Vestiges de l'ancien évêché

English translation

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History

Building of the 14th century, built on older foundations, bearing witness to the former wine-growing activity of Clermont-Ferrand. Cellars and sculptured elements certainly correspond to the old bishopric of Clermont, some buildings of which were reported as ruined in 1273. They were entirely remodelled subsequently. The rest of the buildings were razed at the Revolution. It is a complex network of cellars and communicating galleries in succession, on three levels, plus a hall on the ground floor. The ground-floor hall is vaulted with groin vaults crossed by a central traverse arch reinforced by an isolated pillar on which rests a perpendicular secondary traverse arch. This square pillar is surmounted by a capital of the 14th century, ornamented at the angles with four hooded figures. The cellars are characteristic of Clermont cellars, dug for the deepest at ground level, forming a vault or dome, aerated by air vents. The upper levels are vaulted in barrel vault or groin vaults. There are found, as on the ground floor, polygonal reinforcing pillars with more stylized capitals. These props could correspond to the construction of a monumental episcopal palace, whose weight would have risked crushing the too-weak traverse arches. Note should be taken of the presence of a well-shaft, entirely built up and pierced with a pointed arch opening, which allowed water to be distributed directly over several levels or goods to be raised using a pulley system.