Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral (Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption)

A true symbol of the city, Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral took more than 700 years to complete. It was soon nicknamed the coalmen’s cathedral, thanks to its striking all-black appearance. Wrapped in deep black stone, the cathedral was built in the 13th century on the site of an earlier Romanesque cathedral that had stood here for centuries. It was built in the Northern Gothic style, inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The project was led by architect Jean Deschamps, at the request of Bishop Hugues de la Tour, who, in 1248, ordered the construction of a new cathedral following a Norman invasion. The entire building is made of Volvic stone, a volcanic rock that gives the cathedral its deep and unusual dark color. It’s the only major cathedral in France built entirely from this unique material. During the French Revolution, the cathedral suffered heavy damage and required extensive restoration work. It wasn’t until the late 19th century that the famous architect Viollet-le-Duc — known for restoring Notre-Dame in Paris and the medieval city of Carcassonne — added the neo-Gothic façade and twin spires that give the cathedral its current grandeur. Step inside and you’ll find one of the finest collections of medieval stained glass in France, as well as wall paintings dating from the 12th to the 15th century, and marble sarcophagi from the 4th and 5th centuries. Before turning left to continue your walk, take a few steps to the right. You’ll come across a small square — Place Edmond Lemaigre — where a message is inscribed in the stone: “Here stood the house of Pascal.” This was the exact location of the childhood home of mathematician Blaise Pascal, demolished in 1900 to open up space around the cathedral. A touching tribute — right beside one of the city’s most iconic monuments.