Medieval district of Montferrand

Located northeast of Clermont-Ferrand, in the Puy-de-Dôme département, Montferrand’s historic center is one of the richest and best-preserved medieval and Renaissance urban ensembles in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Founded ex nihilo around 1120 by Count Guillaume VI of Auvergne to compete with the episcopal city of Clermont, Montferrand was an(…)

Located northeast of Clermont-Ferrand, in the Puy-de-Dôme département, Montferrand’s historic center is one of the richest and best-preserved medieval and Renaissance urban ensembles in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

Founded ex nihilo around 1120 by Count Guillaume VI of Auvergne to compete with the episcopal city of Clermont, Montferrand was an autonomous free town, and in the 12th century was granted the oldest charter of franchises in the region. It became a royal city in 1292 under Philippe le Bel, and was home to important administrative and judicial institutions (Bailliage royal, Cour des Aides) before its definitive union with Clermont in 1731.

A rare urban feature for its time, the district is laid out according to an orthogonal Hippodamian (checkerboard) plan, inherited from its Count’s creation. The two main axes meet at the Carrefour des Taules, the historic heart of the town.

The built heritage is characterized by the extensive use of lava stone (andesite). The protected area is home to numerous 15th and 16th-century townhouses with loggias, mullioned windows and spiral staircases hidden in inner courtyards, such as the Maison de l’Apothicaire and the Hôtel d’Albiat.

The circular Place Marcel Sembat is one of the town’s most remarkable buildings, forming the former footprint of the château des Comtes d’Auvergne. The church of Notre-Dame de la Prospérité, a jewel of Southern Gothic, is renowned for its sculpted details and acoustic quality. Remains of the fortifications (Porte Bise, Tour d’entrée de l’eau) bear witness to the old defensive walls.

The district is also home to the MARQ (Musée d’Art Roger-Quilliot), housed in a former Ursuline convent, and is in the immediate vicinity of the Aventure Michelin site.

A pedestrian heritage trail lined with information terminals allows visitors to discover local history on their own (average duration : 1h30). A traditional market is held every Friday morning on the Place de la Roddade.