Clermont: Culture and History

Clermont brings together several specific cultural themes: medieval architecture, listed monuments, exhibitions, street art and walks in a green space. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Clermont, you can first consider whether architecture, art or walks will be your main focus. The city offers different points of interest that you can each include in your plans.

Medieval keep and former town fortifications

The keep is Clermont’s oldest surviving historic building. It is estimated to have been built between the second half of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century; its dating remains disputed. The keep was built by the Counts of Clermont. If you are interested in the Middle Ages, this date should therefore be understood as an approximate timeframe, not a specific year of construction.

The Porte de Nointel offers a different perspective on the former fortifications: it is the last gate of Clermont’s former town fortifications and is the only one that still has significant surviving masonry. It has been listed as a historic monument since 22 March 1937. The keep and the Porte thus represent two different aspects of the town’s architectural history: a medieval historic building with an estimated date of construction, and a surviving gate from the former town fortifications.

Church, organ case and Hôtel de Ville

The Église Saint-Samson and the Hôtel de Ville are also listed monuments in Clermont. The church has been listed as a historic monument since 1921 and has a listed organ case dating from 1622. Clermont’s Hôtel de Ville has been listed as a historic monument since 1874. The years refer to different things: 1622 dates the organ case, while 1921 and 1874 refer to the listing of the respective buildings. This distinction is useful if you want to distinguish architectural history from listed status.

Exhibitions and street art

The Séraphine Louis cultural centre is located at the foot of the remains of the eastern side of the medieval keep of the Counts of Clermont. Art exhibitions, themed exhibitions and conferences are held there. If you want to plan around a specific event, check the relevant dates in advance.

The Parcours de street-art à Clermont offers another artistic perspective. It leads to works by C215, Joker, Atam Rasho, Frédéric Rébéna and Hansel Pixel. The accompanying guidebook was updated on 16 September 2025. If you want to use the route in your plans, check in advance whether a newer version of the guidebook is available. This lets you make street art a focus of your trip, alongside the historic buildings and exhibitions.

Walks and getting there

Parc du Châtellier is a green space in Clermont used for walks. It provides a practical point of interest if you want to plan time for walking as well as cultural activities. The park can be considered an activity in its own right, whether or not your main interest is monuments or art.

Clermont-de-l’Oise station is on the Paris Nord–Lille railway line. If you plan to travel by train, check your plans against the current timetable. You can then compare specific hotel offers for your travel dates and choose accommodation to suit your personal itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Grandvilliers, Courtieux, Saint-Omer-En-Chaussée, Ully-Saint-Georges, Verneuil-en-Halatte, Passel, Villers-Vermont, Montreuil-Sur-Brèche.

For an overview of the wider area: Oise.