Clermont-Ferrand is a city in the southeast of France in the Auvergne region. Partially for historic reason, the city is often known simply as “Clermont”, however, it is was in fact born of the union of two separate cities, Clairmont and Montferrand. The city centre is concentrated around the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption cathedral and a large part is made up of old buildings and is accessible by narrow pedestrian streets. It is also here, where you will find the commercial centre of the city, most notably the Place de Jaude. It is also worth visiting the Lecoq gardens, the botanical gardens, the Bargoin museum of archaeology, the Henri Lecoq natural history museum and the European park of vulcanology, Vulcania. Among the city’s most famous personalities are Pope Urban II, the instigator off the First Crusade (1088-1099) prêcheur, the mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal, after whom the university is named, the scientist Louis Pasteur and André and Édourad Michelin, inventors of removable tyres.
Accommodation in Clermont-Ferrand student residences
The city’s student residences are operated by the CROUS organisation, which helps students with financial and logistical matters. It should be understood that these Colegios Mayores are designed primarily for students and not children or adults expecting a high level of luxury. However, with this in mind, the halls do meet a level of comfort that we expect most visitors to be happy with, and we will welcome any feedback where this is not the case.
Getting to Clermont-Ferrand
The Corail Téoz train link Clermont with Paris in around 3 hours, however, it will take around 6 to reach Bordeaux, 4 for Limoges and just over 2 hours to get to Lyon. The Clermont-Ferrand International Airport is located in the Aulnat community, to the east of the city. Until September 2011 it offers flights to Southampton, which is around 45 minute train journey from London. Plans are in place to introduce flights to and from Manchester, London and Dublin. Currently, the main public transport in the city is the extensive Tram network.