Clermont is ideal for a cultural trip where historic buildings and art in public spaces offer different focal points. The medieval keep, the Porte de Nointel, the Église Saint-Samson and the Hôtel de Ville represent different chapters of the local heritage. The Parcours de street-art à Clermont draws attention to works by several artists; Parc du Châtellier complements these themes with a green space used for walks. When planning your trip, you can decide whether architectural history, sacred art, street art or time spent outdoors should shape your stay.
The keep and its history
The keep is Clermont’s oldest surviving monument and was built by the Counts of Clermont. Its construction is estimated to date from between the second half of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century; its exact date remains disputed. At the foot of the remains of the eastern side of the medieval keep is the Séraphine Louis cultural centre. It hosts art exhibitions, themed exhibitions and conferences. This makes architectural history and a venue with a range of cultural events distinct topics to choose from.
Gates, church and HĂ´tel de Ville
The Porte de Nointel is the last remaining gate of Clermont’s former fortifications. It is the only one that still has significant surviving masonry and has been listed as a historic monument since 22 March 1937. For travellers particularly interested in former fortifications, it offers a distinct focus alongside the history of the keep.
The Église Saint-Samson and the Hôtel de Ville also illustrate why different dates associated with monuments should be distinguished. The church has been listed as a historic monument since 1921; its listed organ case dates from 1622. Clermont’s Hôtel de Ville has been listed as a historic monument since 1874. So the dates do not all refer to construction periods: 1622 dates the organ case, while 1921 and 1874 mark the beginning of the listing of each respective monument.
Street art and cultural venues
The Parcours de street-art à Clermont takes visitors to works by C215, Joker, Atam Rasho, Frédéric Rébéna and Hansel Pixel. The trail’s accompanying booklet was updated on 16 September 2025. Unlike the individual historic buildings, the focus here is a route featuring artworks by various artists. If you’re looking for a contemporary art focus in Clermont, the trail offers a distinct perspective alongside the town’s architectural history.
Walks and rail travel
Parc du Châtellier is a green space in Clermont used for walks. It complements the architectural and artistic themes with time spent outdoors. You can include it as a separate walk in your plans if you’d like to make time outdoors part of your trip alongside the cultural highlights.
For rail planning, Clermont-de-l’Oise station is a useful reference point: it is on the Paris Nord–Lille railway line. If you’re considering travelling by train, check the current train timetable before your trip. This keeps your plans aligned with your travel dates, while Clermont’s cultural highlights leave room for a range of interests.
Discover more destinations: Froissy, Fontaine-Lavaganne, SĂ©rifontaine, Bury, Bailleval, Noailles, Lacroix-Saint-Ouen, Orvillers-Sorel.
For the broader travel overview: Oise.
