Clermont-Ferrand is a city in central France, the capital of the Auvergne region. Population 140,000.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Clermont-Ferrand is famous for the chain of extinct volcanoes that ring the city, including the highest, Puy-de-Dôme, some 13 km away from the city centre. One of the oldest cities of France, its first mention was by the Greek geographer Strabo, who called it Nemessos, a Gaulish word for a sacred forest. The settlement witnessed the famous Battle of Gergovia, in which the Gauls led by Vercingetorix triumphed temporarily over the Romans led ultimately by Julius Caesar. After the Roman conquest, the city was renamed Augustonemetum, a name which combined its original Gallic name with that of the Emperor Augustus.
A one-way ticket costs €1.60 and is good for an hour. You can also buy 10 tickets for €15.00. Tickets are good on the tram or any of the bus lines, and do not expire. Clermont has an intra-urban tramway providing access to key points in the city. Also you can get around by car, scooter, motorcycle or moped. This tram, known as the A, starts north in Champratel and travels south through centreville, Les Cezeaux campus before ending at La Pardieu Gare. Clermont-Ferrand also has an extensive bus network connecting the downtown to the outlying suburbs. The stations and stops are frequent and the map is not confusing.
1 Place de Jaude. The city centre, housing many cafés, stores, restaurants, and a shopping mall. People gather here to watch important sporting matches which are shown on giant screens, as well as to celebrate festivals. Its centerpiece is the large bronze statue of Vercingetorix, the Gallic leader, and Julius Caesar's opponent, during the Gallic Wars, 2,000 years ago. He led a stunning victory at Gergovie (6 km south of town, the ruins and archaeological digs atop the battle field plateau are also worth a visit) which was Caesar's lone defeat during this campaign.
Take a walk in the old streets around the cathedral in the old town area. You will find a lot of cute stores (antiques, clothes) good restaurants, and little parks to sit down and rest. Have a picnic or take a nap in Jardin Lecoq. The immense park in the center of town is open year round. A cafe and a merry-go-round are at its center, with paths, hills, trees, and flower gardens all around. Eat a baguette, kick a football, or catch some rays while enjoying this urban oasis. Hike le Puy-De-Dome Hike "Les Cotes" and enjoy the beautiful view of the city.
All these are in the city centre: 1 Brasserie Le Derrière, 12 Pl. de la Victoire. (updated Feb 2023) 2 Le Bistro de la Mairie, 11 Rue Philippe Marcombes. (updated Feb 2023) 3 Brasserie La Régence, 74 Rue Lamartine. (updated Feb 2023) 4 Crêperie Le Menhir, 2 Rue de la Treille. (updated Feb 2023) 5 Zorzi, 38 Bis Rue Bonnabaud. French cuisine (updated Oct 2022) 6 La Grange Africaine, 4 Pl. Marché aux Poissons. (updated Feb 2023) 7 L'Etoile de Fès, 10 Rue Sainte-Rose. Moroccan (updated Feb 2023) 8 Le Kitchen, 29 Rue des Chaussetiers. (updated Feb 2023) 9 Restaurant Divin, 37 Rue Gonod. (updated Feb 2023) 10 La Gourmandine, 8 Rue des Minimes.
Le Café Pascal. This café next to the cathedral has an international feel. It is lively at night. L'Appart, 6, place Sugny. This bar has an apartment theme and guests can choose to sit in the bedroom, living room, or bathroom. The Still Irish Pub, 7, Bd Leon Malfreyt. International students, particularly anglophones, like to congregate here. Les Frères Berthoms. This bar is next to the court hall, this is the best place to enjoy good beer on a sunny terrace! Le Rimbaud (bar, restaurant, snack, ice cream), Place Louis Aragon (near the Jaude commercial center), ☏ +33 4 73 34 21 39. Concerts. Happy hours. Beers, cider and other specialities from Brittany. Envie. Lunch Only.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
Cheapest destinations travellers searched recently — refreshed daily.
Flight prices are real fares travellers found in the last 48 hours, refreshed daily — the booking site confirms the final price. Train, bus and ferry fares are shown on the operators' booking sites. Weather data by Open-Meteo; exchange rates: ECB reference. Data updated 2026-08-22. Some links earn Stayonomy a commission at no cost to you.
stayonomy