Clermont-Ferrand, capital of the Auvergne

Clermont-Ferrand has an exceptional setting-born of fire, water and air, in the land of the Auvergne volcanoes: a mere stone's throw away, eighty sleeping volcanoes are dominated by their landmark, the puy de Dôme (13 km from the inner city).

Midway between Northern and Southern Europe, 3.5 hours from Paris, the central location of Clermont-Ferrand is one of its major assets. A lively place where almost one in five inhabitants is a student.

Some figures:

- Altitude: 358 metres
- Number of inhabitants: 141,000 inhabitants and about 290,000 if we include the whole Clermont-Ferrand Community.

Place de Jaude and Vercingetorix statue

Place de Jaude, the city's most famous public square, has recently been pedestrianised.

Fountains splash and kids play in this recovered urban space, watched over at its northern end by the equestrian statue of Vercingétorix, the Celtic chief who so nearly foiled Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul. Vercingetorix sitting imperiously on a horse and holding a sword. The inscription reads: J'ai pris les armes pour la liberté de tous (I took up arms for the liberty of all). This statue was sculpted by Frédéric Bartholdi, who also created the Statue of Liberty.

Clermont-Ferrand was France's first city to get a tramway which was unfortunatly abandoned after World War II. Today, 'clermontois' have a brand new one linking the city's north and south neighborhoods.

Home of Michelin's headquarters

Bibendum, the roly-poly Michelin tire-man, started life in Clermont-Ferrand, centre of France's rubber industry and power base of the Michelin tyre empire. As did the first Michelin guidebook, published in 1898 to promote motor-car tourism - and thus the use of its pneumatic tyres.

Get set for L'Aventure Michelin

L'Aventure Michelin is a new museum dedicated to the history of the Michelin tyre-company. It spreads over two levels of a former industrial space of 2,000m²,   on the Cataroux site. The exhibitions are based on different scenes of the past, present and future of the Michelin company. Entertaining and informative, the many interactive modules can be used by visitors to build their own personal experience. No matter how you get home, your understanding of mobility will have changed for ever!
http://www.aventure-michelin.com/