Clermont-Ferrand

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We decided this beautiful, sunny morning, having no set agenda for the day, to head back to Puy-de-Dome region and visit Clermont-Ferrand. It was quite an interesting visit because we had no idea what to look for or even where to go. Heading to the "centre ville" is always a good idea but maybe not always a good idea in a big city with lots of traffic! We did okay, though. As we were entering the city, you come down a very long, steep hill and it was from this vantage point that we saw the entire city....the huge, black cathedral stuck out like a sore thumb! Found a place to park in a parkade just beside a main square. Lo and behold! It was a shopping mall that we parked under! Surprisingly enough we didn't do any shopping there LOL We did, however, go into the Galleries Lafayette store (it's THE big shopping store in Paris!) and they had signs out front that attract any seasoned shopper 😊 I bought a new watch at a very good price to replace the one that the battery died in - at least I think it's the battery. The watch is over 5 years old and I only paid $20 for it! Hopefully, the new one will last as long 😊 We stopped at a café on the plaza to have lunch and I had an amazing Salade Bleu d'Auvergne. It was loaded with delicious bleu cheese, lardons (bacon), lettuce, noix (walnuts) and oeufs durs (hard-boiled eggs). Very good as I LOVE bleu cheese 😊 As we were sitting in the shade under the umbrella we saw a church that we went to after our meal. It was a church, Saint Pierre, made of black lava rocks of the region. The inside was rather austere but had a beautiful gold altar. When we left St. Pierre we again caught a glimpse of the cathedral and walked toward it - up small, lovely shopping streets. Oh man, the cathedral is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen and I have seen many! It, too, is built of black lava rocks and the inside is absolutely stunning. It has many fabulous stained glass windows and all the grandeur you'd expect from a cathedral. After we left the cathedral we found the tourist office! Unfortunately, by that time, I was beginning to feel awful...achy and very, very tired. So, that cut our visit to C-F short. It was 3:30 when we left and we arrived back in Crocq around 4:45. I went straight to bed and slept for an hour and a half and when I got up, mom made a nice salad for dinner. Dinner is done, this blog is done and now I am heading back to bed and waiting for the ibuprophen to kick in!

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Photos

Notre-Dame de l'Assomption
A gothic church in all its splendor. Clermont-Ferrand cathedral

Notre-Dame de l'Assomption Cathedral
The main altar

Notre-Dame de l'Assomption
Stunning rose window

Notre-Dame de l'Assomption
Stained glass of the virgin