Musée d'Histoire Naturelle Henri-Lecoq

Clermont-Ferrand


Clermont’s natural history museum is a pleasant enough rainy-day diversion. The first floor pays homage to the city’s most famous son, 17th-century polymath Blaise Pascal (with most displays in French only). Up on the second floor you’ll find mildly diverting displays of the Auvergne’s minerals, fauna and flora, including taxidermy that’s sure to be a hit with the kids (look for the humongous California seal).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Clermont-Ferrand attractions

1. Musée Bargoin

0.05 MILES

Assembling a motley collection of ancient artefacts and modern design inside a stately 1903 building, the Bargoin is a good primer on Clermont old and new…

2. Obelisk

0.08 MILES

This 19th-century obelisk was fashioned from dark volcanic stone from Volvic and festooned with carvings. The monument was raised in honour of Louis…

3. Cathédrale Notre Dame

0.34 MILES

Clermont-Ferrand’s skyline broods with volcanic stone, but its most impressive edifice is Cathédrale Notre-Dame, whose 108m twin spires pierce the sky…

4. Statue of Vercingétorix

0.34 MILES

Since 1903, ancient Gaul's 'warrior king' has assumed a fearsome stance atop a horse in the middle of place de Jaude. The statue was created by Frédéric…

5. Place de Jaude

0.35 MILES

Just southwest of the old city, lined with bars and hotels, Clermont-Ferrand's monumental pedestrianised square is overlooked by a statue of heroic Celtic…

6. Fontaine d'Amboise

0.45 MILES

Two blocks north of the cathedral, this early-16th-century fountain has three tiers carved in a delicate Gothic style. It's the focal point of a pretty…

7. Basilique Notre Dame du Port

0.45 MILES

This architectural gem has all the key elements of a Romanesque church: semi-circular arches, a bulky silhouette and a broad headpiece. But its…

8. Notre Dame du Port Belvédère

0.45 MILES

Follow signs from rue Robertus to a staircase leading to head-on views of the extraordinarily detailed stonework on the Notre Dame du Port church.

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