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Clermont-Ferrand, France
Clermont-Ferrand in France with e-travelguide.info
Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Clermont-Ferrand.
Make the most of your time in Clermont-Ferrand, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.
Thought to be one of France’s oldest cities, Clermont-Ferrand is set amid spectacular surroundings next to the Chain des Puys volcanoes, and most notably the highest peak - the Puys-de-Dome. Indeed, it is its surroundings for which visitors are most likely to venture to the Clermont-Ferrand, as opposed to the city itself, although there are still things to see and places to go within its boundaries.
The city is the administrative capital of the central French province of Auvergne which puts it on the plains of Limange in the Massif Central. While impressive volcanoes surround there are also major industrial areas in close proximity, not least the Michelin tyre headquarters. As well as this famous feature, Clermont-Ferrand, or Clermont as it is often referred to, hosts an annual International Short Film Festival which occurs during the first week of February and is the second most popular in the country after the film festival in Cannes.
At its centre, there is a famous public square which is called Place de Jaude and features a statue of Vercingetorix on his horse. It was he who led the Gauls against the Romans many years ago as the juggernaut set about making its expansion throughout Europe. Another famous figure stemming from the city is mathematician Blaise Pascal, originator of the Pascal’s Triangle and Pascal’s Wager contributions. It is after Pascal that one of the city’s universities is named, the other is called the University of Auvergne, and together they swell the city’s population by some 30,000 people.
A number of Clermont’s buildings are made from black volcanic rock giving a distinct and original style. This form of architecture has led to the medieval quarter being dubbed the ville noir, or black town. Notably, the city’s dominating cathedral is made of the black rock, which when added to its 96-metre twin spires, makes this one of the most recognisable buildings in the area. Other testaments to the city’s history can be found in the museum of archaeology Bargoin and the museum of art Roger Quilliot, two different but insightful places to visit. Meanwhile, the Notre-Dame du Port church was built during the 11th and 12th centuries and so shows something more of the area’s history.
Clermont-Ferrand is sometimes referred to as ‘France’s Liverpool’ due to its plethora of film, dance, music and theatre festivals which occur each year. There are in fact 20 such events and occasions, the most notable of which is, of course, the aforementioned International Short Film Festival.