Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God

Notre Dame Cathedral proudly rises in the historic center of Clermont-Ferrand. This is the central temple of the city and one of the main attractions. The predecessors of the grandiose Gothic cathedral were three earlier Christian churches, the oldest of which dates back to the fifth century. The building, which appears to the eyes of citizens and numerous tourists in our days, was built in the XII century.

In 1248, Bishop Hugo de la Tours initiated the construction of a new cathedral. Thus, he sought to emphasize the episcopal power over the city, as well as surpass in beauty one of the most beautiful churches in the city. As a result, both of these plans were implemented - the construction turned out not only grandiose, but also very interesting from the point of view of architecture. Unique Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady makes its building material - the so-called "Volvik" stone. This dark mineral is of volcanic origin and is a unique material. Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral is the only major building whose walls are made of this stone.

The interior of the cathedral dates back to the middle of the XIX century, when new furniture, church utensils and organ appeared. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with an interesting collection of paintings of the XII-XV centuries, and stained glass windows of the XIII century are among the most beautiful stained glass windows in France. In the chapels you can see preserved fragments of Gothic frescoes.