Clermont

Clermont (in the middle ages, Clarus Mons, or Clarimontium) is the name of several towns in France. The most important are: (1) CLERMONT, in the department of Oise, 41 miles N. of Paris by rail, with a large hospital and a prison for women. Population, 5617.—(2) CLERMONT-FERRAND, the capital of the department of Puy-de-Dôme (the Augustonemtum of the Romans, in the country of the Arverni), which is finely situated on a gentle elevation between the rivers Bedat and Allier, 135 miles S. of Paris by rail. Among the principal buildings are the old Gothic cathedral, built of dark lava from a neighbouring range of extinct volcanoes; the fine church of Notre Dame, where Peter the Hermit preached the first Crusade; the handsome Palais des Facultés; and the government buildings, formerly a convent (1250). The town is the seat of a medical and a theological college, technical schools, and several scientific bodies, and has a public library with 40,000 volumes. The streets, with the exception of a number of fine squares, are narrow, tortuous, and steep. The chief manufactures are candied fruits, wax matches, chemicals, linen, rope, lace, and machines, and there is an extensive traffic in the produce of the district, and in the transit trade between Paris and the south of France. There are several mineral springs in the town, of which the iron spring of St Alyre (65° F.) has formed by deposits in the course of ages two natural bridges. The bishopric of Clermont was founded in 253; and seven ecclesiastical councils were held here during the middle ages, the most remarkable of which was that in 1095, at which the first Crusade was instituted by Urban II. A statue has been erected to Pascal, who, as well as Gregory of Tours, was a native of Clermont. Pop. (1872) 32,963; (1891) 45,083.—(3) CLERMONT L'HÉRAULT, 33 miles W. of Montpellier by rail, with manufactures of leather and of cloth for the army. Pop. 4929.