Statue of Vercingétorix

Clermont-Ferrand


Since 1903, ancient Gaul's 'warrior king' has assumed a fearsome stance atop a horse in the middle of place de Jaude. The statue was created by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who also designed the Statue of Liberty.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Clermont-Ferrand attractions

1. Place de Jaude

0.01 MILES

Just southwest of the old city, lined with bars and hotels, Clermont-Ferrand's monumental pedestrianised square is overlooked by a statue of heroic Celtic…

2. Cathédrale Notre Dame

0.24 MILES

Clermont-Ferrand’s skyline broods with volcanic stone, but its most impressive edifice is Cathédrale Notre-Dame, whose 108m twin spires pierce the sky…

3. Obelisk

0.3 MILES

This 19th-century obelisk was fashioned from dark volcanic stone from Volvic and festooned with carvings. The monument was raised in honour of Louis…

4. Musée Bargoin

0.31 MILES

Assembling a motley collection of ancient artefacts and modern design inside a stately 1903 building, the Bargoin is a good primer on Clermont old and new…

5. Fontaine d'Amboise

0.33 MILES

Two blocks north of the cathedral, this early-16th-century fountain has three tiers carved in a delicate Gothic style. It's the focal point of a pretty…

6. Musée d'Histoire Naturelle Henri-Lecoq

0.34 MILES

Clermont’s natural history museum is a pleasant enough rainy-day diversion. The first floor pays homage to the city’s most famous son, 17th-century…

7. Église St-Eutrope

0.37 MILES

Sprouting from the 5th-century site of one of Clermont-Ferrand's oldest churches is this magnificent 12th-century church, crowned with a prickly Gothic…

8. Basilique Notre Dame du Port

0.46 MILES

This architectural gem has all the key elements of a Romanesque church: semi-circular arches, a bulky silhouette and a broad headpiece. But its…