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31st July 2010
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 The LimousinA brief introduction to the region and its departments Made up of three departments, the Haute-Vienne, Creuse and the Correze and to the west of the Massif Centrale the Limousin is one of the most rural regions in France and is perfect for anyone wanting tranquility and remote, unspoiled landscapes. The area is littered with ancient churches, castles and villages creating a timeless feel that transports you to another era. Although peaceful there is plenty to do - satisfying even the for most active of people. With numerous rivers and lakes making it an excellent area for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and fishing as well as a myriad of other outdoor activities.Findings from archeological digs suggest that man first settled in the region from 150,000BC at Chalucet in the Haute Vienne and at Crozant in the Creuse.The Limousin's capital city is Limoges, which was originally created from a Roman settlement at the crossing of the Bordeaux and Lyon roads.  During Roman times the general area that is now known as the Limousin was predominantly inhabited by a Gallic tribe known as the Lemovices. This is believed to be the origin of the Limousin as we know it today as well as the word from which Limousin is derived. As with the rest of Europe, land was won and lost throughout history as different lords and nobleman battled and gained control. The Limousin region saw particularly heavy fighting during the 100 year war (1337-1453) with the English and French winning and losing different areas of the region throughout that period. By 1790 the region was known as Plateaux Limousin with the city of Limoges firmly defined as the heart of the region. Limoges had long since been recognised as a place of learning with the St Martial monastery producing incredible manuscripts and enamelling. The present region covers a very similar territory to that found in the province of that time. Throughout the centuries the area we now know as the Limousin has been mined for gold, copper, quartz and uranium . The discovery that was most influential on the areas economy was however kaolin. Kaolin is a soft, earthy, usually white mineral clay. In many parts of the world, it is colored pink-orange-red by iron oxide causing a rust colouring. Lighter concentrations yield white, yellow or light orange colours. The source discovered in the Limousin was a paricularly fine and pure white - from which developed the regions vast industry of quality white porcelaine.    The Limousin has seen much change over the last 100 years, it's people suffered terrible losses in both World wars. It was the main focus of activity for the French resistance in WW11 and the region paid a heavy toll in loss of life, culminating in the massacre of the entire population of Oradour-sur-Glane in 1944. You can now visit the village, which has been turned into a national memorial to mans inhumanity to man. The region as a whole is sparsely populated with an ageing population. Recent years have brought a slow turnaround in fortune with more young families choosing to move to the countryside. Notably many British and Dutch families, drawn by the promise of a more simplistic lifestyle with old fashioned values and of course extremely attractive property prices. Many of the older residents speak the Limousin language which is a dialect of the Occitan language with several variations present in the region Lemosi/Limousin Languedocien (Quercynois) Auvergnat Marchois, an often overlooked dialect of Occitan. Anyone who has spent time chatting to local farmers will most certainly have come across one of these seemingly impenetrable forms of patois.    The economy of the region is predominantly rural with many local paysan farmers living an entirely subsistence existence (N.B. the term paysan or peasant suggests poverty, however in France the term is used for farmers working the land or "pays" and does not have the poor connotations associated with the word as used in the UK)    The Limousin of today is a true paradise for all lovers of nature and outdoor pursuits. The breathtakingly beautiful scenery is everywhere. Some of the most stunning scenes can be found at the Plateau de Millevaches, the lake at Vassiviere, the valley of the Vézère and the valley of the Dordogne. Both rivers provide a perfect setting for an idyllic family day out, just drifting down the river in a canoe and stopping on the banks to enjoy a picnic made from the delicious local food bought earlier in the day at one of the regions myriad of markets. At every turn you discover sleepy villages and stunning chateaux a landscape that inspired many impressionist painters during the last century.    The Limousin is a department of true charm with its wooded hills, clear rivers, medieval villages most of which have incredible historic churches. You can enjoy a truly relaxing break in Limousin or enjoy one of the many activities which are widely available, take your pick from canoeing, horse riding, fishing, golfing, cycling, walking, sailing, off roading... you name it the Limousin has it. With a surface area of 16942km2 and just 722,800 residents, you can often feel you have the whole region to yourself.    Throughout the summer, in addition to the hundreds of weekly markets there are many summer fairs and evening market/picnics where you can buy your food direct from local producers and then cook and eat it in situ at the tables provided. It's a real chance to enjoy a taste of Limousin and meet the locals over a glass of wine. It also provides a good opportunity to practice your language skills but be warned many of the older residents in rural Limousin still speak in a local dialect or patois based on the Occitan language and this will really test your language skills to the limit.    The Limousin has an acidic soil and so thrives principally on livestock farming and is famed for its Vaches Limousin, a dark reddy/brown cow which produces fine meat and leather and is now reared throughout the world. You will find the delicious Limousin beef is served in many of the local restaurants and is a source of much pride. The industry of the region is based mainly in the larger cities of Limoges and Brive - both very interesting in their own right and packed with history and things to do. Limoges is best known for its porcelain and enamelling and there are many factories still producing fine porcelain many of which have factory shop outlets where you can pick up some great bargains. Limousin continues to attract a steady stream of holiday makers many of whom fall in love with the region so much so they opt for buying a holiday home in the area. Some find the draw of the abundant countryside, fresh air, huge number of spectacular lakes and rivers, low crime rates and slow pace of life so enticing they have made the Limousin their permanent home.     Click here for a great selection of places to stay in Limousin Looking for things to do or local markets in Limousin? Find out about fishing Limousin a horse lovers paradise Thinking of moving to Limousin we have 1000s of great properties for sale Need help with your holiday home or an English speaking artisan? visit our business directory Keep up to date on the current affairs of Limousin on our local news page What to know more from people who have already made the move or bought a holiday home in Limousin? THen you need our real lives section Have you got a question you would like help with? Then visit our forum totally dedicated to all things Limousin More about Correze Correze tourist board More about Creuse Creuse tourist board More about Haute Vienne Haute Vienne tourist board   Les Villages-Étapes Highlights of Haute Vienne What's On What's On Holidaying in Corrèze Evaux-les-Bains Limousin Tourism & Leisure Home Page |
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.jpg)     Check out Videos of the regionCanoeing on the River Dordogne
Click here to see full size clip Strawberry Fair, Beaulieu sur Dordogne Click here to see full size clip Oradour sur Glane Village of Martyrs Click here to see full size clip 
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