CLERMONT (in the middle ages, Carus Mons, or Clarimontium) is the name of several towns in France. The most important is the capital of the department of Puy-de-Dame, Clermont-Ferrand (the Augustonemetum of the Romans, in the country of the Arverni), which is finely situated on a gentle elevation between the rivers Bedat and Allier, at the foot of a range of extinct volcanoes, crowned by the peak of Puy-de-Dome, about 5 m. distant from the town. It consists of the two towns of C. and 3Iontferrand, upwards of a mile distant from one another, and connected by a fine avenue of trees. C. contains several remarkable buildings: the old Gothic cathedral, the corn and linen ball, the the ater, and the liatel-dieu, or hospital. C. has several educational and scientific institu tions, and a public library, in which are preserved sonic curious MSS. Fop. '76, 37,074, who carry on the manufacture of linen, woolen cloth, hosiery, paper, etc., and an exten-. sive traffic in the produce of the district, and in the transit trade between Paris and the s.
of France. There are two mineral springs in the town, which are used for bathing. That of St. Alyce is most remarkable, having deposited in the course of ages an immense mass of limestone; and the deposit at one part forms over a rivulet a natural bridge 21 ft. long. The whole district abounds in .such springs. A multitude of Roman antiquities attest the Roman origin of the city. In the middle ages, C. was the residence of the counts of the same name, and became the scat of one of the oldest bishoprics of France. Sev eral ecclesiastical councils were held here, the most remarkable of which was that in 1095, at which the first crusade was instituted by Urban II. A statue has been erected to Pascal, who was a native of Clermont.
a t. in the department of Herault, 23 m. w.n.w. of Mont pellier, agreeably situated on the declivity of a hill, crowned by the ruins of an old castle. It has extensive manufactures of woolen cloth. Pop. '76, 5,685.