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.

The first mention of Clermont is attributed to the Greek geographer Strabon, who referred to it as Nemossos. During the Roman period, the city developped under the name ofAugustonemetum, after the Emperor Augustus. In 848, the city officially adopts the name Clairmont. In 1095 Pope Urban II instigates the First Crusade. Throughout the Middle Ages Clermont and its present-day district of Montferrand were two separate cities, Clermont being the residence of the Bishop and Montferrand that of the Earl. Work on the new gothic cathedral begain in 1248 and continued way into the following century. In 1490, Clermont was greatly damaged by an earthquake. Twelve towers of the walls surrounding the city collapsed, as well as one of the towers of the Notre-Dame-du-Port basilica.

In 1551, Clermont became a royal city and later in 1610, prperty of the Crown. Blaise Pascal was born in Clermont in 1623 and lived there until 1655. In April 1630, the two parts of the city were officially unified. In 1832, Aristide Barbier and Édouard Daubrée founded the factory producing rubber balls and agricultural machinery. This factory was to be the beginning of the Michelin group. With the expansion of Michelin, the company built housing for its workers, which alleviated somewhat the problem of the city’s growing population. The construction of these homes also prompted the construction of clinics, schools, a church and shopping facilities. In June 1940, the French government, who had just signed the Second Armistice at Compiègne retreated to Clermont. For several days the capital of Auvergne was also the capital of the whole of France, at which point the honour fell to the nearby city of Vichy.