Clermont-Ferrand · FR

L'hôtel de Chazerat

Tucked into the medieval heart of Clermont-Ferrand, the Hôtel de Chazerat is an 18th-century aristocratic townhouse widely regarded as the finest example of neoclassical architecture in Auvergne. Built between 1760 and 1769 for Charles-Antoine-Claude de Chazerat — the last royal intendant of the province — it dazzles visitors with a stunning oval courtyard of golden Volvic stone, a white-and-gold reception salon adorned with plaster reliefs of the four seasons, and a trompe-l'oeil vestibule that demonstrates the full sophistication of Enlightenment-era design. Today the building serves as the regional headquarters of France's cultural ministry (DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), so visiting means stepping into a living working monument. Guided tours organized by the Clermont-Ferrand tourist office offer the best way to explore its interiors, which are otherwise closed to the public during daily operations.