Belvédère de la basilique, Scenic viewpoint in Clermont-Ferrand, France
The Belvédère de la basilique is a scenic viewpoint in Clermont-Ferrand that looks out directly over the roof of the basilica Notre-Dame-du-Port and the surrounding rooftops of the city. The small terrace sits on the top floor of a building on Rue Couronne, offering a downward view onto the stone structure below.
The basilica Notre-Dame-du-Port, which the viewpoint overlooks, is a Romanesque church built during the 11th and 12th centuries and is one of the oldest religious buildings in the city. The belvédère itself is a small top-floor terrace that has been made accessible to visitors over time as a way to discover the building from above.
From the terrace, the pyramid-shaped roofline of Notre-Dame-du-Port and its two mismatched bell towers come into full view. This angle reveals the building's stone structure in a way that is impossible to see from street level.
To reach the terrace, exit the basilica into the courtyard, turn left along Rue Couronne, then right onto Rue Robertus, pass through a gate, and climb the stairs of the first house on the left. The terrace is small and fits only a few visitors at a time, so going on a weekday morning tends to be a good option.
The entrance to the terrace is easy to miss, marked only by a small sign on the street, and many visitors to the basilica never notice it at all. Those who do make the climb of four floors often find the terrace completely empty, which is rare for a spot so close to a landmark.
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