Clermont-Ferrand - Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption

The "Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption" stands on that place, where during the "Council of Clermont" in November 1095 Pope Urban II launched the first cruisade. The war-cry "Deus lo vult" was heard here for the first time.

The construction of the cathedral began as early as 1248 in the then new, gothic style. The black, vulcanic stones used from the beginning give the cathedral its dark colour. The choir, the transept and the start of the nave were finished about 50 years later, but it took upto the late 19th century, to finish the huge building, with its 96m high spires.