Place of the Great Pavois, Pedestrian square in downtown Clermont-Ferrand, France
Place du Grand Pavois is a pedestrian square in the center of Clermont-Ferrand, lined with buildings that have shops and cafes on their ground floors. The space is paved with stone, has benches, and connects to a car-free street where people walk freely.
The square was once a gathering place for markets and local meetings in the heart of the city. Over time it was turned into a pedestrian zone, and the city has since worked to make the space more comfortable for those on foot.
The square is easy to reach on foot and sits centrally, making it a good starting point for exploring the surrounding streets. On sunny days the cafe terraces fill up quickly, and on cooler days many places offer heated outdoor seating.
Old photographs sometimes displayed near the cafes around the square show what the area looked like decades ago, when cars still drove through what are now pedestrian areas. Seeing that contrast between past and present often catches visitors off guard.
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