But this is not simple these are fragile spaces

"The houses are quite beautiful and, what is admirable, all supported in the air, the custom of dig cellars below the foundations, which are supported on a bit of land suspended and who is so firm that it is never arrived no accident", described spirit Fléchet in his "Memorandum on the great days of Auvergne" (1665). What struck the future academician and future Bishop of Nîmes from crossing at Clermont-Ferrand and surprise even in the 21st century is not so much the presence of cellars under the houses of the "historic heart" that their scope and depth.

Since two thousand years, generations of inhabitants have dug the soil and the subsoil consisting of Tuff (a type of porous, friable rock) 'fairly resistant to bear the weight of the buildings, but nevertheless quite soft so that it could, over the centuries, transforming it into Swiss cheese by is developing a complex of several floors of stacked cellars network', describes a member of the friends of the cellars of the old Clermont (Acavic) in a book edited by the association ("the Caves of") ("the mound of Clermont").

Underground floor

In the 1970s, geologists have shown that the mound of Clermont is formed by the accumulation of the projections of a volcanic eruption which 160,000 years ago, has created the largest area (1.5 km in diameter) crater: the maar (1) of Clermont-Chamalières.

On this mound of about 30 metres in height (at the time), the Romans built a first town, Augustonemetum. It is assumed that, carving in the Tuff, they built in the slope of the buildings which the first level was on the ground floor on one side and buried in the back. "With the centuries, the relief is is softened everything gently, so that the lower part of the constructions Roman, the only one that had escaped destruction, has been relegated to the first basement", finds the Acavic. The houses built on the same principle at the end of the middle ages have suffered a similar fate. That is found, hidden under buildings that have nothing to medieval, "doors to beaded architraves, assembled capitals, of the elegant arches". Some of these Roman or medieval spaces are today converted in restaurant, reception room, art gallery, music room, beauty salon...

Under these ground floor become underground are several levels of cellars (up to 11 metres deep). For centuries, the inhabitants of the Hill built to life spaces: refuge, pantry, Stockyards. The Romans left a dense network of wells and galleries. According the Acavic, "some sections of ancient pipes are still the flow of water". They also brought the vine: to the beginning of 20th century, winemaking and wine trade occupied an important place in the economy of the region.

The winemakers living on the Hill dug cellars, which have proved excellent for the quality of wine. After the collapse of the wine industry, they were converted by cheese: high humidity and ventilation are ideal for refining of cheeses, especially Saint-NECTAIRE, purchased "in white" farmers. This activity is in turn reduced, the clermontoises caves are more economic destination.

Little-known for their new owners, they suffer from a lack of maintenance: threatened by excessive moisture due to poor ventilation, sometimes invaded rubble or debris... Since its inception in 1997, the Acavic began to inventory. A multidisciplinary team (geologists, archaeologists, physicists, historians...) and volunteer explored and studied between 150 and 200 sets of caves, or about 20 of this heritage. These investigations enable to report some remarkable basements to the regional service of archaeology. It educates and advises owners. Its activities have revived interest in these mysterious caves. "The Clermont-Ferrand are very applicants visit of cellar." We reflect on the opportunity to meet this demand, says Isabelle Caraud, one of officials of the office of tourism. But this is not simple: these are fragile spaces. And it's private property.