The best road cycling routes around Blanzat

Under construction at the moment so part is in big Gravel (my thin tires will resent me for a while..) Some sections are on the road at 90km/h with a central strip of earth, a bit dangerous, but it's my first outing as a beginner so it might be common on an "easy" route.

A visit to the cathedral should be included in every city tour.

Located directly on the street.

Opening hours: Sunday Closed Monday 08:00 – 17:30 Tuesday 08:00 – 17:30 Wednesday 08:00 – 17:30 Thursday 08:00 – 17:30 Friday 08:00 – 17:30 Saturday Closed

The lava stone crucifixes are very finely chiseled

The water city, spring just around the corner

The Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral of Clermont is a Gothic cathedral located in Clermont-Ferrand. It was built from 1248 in the center of the city of Clermont, the historic capital of Auvergne. It replaced a Romanesque cathedral located on the same location which itself had been preceded by two other Christian sanctuaries. Its initial patronage is that of Saint-Vital and Saint-Agricol. Most of the current construction dates from the second half of the 13th century, it is the first example of the use of Volvic stone in architecture. The western facade and other renovations were carried out by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc during the second half of the 19th century. The construction of the current Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption cathedral began in 1248, under the leadership of the architect Jean Deschamps and the episcopate of Hughes de La Tour. It stands on the site of previous churches as evidenced by the crypt. It took 7 centuries to complete, with long construction interruptions. It was Viollet-le-Duc, in the 19th century, who built the 3 bays, the portal and the west spiers. It is characterized by the use of lava stone, of which this is the first large-scale use. Overall, the cathedral is inspired by the radiant Gothic style of Ile de France. It is the setting for a unique set of stained glass windows, including Romanesque lancets, and wall paintings.

Located in a neoclassical building inaugurated in 1903 in the heart of the city of Clermont-Ferrand, the Bargoin museum offers particularly rich and original collections. It houses two departments: one devoted to archeology and the other to textiles. The archeology department offers rich and varied gateways to the Arvernian territory by expanding the simple chronology to the discovery of forms, materials, lifestyles and know-how. The collections mainly come from excavations carried out in Clermont-Ferrand and in the Clermont basin. The textile arts department offers a wide panorama of non-European textiles ranging from the 18th to the 21st century. Beyond exceptional textiles (shapes, materials, meanings), it is especially men who are highlighted. Those who weave, dye, sew, create, live and transmit. Exceptionally, the textile department is not accessible due to the new temporary exhibition: from July 7, 2023 to May 19, 2024, the museum will offer the exhibition “The time of the Méridienne, 5,000 years of History under the highway A75", which will present the exceptional archaeological discoveries made during work to widen the A75 motorway from 2018 to 2020. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday (including public holidays) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Mondays and 01/01, 01/05, 01/11 and 25/12).