Tour of closed shop fronts in Clermont

Park on Avenue Vercingétorix (there are many parking spaces, free on Sundays, along the park) then head to the north-west corner of Jardin Lecoq, the Fontaine Desaix roundabout, at the intersection of Boulevards Lafayette and Léon Malfreyt with Avenue Vercingétorix and Rue de Ballainvillers.

(S/E) Head north on Rue de Ballainvillers, pass the Bargoin Museum and immediately turn right onto Rue Lecoq. You will immediately see a rhinoceros, the emblematic animal of the artist Rino (unfortunately recently covered in graffiti), on your left. At the intersection with Rue d'Enfer, make a short return trip straight ahead to see the round head (by the same artist) at the top of the rear wall of the museum.

Then take Rue d'Enfer, then Rue Breschet (^3rd on the left) and finally Rue Ballainvillers on the right to pass in front of the arcades, whose paintings were unfortunately removed in early 2019, of the former Halle aux Blés. Cross Rue Maréchal Joffre then turn right onto Rue Abbé Girard.

At the intersection with Rue Forosan, note the "three-faced yellow head" on the left (work by Erbra). Continue straight ahead, ignoring Rue Neuve des Carmes on the right. Next, notice a beautiful residence on the left and, opposite (at no. 5), the "yellow marsh in bright sunshine," a joint work by Beam & Waro, then a cat signed by D.N. (David Nicolas) just after on the left.

You will arrive at a small square at the intersection with Rue Grégoire de Tours, next to a beautiful wrought-iron gate on the left (at No. 2 Abbé Girard). Notice two small heads and large letters opposite. Continue straight on Rue Savaron and you will immediately see a roller skater on the right, a tribute to Roller Derby by Apogé.

A few metres further on, notice a metal tower on a yellow background on the left (curtain of the Rosa da Rua café by Waro). Continue to discover a portrait of two women by RepyOne and Apogé on the right. Shortly afterwards, pass in front of the bagpipe maker's shop front (by Iggy at no. 3), then in front of Expression Grafik, which stretches across several shop fronts (triptych by Hervé Mesc, Maie and Apogé). Arrive at Place du Terrail.

(1) Go straight ahead, passing to the right of the fountain and then to the left of the Greek god's head (curtain of the Rosa da Rua gallery by Apogé again), to enter Rue Blaise Pascal (no street sign at this location). Immediately notice, on the left, Le baiser et l'envol (by Squizzatti, at no. 1), and walk past the entrance to the Hôtel de Chazerat.

Turn right onto Rue de l'Oratoire. Opposite the kingfisher, turn left onto Rue du Bon Pasteur, then go up Rue Omer Talon on the left and note a door painted by Quetzilla on the left. Turn right back onto Rue Blaise Pascal.

Pass in front of a beautiful ornate door (at no. 19) then turn left onto Rue des Bohèmes. On the wall on the right, note the poetic stencils (by Lâm) then a Lasco, parietal works (by Lasco). Follow Rue de la Prison on the left, then Rue Halle de Boulogne on the right and arrive at Place Philippe Marcombes (painting on the front of Galerie du 2).

Turn left onto Rue Marcombes, then, facing the cathedral, turn left to go around the back and pass in front of Slobo's trompe l'oeil. You will arrive at Place de la Victoire and continue around the cathedral. On the cathedral forecourt, turn left down Rue des Gras.

Turn right at the first street, at Place des Gras and the "globe-trotter". Just after, you will find a "panda and a chameleon" (painted by Newi) on the wooden façade of the bar (Régates). Continue straight on Rue de la Coifferie to reach Place du Mazet.

(2) Turn left, walk past a sort of "cat" at the vegetarian restaurant (Bergamothé, artists: Beam and Erbra, since modified), then continue along Rue de la Boucherie. Note the "lobster" on the left at the oyster bar, then the "farm animals" at the butcher's and finally a "parrot". Arrive at Place Saint-Pierre, opposite the Marché Saint-Pierre (market halls). For a round trip, go around the market hall on the right and follow Rue Saint-Pierre to the Civette-Gaillard shop (pastel-coloured design by Ludylu). Return to the intersection of Rue de la Boucherie and turn right to pass immediately in front of the "crocodile with straw".

At the other end of the square, continue straight on Petite Rue Saint-Pierre, passing the beautiful courtyard of the Hôtel Fontfreyde on your right, until you reach Rue des Gras. Cross over and take Rue de l'Ancien Poids de Ville, slightly to the left.

Turn slightly left in front of the restaurant (Tonkinoise) as you cross Rue des Chaussetiers, then immediately turn right onto Rue des Petits Gras to pass in front of the Fontaine aux Lions fountain and continue to "la grenouille" (de Keymi, club le Frog). Retrace your steps and follow Rue des Chaussetiers to the right.

About twenty metres further on, turn right into the colourful Impasse des Chaussetiers for a quick detour. On your return, take Rue des Chaussetiers on the right until you reach the intersection with Rue de la Terrasse, shortly after passing a "owl" signed D.N. (David Nicolas again) on the left.

Turn right, pass in front of a purple shopfront with geometric patterns (work by Recolorz) and continue. At the next intersection, you will come to a glass container covered with "funny faces" (by Iggy). Turn left towards Place Royale, pass to the left of the fountain and turn into Rue Massillon.

(3) Turn right onto Rue de la Treille, pass Place de la Treille continuing straight ahead and, at number 10 on the street, note the "black panther" (by Apogé) on the right. You will arrive at Rue Saint-Esprit. A few steps to the left is a "glass in the middle of the vineyards" (by Kut'er), then retrace your steps and follow Rue Saint-Esprit westwards. Immediately on the left, you will find a "Lasco" at the beginning of Rue de l'Arcade.

Further along Rue Saint-Esprit, look up above the bookshop (BD) to see "L'amour infini que j'ai pour toi" (The infinite love I have for you). When you reach Rue Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, cross over and continue straight ahead to Boulevard Desaix. Cross and follow this boulevard to the left, then continue straight ahead at the Rue Georges Clemenceau crossroads until you reach the painted arcades (by Keymi) of the former Hôtel-Dieu.

Turn left onto Rue Lagarlaye, then continue straight ahead on Boulevard Léon Malfreyt until you reach the Rond-point de la Fontaine Desaix roundabout. Cross Avenue Vercingétorix to reach the entrance to Jardin Lecoq (S/E).

Public toilets are closed in Clermont on Sundays! Public transport is very limited on Sundays.

With the exception of "L'amour infini que j'ai pour toi" (The infinite love I have for you), the titles of the paintings I have put in quotation marks are personal and absolutely not official.

Street art is often temporary, and the paintings on this tour are likely to change over time.

Discover more walks in this area with a description or the Visorando app here and more generally in the Puy-de-Dôme here

Some photos here

Many thanks to Franck Ferrer ( Such'art association) who helped me complete this description. Such'art was originally a route (with a section in common with this hike) highlighting the artistic sites of the Clermont central plateau, but to which street art works have been added.
The name Such'art comes from Suc or Knoll, which means summit in old Auvergne. SUC (Sommet Urbain Clermontois) is also the name of the association.

In the historic centre, particularly around Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral, take note of some beautiful fountains on Place du Terrail, Place Royale, Rue des Petits Gras, and also at the intersection of Rue Georges Clemenceau and Boulevard Léon Malfreyt, and at Rond-Point Desaix.
Look up to discover the beautiful architecture of Clermont's historic centre, ranging from medieval to Art Deco styles.
At the end of your walk, stroll through the Jardin Lecoq to discover its fountains and beautiful trees.

The Halle aux Blés, which will become the new home of the FRAC in 2023.