CLERMONT FERRAND FAQ`S
Surrounded by dormant volcanoes and with buildings made from black lava stones, Clermont-Ferrand is the capital of the Auvergne region. It is one of the oldest cities in France, being around since the days of Roman Gaul in the 2nd century AD. The city was originally two towns, Clairmont and Montferrand, which were joined by Louis XIII.
Although the city is not really a tourist town it is none-the-less an attractive city and it has some interesting highlights and one of the most active music scenes in France and is a good base for exploring the Auvergne. It is famous for its rich history, culture and popular volcanoes, and all three are prominent in the city.
The city is situated in the heart of France on the main highways to Northern and Southern European countries, and is a natural gateway to the vast Massif Central area.
If you are traveling by car from Paris, take the A71 motorway, 4-hour drive. The free A75 motorway links Clermont-Ferrand to Montpellier in hours. Take the A72 motorway to get to Lyon in 2 hours or the A89 to Bordeaux in 3 hours 45 minutes.
Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne airport offers daily flights to several French and European destinations. It is located only 5 miles from the center of town.
Traveling by train: The best way to travel around France is by train, and Clermont-Ferrand's train station is located just on the easter edge of centre ville on l'Avenue de l'Union Sovietique. The SNCF provides daily connections from Paris, including one non-stop train in just 3 hours. Connections for Beziers, Lyon, Nîmes, Toulouse.
Clermont-Ferrand also has a bus station. The Gare Routiere is located at in the parking lot across from the Casino supermarket where Boulevard François Mitterrand splits into Boulevard Pasteur and Boulevard Charles de Gaulle, two main blocks south of Place de Jaude. Since France doesn't have a national bus line, all routes arriving and departing from the bus terminal are international. The company Eurolines departs and arrives from here.
Clermont-Ferrand has an intra-urban tramway that offers access to key points in the city. Also, you can get around by car, sooter, or moped.
The tram, known as the A, starts north in Champratel and travels south through entreville, Les Cezeaux camus before ending at La Pardieu Gare. A one-way ticket costs about €1.40 and is good for an hour. You can also buy 10 tickets for around €11.40. Tickets are good on the tram or any of the bus lines, and do not expire.
The bus network connects the downtown to the outlying suburbs. The station stops are frequen and the map is fairly straightforward. The buses are limited on weekends.
Clermont-Ferrand is a very walkable city. Any destination is within about a 30-minute walk. Walking around the old town area is a perfect way to explore the little shops, good restaurants, and little parks.
The weather is especially nice from May to September with average highs of 70-80 degrees F. It is the wettest time of the year though with sometimes heavy downpours, combined with thunder after hotter than average days. Winters are drier but temperatures are just around 45-50 degrees F during the day and slightly above zero at night. Snow is possible though not very common.
Come in November and December for the atmospheric Christmas Market.
French is the official language spoken in in this part of France. You will find that some of the younger population is bilingual in French and English. It's best to learn a few phrases and pick up a good English-French guidebook or app on your phone to help you get around. And familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the currency in France? Can I pay/tip in US dollars?In France, the currency is the euro, and travelers can exchange their dollars for euros at the airport exchange booths or kiosks throughout the region. Since the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates, be sure to check what the current exchange rate is before you go. When it comes to tipping, visitors should note that service charges are usually included on restaurant bills, though it is common to round out the bill with a small tip. Tipping hotel staff a euro or two for their services is also customary.
What should I do if I need medical assistance?In an emergency dial 112 is the general emergency services number or 114 for hearing assistance.