At the end of the Giat weekend my mum and Em were both going back on the train but sadly their flight times from Paris didn't match up so my mum had to get an earlier train. There was no point in going back to the chateau in between and so Em and I decided to explore Clermont by foot. This was long overdue for both of us and we had a great day together discovering this pretty city centre. We had planned to take photos of the brand new central square that has taken the last 2 years to completely redevelop. Sadly the weather wasn't great when we were there so we didn't bother, but it is a really succesful redevelopment and the square is a huge expansive space with beautiful fountains and places to sit out and watch the world go by. We were walking up the square and we noticed lots of little streets going up a hill. So we went and explored. We had happened across the old quarter that we never knew was there. It is a totally pedestrianised area full of lots of interconnecting cobbled streets. By this time the weather had improved too and so out came the camera!!
The most beautiful aspect of these streets is that nearly all of them line up with the Puy de Dome so that when you look back you always have a view of this incredible volcano in the distance.
The streets have lots of hidden courtyards with Antique shops in them.
There are classic French bars to be relax at.
And there are modern funky ones too
LeSiSiSi is our new favourite hangout, we just need a bit of time to hang out there now!
There are little cafes or tea shops hidden away in every possible space.
An antique shop with a very strange dog that is actually half sitting down on his hind legs but standing on his front legs.
There were quite a few "modern" antique shops too i.e. selling funky stuff from the late 20th century.
As you walked up the streets you felt as though you were being led somewhere....
And then it appears. At the very highest point in Clermont the Cathedral sits totally surrounded on one side by the little streets so it really takes you by surprise.
Because it is so close to the little streets its impact as impressive. It towers above everything around it, however it makes it very difficult to get a good photo of it!
Then, you get round the other side and there is a big open square
With yet more cafes of course!
This is an odd photo - it is the back of the Town hall that presumably at one time was a very boring brick wall until someone decided to paint a picture of an old building on it.
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