Notre Dame de l'Assomption Cathedral

The majestic gothic cathedral soars skywards. It crowns the hill in Clermont’s historical centre.

Work began on current-day Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral in 1248, under the supervision of architect Jean Deschamps and of the episcopacy of Hughes de la Tour.

It stands upon the site of former churches, as can be seen from the crypt. It took seven centuries to complete, including lengthy stoppages in the work. The three spans, the portal and the western spires were built by Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century.

The cathedral stands out through the use of Volvic volcanic stone, of which this work represented the first-ever wide-scale use.

This anthracite-coloured masterpiece highlights a unique set of stained glass windows and mural paintings.