Opera House

Look to your right — you’re now facing the opera house! Built in the 1890s, the opera house brought new energy to Place de Jaude, turning it back into a popular spot for locals to meet and stroll. The building was designed by architect Jean Teillard, who also worked on several other landmarks throughout the city. Built on the site of the old textile market, this building — now called the Hall aux Toiles, or Cloth Hall — has a beautifully sculpted white façade that stands out on the square.” The opera house can welcome around 600 people. You’ll find the entrance just around the corner, on Rue Desaix. Today, it’s a major cultural venue in Clermont-Ferrand, where locals enjoy performances of all kinds in its stunning Italian-style auditorium. The opera also plays a role in one of the city’s biggest annual events: the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival. Held every February, it’s the largest short film festival in the world — a major gathering for producers, distributors, buyers, and cinema professionals of all kinds. Over the course of eight days, around 170 short films from across the globe are screened in more than fifteen venues around the city. They’re selected from thousands of submissions and compete for several prestigious awards. Every year, the event draws over 3,500 film industry professionals and over 160,000 visitors — a number that continues to grow since the festival’s launch back in 1981. So if you ever find yourself in Clermont-Ferrand in February, don’t miss it — it’s a great chance to discover short films from all over the world!