The city of Clermont-Ferrand is located in the Auvergne region of south-central France on the plain of Limagne in the mountainous, Massif Central area of the country. In addition, a chain of volcanoes known as the Chaîne des Puys surrounds the city, crowned by the magnificent, now-dormant volcano known as Puy-de-Dôme, which is located just 10 kilometers away.

Clermont-Ferrand is also home to a remarkable statue of Vercingetorix sitting astride a horse with an inscription that reads, J’ai pris les armes pour la liberté de tous, or ‘I took up arms for the liberty of all,’ which was sculpted by Frédéric Bartholdi, who also created the Statue of Liberty in the United States. Today, the city boasts a guided light transit system that links its northern and southern neighborhoods, and is also home to the beautiful Jardin botanique de la Charme, an impressive botanical garden. Also of note, the stunning, 11th century Romanesque church Notre-Dame du Port has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.