Introduction

The Limousin ('Limoges's country') is a verdant, hilly and forested region at the heart of France. It is one of the most off-the-beaten-track destination, lacking any city of consequence (Limoges has barely 140,000 inhabitants), but is nevertheless attractive for its charming or quaint little villages, many of which are listed among the most beautiful in France.

The Limousin is the least populous mainland French region (pop. 735,000) and the least densely populated (43 inhab./km², 7.5 times less than the Nord-Pas de Calais). The region's economy is essentially agricultural, renowned for its herds of muscular Limousin cattle and its oak orchards, used almost exclusively for making cognac barrels. The chesnut is the symbol Limousin. The most famous local dessert is clafoutis, a thick flan-based cake with black cherries. A variation is the flaugnarde, made with apples, peaches, pears or plums instead of cherries.

Until the 16th century, Occitan was the official language of Limousin, and it is still spoken or understood by the majority of the population.

Famous people from Limousin include (chronologically): the chemist and physicist Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, the painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and President Jacques Chirac.

Attractions

Département de la Corrèze

Collonges-la-Rouge
Collonges-la-Rouge is one of France's quaintest and prettiest village. It is entirely built of bright red bricks, which confers it a singular appearance. The association 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France' was founded here in 1982.

Curemonte
Curemonte is a lovely medieval stone village with the unique characteristic of having three castles.

Turenne
The delightful village of Turenne, strategically sited on a limestone hill, is regularly short-listed as one of France's most beautiful villages. Turenne was the seat of an independent viscounty until 1738, a state in its own right within the Kingdom of France.

Argentat
An alluring village on the Dordogne River.

Other attractions

Brive-la-Gaillarde
Saint-Robert
Ségur-le-Château
Treignac
Tulle
Uzerche

Département de la Haute-Vienne

Limoges
Limoges is the capital of the Limousin, a remote, oldfangled city, with a strong socialist base. Limoges is known for its medieval enamels on copper, for its 19th-century porcelain, and for its oak barrels, used for Cognac production.

Other attractions

Bellac
Montbrun Castle
Nexon Castle
Rochechouart Castle
Solignac

Département de la Creuse

Boussac Castle
Boussac is an appealing late medieval castle overhanging over the Petite Creuse River. George Sand and Pierre Leroux both stayed there in 1870.

Other attractions

Aubusson
Le Théret Castle
Saint-Germain-Beaupré Castle
Villemonteix Castle

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