Must-see churches and monuments

Churches, basilicas, abbeys and cloisters dot the towns and villages of the region, providing an outstanding example of Romanesque art in Auvergne. 5 buildings stand out for the unity and purity of their style: Notre-Dame-du-Port in Clermont-Ferrand (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela), Saint-Austremoine in Issoire, Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Cornador in Saint-Nectaire, Saint-Saturnin and Notre-Dame des Fers in Orcival.

And let's not forget Gothic art in the shape of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption cathedral, the symbol of Clermont-Ferrand.

Alongside these "majors", a host of other Romanesque and Gothic buildings dotted around the Puy-de-Dôme are well worth a visit.