Clermont-Ferrand

The cathedral dominates Clermont’s historic hill and is built from dark volcanic stone, giving it a striking and dramatic appearance.

Inside are Gothic vaults, stained glass, works of art and spaces reflecting centuries of religious and political history.

Begin at Place de la Victoire, then continue through the narrow streets towards Notre-Dame-du-Port and Place de Jaude.

The tourist office is close by and is a useful place to collect maps for the waymarked walks through the centre.

Puy de Dôme is the best-known summit in the Chaîne des Puys and offers a panorama of volcanic cones, Limagne and the Massif Central.

The Panoramique des Dômes takes about fifteen minutes to reach the summit, making it accessible to many more visitors than the steep walking route.

At the summit are the remains of a large Roman temple dedicated to Mercury, an information centre and several viewpoints.

The weather changes quickly, so bring warm clothing and check visibility, wind and train departures before setting out.

The museum shows how a local company grew into a global name in mobility, travel, technology and gastronomic guides.

Interactive displays, vehicles, maps, advertising, Bibendum and historic products make the visit engaging for adults and children alike.

The exhibition is close to Stade Marcel-Michelin and is easily reached by tram from Place de Jaude.

Allow around ninety minutes to two hours, and check opening hours before visiting.

Notre-Dame-du-Port is one of Auvergne’s most important Romanesque churches and contrasts sharply with the dark Gothic cathedral.

The basilica is built from pale arkose and is known for its harmonious proportions, sculpted capitals and richly detailed choir.

It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing associated with the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.

Combine your visit with the Port district, Saint-Pierre market and the area’s antiques and design shops.

Montferrand was originally a separate town and has preserved a distinctive street plan, fragments of its defences and grand houses from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Walk among dark lava-stone houses, small courtyards, the church of Notre-Dame-de-Prospérité and Place de la Rodade.

The district lies close to the Michelin museum and Stade Marcel-Michelin and is easily reached by tram.

Allow a leisurely hour for the streets and combine the visit with lunch or dinner in the area.

Vulcania combines a family attraction and science centre, exploring volcanoes, natural phenomena, the Earth and space.

The programme includes interactive exhibitions, dynamic attractions, films, scientific demonstrations and a large planetarium.

The park lies in the volcanic region west of Clermont-Ferrand and usually deserves a full day.

Opening times and programmes are seasonal, and transport should be arranged in advance when travelling without a car.

The World Heritage site shows with unusual clarity how the Earth’s crust fractures, subsides and rises as a continent begins to split.

The site includes the long Limagne fault, the chain of volcanoes in the Chaîne des Puys and the inverted relief of Montagne de la Serre. Together they provide a concentrated illustration of geological processes normally spread across much larger areas.

The landscape forms part of the Western European Rift, which developed after the formation of the Alps around 35 million years ago. Fractures in the crust allowed magma to rise and create the striking volcanic chain west of Clermont-Ferrand.

The area was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. Its protected core covers more than 24,000 hectares within the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d’Auvergne.

For visitors, Puy de Dôme is the easiest introduction. From the summit you can see the volcanic cones running north to south, with the lower Limagne plain stretching eastwards.

This is more than a company museum: the exhibition shows how technology, travel, graphic design and Clermont-Ferrand’s development became intertwined through Michelin.

Michelin was founded in Clermont-Ferrand in 1889. Across roughly 2,000 square metres, the exhibition follows more than 130 years of invention, from the removable bicycle tyre and Bibendum to road maps, travel guides, railcars and the radial tyre.

Interactive screens, films, vehicles and historic objects make the visit accessible to children as well. One of the most unusual exhibits is the eleven-wheeled ‘Mille Pattes’ test vehicle used in development work.

A typical visit takes around ninety minutes to two hours. The museum is wheelchair-accessible and offers free assistance equipment and a multilingual mobile guide.

The museum is beside Stade Marcel-Michelin and is easily reached by tram from the centre. During busy periods, advance booking is recommended.

The Clermont-Ferrand visitor region brings city life and nature together within short distances, between volcanoes, lakes, spa towns, parks and historic villages.

West of the centre, Royat and Chamalières offer parks, Belle Époque architecture and a tradition of thermal bathing. From here, the road continues towards Puy de Dôme and the volcanoes of the Chaîne des Puys.

To the south-west, Lac d’Aydat is suited to swimming, paddling, walks and family activities. Further afield are villages, cheese farms and landscapes associated with Saint-Nectaire, Cantal and other flavours of Auvergne.

The area has more than 500 kilometres of waymarked walking routes and over 100 kilometres of mountain-bike trails, making Clermont-Ferrand a useful base for both short afternoon outings and several active holiday days.

A car offers the greatest freedom between lakes, smaller villages and trailheads. The tourist office has branches in Clermont-Ferrand, Royat–Chamalières and Aydat, providing maps, ClermontPass and current local information.