Clermont-Ferrand |
| Wednesday, 04 March 2009 00:00 |
 In the heart of France at almost exactly the geographical middle of the country is where Clermont-Ferrand, the capital city of historical Auvergne, is located. The name of the region is derived from the Arverni , a Gallic tribe, which had settled here at the time of the Roman conquest. Fans of Asterix will think of the battles of Alesia and Gergovia that were so important for the Gauls and where they were defeated. The city of Clermont is even mentioned by the Romans as the capital city of the Arverni. After its heyday during the Middle Ages as an important trading town and bishop’s seat, the city grew and was united with the neighboring city of Montferrand in the middle of the seventeenth century. It then became Clermont-Ferrand. The landscape around Clermont-Ferrand is famous for its beauty and is a popular tourist destination. Almost everyone that has ever looked closely at a Volvic water bottle will know that the picture on the label is of the extinct volcano Puy de Dome that is located near Clermont-Ferrand. The area has volcanic origins and has many healthy springs and so you can combine rest and relaxation with the many attractions that are worth seeing. Clermont-Ferrand has a lot to offer of its own because of its long history and one of the main sights is the magnificent cathedral from the tenth century. The building is not only very beautiful to look at because the material used to build it is the black – gray lava stone found in the area, but also because it made church history. In a sermon held here in the eleventh century b Pope Urban II, the faithful were called out for the first crusade and the consequences of that action are well known. You can take your time and spend some of it in the cathedral and admire the impressive stone work and the sacred Black Madonna. However, you shouldn’t miss seeing the second magnificent sacred building of the city, the Notre-Dame-du-Port, a church dating back to the twelfth century which is only a few minutes walk from the cathedral. The short way to walk makes for a nice stroll through the picturesque, winding streets with houses from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, all of which were built from black lava stones. A gathering place for many residents of Clermont-Ferrand is the Pace de Jaude. It is very ample and pretty to look at with its Renaissance fountain, the Fontaine d'Amboise. Those that know about Asterix and history lovers will also enjoy the monument of the Gallic hero Vercingetorix. Perhaps you will be infected and want to learn a little bit more about the old Arverni and voilá: The Musée du Ranquet is the museum for Arverni folklore and it documents the rich traditions of the region, while the Musée Bargoin houses many archaeological exhibits from the Gallo-Roman era houses and also finds from the Battle of Gergovia. After such a tour of the city you should not neglect your well-being and so you should take some time out for a proper Arvernian meal, where the normal lunch has at least five courses. A lot of sausages and ham is offered here and the region is also known for its dairy products and especially the cheeses that make the gourmet’s heart beat faster. As dessert the famous Clafoutis is absolutely to be recommended which is a baked cherry pudding with a splash of cherry brandy. That is something very tasty. After a meal like that maybe you should take a trip to the countryside. A rental car can make that possible and you can go on a jaunt to the mystical Puy de Dome, the oldest and highest volcanic cone in the area. The advertising icon for the Volvic bottled drinks guarantees a recovery, freshness and a wonderful view of the surrounding |
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