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Arrival, information and accommodation
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The
gare SNCF
is on avenue de l'Union SoviA©tique, from where it is a ten-minute bus journey to place de Jaude, at the western edge of the cathedral hill. The
gare routiA?re
(tel 04.73.35.05.62) is on boulevard FranA§ois-Mitterrand, with a city transport information kiosk called Boutique T2C on place de Jaude (tel 04.73.28.56.56). The city
airport
(tel 04.73.62.71.00,
www.clermont-fd.cci.fr
) is at Aulnat, 7km east, with daily flights to and from Paris and other internal destinations, as well as to London during the summer.
The main tourist office is opposite the cathedral in the place de la Victoire (June-Sept Mon-Sat 8.30am-7pm, Sun 9am-noon & 2-6pm; rest of year Mon-Fri 8.45am-6.30pm, Sat 9am-noon & 2-6pm, Sun 9am-1pm; tel 04.73.98.65.00, www.ot-clermont-ferrand.fr ), and there is another conveniently placed annexe immediately to the left outside the train station exit (June-Sept Mon-Sat 9.15-11.30am & 12.15-5pm; rest of year closed Sat; tel 04.73.91.87.89). The departmental office is on the place de la Bourse (tel 04.73.42.22.50), and the regional office at 44 av des Etats Unis (tel 04.73.29.49.49, www.crt-auvergne.fr ). Specific hiking or mountain-bike information is available from Chamina, 5 rue Pierre-le-VA©nA©rable (tel 04.73.92.81.44). You can access the Internet at Internet@CafA© at 34 rue Ballainvilliers (Mon & Sat 11am-11pm, Tues-Fri 8am-11pm; tel 04.73.92.42.80). Most of Clermont's hotels are concentrated just off the lively place de Jaude, close to the town's main shops, and around the rather characterless station area. There's not a tremendous choice, but they are generally good value, ranging from small, family-run affairs to larger, modern concerns catering mostly to visiting Michelin workers. For budget travellers, there's a basic HI hostel just across the street from the train station at 55 av de l'Union SoviA©tique (tel 04.73.92.26.39, fax 04.73.92.99.96; closed Nov-Feb), and a foyer , the Home Dome , at 12 place de Regensburg (tel 04.73.31.57.00, fax 04.73.31.59.99, perso.wanadoo.fr/home.dome ), in the southwest of town. For campers, there are municipal campsites at Royat ( L'OclA?de ), 4km to the southwest (tel 04.73.35.97.05, www.camping.royat.com ; closed Nov-March; bus #41), Ceyrat ( Le Chanset ), 5km to the south (tel 04.73.61.30.73; bus #4C & #41, stop "Preguille"), and Cournon ( Le PrA© des Laveuses ), 10km to the east, on the River Allier (tel 04.73.84.81.30; bus #3, stop "Plaine de jeux"). Hotels Albert Elisabeth , 37 av Albert-Elisabeth (tel 04.73.92.47.41, fax 04.73.90.78.32). Well-run family hotel, with pastel-decorated rooms; handy for the train station. 220-300F/a?¬34-46. Foch , 22 rue MarA©chal-Foch (tel 04.73.93.48.40, fax 04.73.35.47.41). Tucked away down a side street off place de Jaude, this is a good-value budget hotel, with bright, summery rooms. 160-220F/a?¬24-34. Lyon , 16 place de Jaude (tel 04.73.93.32.55, fax 04.73.93.54.33). Tastefully furnished thoughout, though the lively bar and brasserie below can get a little noisy at night ( plats around 55F/a?¬8.38). 300-400F/a?¬46-61. des Puys d'Arverne , 16 place Delille (tel 04.73.91.92.06, fax 04.73.91.60.25, hotel-arverne@lhdcv.com ). A good, modern, top-of-the-range hotel, offering spacious rooms, some with balconies. Its first-rate gourmet restaurant has splendid views of the town and Le Puy de DA?me (from 98F/a?¬14.94). 400-500F/a?¬61-76. Ravel , 8 rue de Maringues (tel 04.73.91.51.33, fax 04.73.92.28.48). Opposite the old MarchA© St-Joseph, this friendly and recently refurbished hotel, offers attractive rooms, with sunny, Mediterranean decor. Closed Jan. 220-300F/a?¬34-46.
Regina
, 14 rue Bonnabaud (tel 04.73.93.44.76, fax 04.73.35.04.63). Looks a little grubby from the outside, but inside, an elegant spiral staircase leads up to fresh, clean rooms. 220-300F/a?¬34-46. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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France,
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