Last week I received the tentative 2002-03 performance itinerary of the opera singer
who provides my main incentive for travel to Europe. One of the proposed performances
is an opera ("drama lyrique") in April, 2003 in the subject locale. Until I looked it
up on the internet, I wasn't even sure whether this was the name of a place. (The
itinerary I received from the singer's secretary is a VERY "rough draft", and often
omits punctuation marks.) Its web page mentions it as the capital of the Auvergne.
The only bit of France I've seen so far is Paris (some of it), I've at least HEARD of
Marseilles and Nice and Cannes, but beyond that, I've no idea of the relative size of
French cities, or what to expect, if I arrange to go there. There seem to be a number
of summer festivals at Clermont-Ferrand (although the music ones seem to be for jazz
and rock, not opera - and anyway, he's scheduled for April, not June-July).

I can see there's a university there - is there also an opera season? (The web-page I
found doesn't show one.) Since the opera listed for performance is a rather obscure
one, it would be just my luck if it turned out to be something being done for the
university, rather than the general public, but that I'll have to find out from other
sources. However, I've seen posts about the Auvergne, here, so I figure some of you
folks have been to Clermont-Ferrand, and can tell me something about the city,
available hotels, and how to get there. (NOT driving - I'm very timid about driving
in strange cities and/or long-distance even here at home - I'm definitely not brave
enought to attempt it in another country.)

Next April is a long way off, and the singer's intinerary lists this item as "ÃÂ
vérifier" so he may not actually sing there at all, but I like to plan my travel well
in advance. Thanks for your input.

Hi

Clermont Ferrand is an old town, but now economically based on industry.
The main industry is michelin tyres.

It is on a plateau in the middle of massif central.

It is surrounded by magnificent countryside.

A newish airport is the hub for many internal flights.

You can read more about it here (in english !)--

http://www.ville-clermont-ferrand.fr/uk/menuuk.htm

If you could drive there, it is beautiful. There is also a new, quiet highway, the A75 crossing the mountains to the Med at Montpellier. The A75 is toll free !

Peter

"Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
news:[email protected]...
    > Last week I received the tentative 2002-03 performance itinerary of the opera
    > singer who provides my main incentive for travel to Europe. One of the proposed
    > performances is an opera ("drama lyrique") in April, 2003 in the subject locale.
    > Until I looked it up on the internet, I wasn't even sure whether this was the name
    > of a place. (The itinerary I received from the singer's secretary is a VERY "rough
    > draft", and often omits punctuation marks.) Its web page mentions it as the capital
    > of the Auvergne. The only bit of France I've seen so far is Paris (some of it),
    > I've at least HEARD of Marseilles and Nice and Cannes, but beyond that, I've no
    > idea of the relative size of French cities, or what to expect, if I arrange to go
    > there. There seem to be a number of summer festivals at Clermont-Ferrand (although
    > the music ones seem to be for jazz and rock, not opera - and anyway, he's scheduled
    > for April, not June-July).
    >
I've stayed there overnight. Clermont-Ferrand is a medium sized city just below the
mountain area Central-massive. Plenty of good hotels and you can reach it convenient
by train from Paris or maybe Lyon. Just have a look at
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
L.P

Lennart Petersen wrote:
    >
    > "Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" <[email protected]> skrev i meddelandet
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Last week I received the tentative 2002-03 performance itinerary of the opera
    > > singer who provides my main incentive for travel to Europe. One of the proposed
    > > performances is an opera ("drama lyrique") in April, 2003 in the subject locale.
    > > Until I looked it up on the internet, I wasn't even sure whether this was the
    > > name of a place. (The itinerary I received from the singer's secretary is a VERY
    > > "rough draft", and often omits punctuation marks.) Its web page mentions it as
    > > the capital of the Auvergne. The only bit of France I've seen so far is Paris
    > > (some of it), I've at least HEARD of Marseilles and Nice and Cannes, but beyond
    > > that, I've no idea of the relative size of French cities, or what to expect, if I
    > > arrange to go there. There seem to be a number of summer festivals at
    > > Clermont-Ferrand (although the music ones seem to be for jazz and rock, not opera
    > > - and anyway, he's scheduled for April, not June-July).
    > >
    > I've stayed there overnight. Clermont-Ferrand is a medium sized city just below the
    > mountain area Central-massive. Plenty of good hotels and you can reach it
    > convenient by train from Paris or maybe Lyon. Just have a look at
    > http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en
    > L.P

Michelin Tires headquarters.....

Two of the best hotels are very near the Maison de la Culture. Being away from
Paris, even the best hotels are relatively inexpensive, under US$80 for a single.
While Michelin doesn't rate it so highly, the Holiday Inn Garden Court is about
$80 per room. Places I would stay are in the US$ 40 to 50 range according to the
2002 Michelin.

137,000 in habitants and about 258,500 in the "metropolitan area." It's an industrial
city, but has a pleasant enough center and an old city of some interest. We stopped
there one for a night. Not a great tourist destination, but we did spend some time
walking around the old city and seeing the sights. There are no super elegant hotels
in town and the most expensive room listed in Michelin is about 100 euros.

There's an airpot in (well near) Clermont-Ferrand. My understanding is that if you
fly to Paris on Air France, you can continue on to another city in France for abvout
ten dollars. Check that out to see if it's still applicable.

--
Food/Wine/Travel web sites http://www.worldtable.com
http://forums.egullet.com/ikonboard....ff;act=SF;f=10

mpprh wrote:

    > Hi
    >
    > Clermont Ferrand is an old town, but now economically based on industry. The main
    > industry is michelin tyres.
    >
    > It is on a plateau in the middle of massif central.
    >
    > It is surrounded by magnificent countryside.

SSSHHHHH!!!

    > A newish airport is the hub for many internal flights.
    >
    > You can read more about it here (in english !)--
    >
    > http://www.ville-clermont-ferrand.fr/uk/menuuk.htm
    >
    > If you could drive there, it is beautiful. There is also a new, quiet highway, the
    > A75 crossing the mountains to the Med at Montpellier. The A75 is toll free !

Oh, for goodness sakes, SSSHHHH!

Tom

    >
    >
    > Peter
    >
    > --
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

On Sun, 12 May 2002 00:55:43 -0500, "Iain T. Johnstone"
<[email protected]> wrote:
    >> Clermont Ferrand is an old town, but now economically based on industry. The main
    >> industry is michelin tyres.
    >>
    >> It is on a plateau in the middle of massif central.
    >>
    >> It is surrounded by magnificent countryside.
    >
    >SSSHHHHH!!!
    >
    >> The A75 is toll free !
    >
    >Oh, for goodness sakes, SSSHHHH!
    >
Why??? During summer holidays the massif central is already crowded by Dutch...

Peter Koster Het Hurktoilet, reisgids voor Frankrijk http://www.hurktoilet.nl

bux <[email protected]> wrote in <[email protected]>:

    >137,000 in habitants and about 258,500 in the "metropolitan area." It's an
    >industrial city, but has a pleasant enough center and an old city of some interest.

For a cinematic view look at My Night at Maude's (Ma nuit chez Maud) by Eric Rohmer
(1969) it is set in and around Clermont Ferrand which is also notable for being the
home of Blaise Pascal.

Hachette Guide: Clermont has a very staid appearance, but it is by no means dreary.
It came late to industrialization. But it is now, and has always been, the hub of the
region, where the Auvernat people living in the mountains meet those from the plain,
and where health-resort visitors come on excursions. For this is a town full of
bustle with a defenite flavour of the Midi Region.

The Auvergne is beautiful, the centre of France. Mountains and volcanos (not active I
believe!), with steep forested hills that made me think of interior British Columbia!
So plenty of other things to see in the region.

Check out www.viamichelin.com for more info.

"Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Last week I received the tentative 2002-03 performance itinerary of the opera
    > singer who provides my main incentive for travel to Europe. One of the proposed
    > performances is an opera ("drama lyrique") in April, 2003 in the subject locale.
    > Until I looked it up on the internet, I wasn't even sure whether this was the name
    > of a place. (The itinerary I received from the singer's secretary is a VERY "rough
    > draft", and often omits punctuation marks.) Its web page mentions it as the capital
    > of the Auvergne. The only bit of France I've seen so far is Paris (some of it),
    > I've at least HEARD of Marseilles and Nice and Cannes, but beyond that, I've no
    > idea of the relative size of French cities, or what to expect, if I arrange to go
    > there. There seem to be a number of summer festivals at Clermont-Ferrand (although
    > the music ones seem to be for jazz and rock, not opera - and anyway, he's scheduled
    > for April, not June-July).
    >
    > I can see there's a university there - is there also an opera season? (The web-page
    > I found doesn't show one.) Since the opera listed for performance is a rather
    > obscure one, it would be just my luck if it turned out to be something being done
    > for the university, rather than the general public, but that I'll have to find out
    > from other sources. However, I've seen posts about the Auvergne, here, so I figure
    > some of you folks have been to Clermont-Ferrand, and can tell me something about
    > the city, available hotels, and how to get there. (NOT driving - I'm very timid
    > about driving in strange cities and/or long-distance even here at home - I'm
    > definitely not brave enought to attempt it in another country.)
    >
    > Next April is a long way off, and the singer's intinerary lists this item as "ÃÂ
    > vérifier" so he may not actually sing there at all, but I like to plan my travel
    > well in advance. Thanks for your input.

The website http://www.crt-auvergne.fr/uk.htm is the regional tourism authority for
the Auvergne, is in Clermont-Ferrand. They have info on activities, including the
Arts in the region.

The city Office de Tourisme et des Congrès can be faxed at: 33 4 73 90 04
11 (04 73... inside France). You can find more info at www.pagesjaunes.fr. Type
"offices de tourisme, syndicats d'initiative" for Activité and
Clermont-Ferrand in Localité.

"Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Last week I received the tentative 2002-03 performance itinerary of the opera
    > singer who provides my main incentive for travel to Europe. One of the proposed
    > performances is an opera ("drama lyrique") in April, 2003 in the subject locale.
    > Until I looked it up on the internet, I wasn't even sure whether this was the name
    > of a place. (The itinerary I received from the singer's secretary is a VERY "rough
    > draft", and often omits punctuation marks.) Its web page mentions it as the capital
    > of the Auvergne. The only bit of France I've seen so far is Paris (some of it),
    > I've at least HEARD of Marseilles and Nice and Cannes, but beyond that, I've no
    > idea of the relative size of French cities, or what to expect, if I arrange to go
    > there. There seem to be a number of summer festivals at Clermont-Ferrand (although
    > the music ones seem to be for jazz and rock, not opera - and anyway, he's scheduled
    > for April, not June-July).
    >
    > I can see there's a university there - is there also an opera season? (The web-page
    > I found doesn't show one.) Since the opera listed for performance is a rather
    > obscure one, it would be just my luck if it turned out to be something being done
    > for the university, rather than the general public, but that I'll have to find out
    > from other sources. However, I've seen posts about the Auvergne, here, so I figure
    > some of you folks have been to Clermont-Ferrand, and can tell me something about
    > the city, available hotels, and how to get there. (NOT driving - I'm very timid
    > about driving in strange cities and/or long-distance even here at home - I'm
    > definitely not brave enought to attempt it in another country.)
    >
    > Next April is a long way off, and the singer's intinerary lists this item as "ÃÂ
    > vérifier" so he may not actually sing there at all, but I like to plan my travel
    > well in advance. Thanks for your input.

In article <[email protected]>, "Mark Fagan"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    > Hachette Guide: Clermont has a very staid appearance, but it is by no means dreary.
    > It came late to industrialization. But it is now, and has always been, the hub of
    > the region, where the Auvernat people living in the mountains meet those from the
    > plain, and where health-resort visitors come on excursions. For this is a town full
    > of bustle with a defenite flavour of the Midi Region.

I find french cities to be boring. The cathedral - made of basalt - is the
key feature.

    > The Auvergne is beautiful, the centre of France. Mountains and volcanos (not active
    > I believe!), with steep forested hills that made me think of interior British
    > Columbia! So plenty of other things to see in the region.

I've been there. No, not quite. Not even remotely.

Agreed that the long-extinct volcanoes are the best features.

Not the Karl Orff wrote:
    >
    > In article <[email protected]>, "Mark Fagan"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > The Auvergne is beautiful, the centre of France. Mountains and volcanos (not
    > > active I believe!), with steep forested hills that made me think of interior
    > > British Columbia! So plenty of other things to see in the region.
    >
    > I've been there. No, not quite. Not even remotely.
    >
    > Agreed that the long-extinct volcanoes are the best features.

Well, I'm sure I'd allow myself time to enjoy the scenery, too, but for me the main
attraction would be José van Dam appearing in a "drama lyrique" with music by Tomasi
entitled "Silence de la Mer". That's assuming the performance becomes definite
(right now it's marked "àvérifier" on the schedule his secretary sent me), and I
can find out how to get tickets to it. (He'll also be appearing in Brussels next
spring in the premiere of a brand new opera, but that's at the end of March, and
since I work for a tax accountant in the U.S., I don't dare to schedule travel time
then, if I want to keep my job.) I've never been to the Auvergne, the Tomasi work is
also unfamiliar to me, and it seemed like a pleasant alternative to doing what I
REALLY want to do but cannot. There are still too many "ifs" to start making plans,
but thanks to everyone who answered - at least now I have a better idea where the
place is! (Getting there from
L.A. may be a bit of a problem, though - even changing planes, there doesn't seem to
be any way of booking direct, but it's a bit too early to get any useful info
from the various travel sites, since no one books quite THAT far in advance.)

"Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" wrote:

(snip)

Plenty of trains from Paris to Clermont-Ferrand, I think; a not unpleasant way to get
there, IMO.

    > (Getting there from
    > L.A. may be a bit of a problem, though - even changing planes, there doesn't seem
    > to be any way of booking direct, but it's a bit too early to get any useful
    > info from the various travel sites, since no one books quite THAT far in
    > advance.)