museum. This Dame au torque (Lady with torque) is part of a touching collection of wooden thanksgiving plaques found near a miraculous spring. They date back to the 1st century AD and can be seen in the Bargoin museum.
The structure of the galleries which are joined to the main building by a spiral staircase is characteristic of the rich mansions in Montferrand.
The flourishing medieval town of Montferrand then slumbered for several centuries, and because of this, its “fortified town” layout has remained perfectly intact.
The Tourist Office’s guided visit takes you to the 17th century fountain in the Place du Terrail.
In the interior courtyard of the mansion houses the sculptures are made from Volvic stone. In Montferrand, a sculpture of St Christopher carrying Jesus.
The timbered house called “the Apothecary” provides the ideal setting for the mediaeval fairs which take place every year in June.
years of history
The scholar Louis Pasteur once lived in Clermont-Ferrand. One of his test flasks is part of the collections exhibited in the Henri-Lecoq museum. This detail of a painting by Donato Créti is an invitation to discover the Roger-Quilliot museum, with its collections from the early Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Two examples of arithmetic machines invented by Blaise Pascal, “Les Pascalines”, are exhibited in the Henri-Lecoq museum.
This Pao Tao, a Chinese betrothal rug, is part of the permanent collections in the Bargoin museum. Plants and animals were chosen because of their symbolic importance.
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The Auvergne metropolis is strong on imagination. Clermont-Ferrand has become the world capital of the short film industry, and hosts one of the four leading festivals in France. It flourishes on live entertainment, with its national theatre – the Comédie de Clermont-Ferrand – , the Orchestre d’Auvergne, which has built its reputation on the performance of its string instruments, its famous Lyrical Season and of course the Coopérative de Mai, where visitors can enjoy modern music. The Contre-Plongées de l’Eté (summer film festival) is an important event in the summer season with a festive programme of films. Just as important is the rugby ball, carried proudly
Architectes : Fabre et Speller.
In the inner courtyard of the Roger-Quilliot art museum, the Orchestre d’Auvergne holds a musical event.
La Jetée houses the International Short Film Centre. Its name is a tribute to Chris Marker’s symbolic film (1962), which inspired the long gangway which leads out from the tower, the film library at the centre.
by the “yellow and blues” of the ASM club, top of the sporting list in Clermont, with many other sports hard on their heels… Clermont-Ferrand excels in its performances, and also has top quality sports complexes, regularly hosting international sporting events. Some prefer the pleasures to be found in the pedestrian streets – antique shops, craftsmen’s workshops, art galleries, markets – or in the city park designed by the botanist Lecoq. And to fix your image of the city, lying in the cradle of the volcanoes, you can go up to Montjuzet Park, where time is known to stand still….
The Short Film Festival is held every year at the beginning of February.
A metropolis
Running for the ball, the ASM rugby team always plays with fighting spirit.
During summer nights, a large screen is erected on the façade of the cathedral, where visitors can see some of the cinema’s best films.
The theatre, built at the end of the 19th century is one of the attractive monuments in Place de Jaude.
The programme proposed by the Comédie de Clermont-Scène Nationale illustrates the variety of today’s creative works.
of inventions
This beautiful shop window, listed as a historical monument, is one of the places gourmet shoppers must visit. Spending some time on the newly refurbished Place de Jaude is a very pleasant experience.
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In Montjuzet Park, the vegetation resembles that of Tuscany, and the hill is in perfect harmony with the two monumental sculptures.
Did you know that people come from afar to go bargainhunting in Clermont? There is a wide choice of antique-dealers, bric-a-brac shops, flea markets and second-hand bookshops.
At nightfall, the whole city is lit up against the silhouette of a frieze of volcanoes.
A Architectes : D.et L.Ameil et A.Jalicon.
One of the six engineering schools, the Institut Français de Mécanique Avancée (IFMA) is on the Cézeaux campus.
The new Fleur de Lave tram will serve several stops on its 15 kilometer drive through the city.
More than 30,000 students follow the various artistic, scientific or arts university courses. Clermont-Ferrand is a melting pot of researchers, who work in the universities or in industry. Of course students study here, but they also find time for other entertainment. Every year, students begin the university year in an atmosphere of fun and solidarity with “Clermont fête ses étudiants”.
Blaise Pascal was born in Clermont in 1623. This 17th century portrait is in the Henri-Lecoq museum.
When living in Clermont, Blaise Pascal discovered the effects of air pressure, and since then the city has lived up to its tradition of invention, 1894: inspiring the composer Bibendum was born. Jean-Philippe Rameau, The jolly fat man, mascot the philosopher Henri Bergson of the Michelin and the film director Eric Rohmer. company, the delight Few people know of collectors that Fernand Forest, of publicity items. from Clermont, invented the first internal combustion engine.
metropolis of inventions
People from Auvergne and further afield have together constructed the twenty-one “communes” (districts) which make up 10 Clermont Communauté, which is today 11 one of the twenty leading urban communities in France. Its pioneers, Two extremes: wishing to promote industry, founded exclude Michelin, the Bibendum multinational, reason, whose famous guides open up the world only accept to so many tourists. New generations come reason. to study in the two universities or in further education colleges. Researchers discover Blaise Pascal. new scientific horizons. The Polydome congress centre hosts an increasing number of events The airport is linked with a great variety of topics. The organisation to fourteen national of these events is made easier by the airline hub and four European destinations every day. which has been set up in the international airport of Clermont-Ferrand/Auvergne.
Polydome, a large multi-purpose centre for all your receptions and special events.
Architectes : P. Borderie, R. Kander, J. M. Louviaux.
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Tourist Information Centre
The
The Tourist Centre is situated in the heart of the historical centre facing the Gothic cathedral, and well worth a visit for any tourist in search of a variety of information. In the Romanesque Art Exhibition visitors can also see many of the riches from the mediaeval period in the Massif Central.
La Maison du Tourisme Place de la Victoire 63000 Clermont-Ferrand
From October 1st to April 30th: From Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm Saturday 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 6pm Sunday and Bank Holidays 9.30am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 6pm From May 1st to September 30th: From Monday to Friday 9am – 7pm Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 10am – 7pm Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 98 65 00 Fax: + 33 (0)4 73 90 04 11 tourisme@clermont-fd.com www.clermont-fd.com
The Tourist and Short-Stay Congress Centre **** Package
To find out more about the city and its surrounding area, a team of experts is available to help you. Hotel vacancies are available on the internet website. The Centre can also give you information on tourist packages and tours with guided visits, and help with arrangements for special events. Tickets for Vulcania and the 3-Sites Pass are also sold there.
Romanesque Art Centre
Romanesque treasures from the Massif Central are attractively exhibited for the general public. On interactive kiosks, you can find a large illuminated map of the Massif Central showing more than 250 sites, and discover the exceptional heritage of the area. A kaleidoscope of images, Le jeu de la Pierre et de la Foi, is a moment of pure emotion. (also available in French, German, Spanish and Italian).
Which includes : • The hotel accommodation Breakfast • The entrance ticket for Vulcania and the Lemptegy volcanoe • An entrance pass for two museums Please contact us at +33 (0)4 73 98 65 00 Or on the website www.clermont-fd.com
Useful addresses and information Religious buildings Please respect religious ceremonies
Museums
Sites The Puy de Dôme The summit is accessible only if the weather is favourable Toll: + 33 (0)4 73 62 12 18
Open all year long from 7.30 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 6 pm, except Sundays, from 9.30 am to 12 noon and from 3 pm to 7 p.m.
The two-museum pass (special tourist pass) entitles you to an admission into two museums in the town
Vulcania Route de Mazayes 63230 Saint-Ours-les-Roches From France: Tel: 0820 827 828 From abroad: Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 19 70 00 Fax: + 33 (0)4 73 19 70 99 bienvenue@vulcania.com www.vulcania.com
Place de la Victoire.
Bargoin Museum
Car Parks
Notre-Dame-du-Port Basilica
Archaeological Department Carpet and Textile Art Department
Blaise-Pascal (470 places) Place Michel-de-l'Hospital Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 91 06 06
45, rue Ballainvilliers Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 42 69 70 Fax: + 33 (0)4 73 42 69 00
Centre Jaude (780 places) Entrances: place de Jaude, rues Lagarlaye et Gonod - Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 34 46 51
Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral
Open all year long from 8 am to 7 pm (provided that there is no restoration work in process: the interior of the church will be closed from september 2006 onwards).
Admission to the museums is free every first Sunday in the month. Museums are closed on Mondays. www.ville-clermont-ferrand.fr
Rue du Port.
Henri-Lecoq Natural History Museum
Notre-Dame-de-Prospérité
15, rue Bardoux Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 91 93 78 Fax: + 33 (0)4 73 14 46 25
Winter: from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 12 noon, and from 2 pm to 6 pm and Sunday mornings. Summer: from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 7 pm and Sunday mornings.
Roger-Quilliot Art Museum Place Louis-Deteix Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 16 11 30 Fax: + 33 (0)4 73 16 11 31
Historical centre of Montferrand
For more information
Ask for our free documentation
Jaude-Vercingétorix (306 places) Entrance: place de Jaude Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 93 76 71 Cathédrale Poterne (310 places) Entrance: rue Saint-Hérem. Tel/Fax: + 33 (0)4 73 92 60 01 Saint-Pierre (180 places) Entrance: place Gaillard Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 31 24 03
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Les Salins (481 places) Place Gambetta - Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 93 61 87 Gare SNCF (train station) (248 places) Rue Pierre-Semard - Tel + 33 (0)4 73 90 22 90 Parking 17 (90 places) 17, rue Bonnabaud - Tel: + 33 (0)4 73 293 294
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By road A71 (North), A75 (South) A72 (East), A89 (West)
Athènes
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Once foreigners have seen Auvergne, they lose all memory
Office de Tourisme et des Congrès Maison du Tourisme
homeland.
Place de la Victoire 63000 Clermont-Ferrand Tel. + 33 (0)4 73 98 65 00 Fax. + 33 (0)4 73 90 04 11 tourisme@clermont-fd.com www.clermont-fd.com
Sidoine Apollinaire
“
of their
Design, production: Vice Versa, Clermont-Ferrand, + 33 (0)4 73 90 94 05 - Printer: Drouin - Tel. + 33 (0)4 73 26 44 50 Photographs: Municipality of Clermont-Ferrand / Communication department, Rémi Boissau, Philippe De Paredes, Jean-Michel Gueugnot, Danyel Massacrier - Vulcania, Joël Damase - Xavier Zwiller - C.R.D.P. Auvergne, Alain Jean-Baptiste - Société Alcide d’Orbigny, F. Fournier - INRA - CCI-Aéroport - Myles Hyman, Sauve-qui-peut le court métrage. - Translation: Métaform-Langues - Illustration p. 14 : Alain Bouldouyre.
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