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Key figures

Origin and history

Clermont-Ferrand was originally an outbuilding of the Commandery of the Temple of Montferrand, serving as a residence for the master of the province of Aquitaine. After the dissolution of the Order of the Templars in the 14th century, the site passed to the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem, retaining its role as provincial capital. The chapel, the place of assembly of knights, was demolished in 1786 by order of the Grand Master, its materials being sold after the transfer of the master's office to Lyon.

The current buildings, integrated into the 12th century enclosure near the 13th century ramparts, include vaulted cellars on several levels accessible from a 13th century cloister gallery. Four spans of this cloister remain on the garden side, bordering a later rebuilt house (No. 2 rue Parmentier). The cellars of the first level, dated from the 13th century, have arches worn by pillars with wide angles, while those of the second level, vaulted in cradle, served as wine cellars.

The facade of the unicorn house (No. 2), with openings of the late 15th century, lost its sculpted tympanum of unicorns – now exhibited at the Cloisters Museum in New York. This house, classified as a Historical Monument in 1988 with its courtyard and cellars, illustrates the architectural evolution of the site, from Templars to Hospitallers, through the renovations of the 15th and 16th centuries.

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