The Limousin Region of France
January 15, 2008
Limousin is located in the center of France, between Auvergne, Poitou-Charentes, the Val-de-Loire, the Midi-Pyrenees and Aquitaine. This area is home to 710,939 inhabitants and covers 16,942 km2 (10,527 miles). It is made up of 3 districts (known as “departments” in France): Corrèze (19), la Creuse (23) et la Haute-Vienne (87). The chief town of the region is Limoges.
This land of green countryside associated with the famous russet cattle of France is a very old province where many ages have left their traces. Indeed, clues point to the presence of Neanderthals from over 57000 years ago. More recently, under Roman rule, the residents of Limousin prospered in an era of peace. Many Gallo-Roman vestiges still linger on, including the town of Limoges, which was built in 16th c B.C. Later came the conquests and resulting domination of the Visigoths, the Franks (5th-6th centuries), the devastations of the Saracens (8th C) and the Normans (9th C). In medieval times, monastic life played a central role, as attested to by religious monuments like Saint-Léonard, abbeys such as Aubazine and cathedrals such as Tulle. The medieval sites in this part of France are rich and varied; for example, the Tour de Merle and the chateaux of Turenne, Chalucet, Crozant and Boussac. The Limousin region was also marked by the great rise in popularity of the pilgrimage to Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, whose roads are now recognized as cultural routes in France and in all of Europe.
After being divided by several great fiefdoms in 10th century France, the area witnessed a great period of conflict between France and England. Following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henri II Plantagenet, it was dominated first by France, then England, repeatedly ravaged as the area changed hands, with devastating consequences.
After difficult periods of destruction such as the One Hundred Years war and the Religious Wars, the Limousin area finally ended up the beneficiary of an economic boom in the 18th C, thanks to its world-renowned porcelain factory. This craft industry remains one of the major assets of Limousin, along with the traditional art of tapestry of which Aubusson is the capital, as well as enamel and stained glass.
In addition to its historical heritage, the area has many natural attractions and riches. It is composed of various terrains: A mountainous area which covers the center, the central solid mass, which is characterized by shallow valleys and rounded hills whose highest summit is Mont Bessou at 984m (3228 feet). This land of forests, full of beeches, oaks and chestnut trees, and moors of heather, broom, various other plant species and rich peat bogs, invites exploration and offers many attractive vistas in spots such as Pierre-des-Druides, le puy Messou, le puy d’Agnoux and la roche de Veix.
Rock plate, surrounding the mountains, rises between 300 and 700 m (up to 2297 feet) and covers the entire Limousin countryside. Its steep, sheer-faced valleys and rounded hills distinguish the landscape. Dominated by fields and meadows devoted to cattle farming, this rural area is sparsely populated and presents an ore-rich terrain, with greener vegetation toward the south of the area, thanks to the preponderance of chestnut trees.
The granite plateau known as “Milles Vaches” (“A Thousand Cows”), which is also a regional natural reserve, is the broadest area in the region, spanning 113 villages. Its vegetation of dry moors contrasts with the many rivers that cross it. Here, springs, waterfalls and brooks are very numerous, making Limousin the “water tower” of France. The low country is contained in the long sedimentary basin of Brive, in the southeast of the region, where the climate it more temperate. Essentially flat, it is devoted mainly to vine-growing and fruit orchards.
Limousin’s natural assets are protected in various sites such as the National Natural Reserve of Tourbière des Dauges, the six Regional Natural Reserves, which include more than 37 registered sites like the Pompadour farms, the organs of Bort-les-Orgue, the waterfalls of Gimel — but also more than 1000 km of rivers, natural reserves for migratory birds.
The omnipresence of water in the area is also an important factor in attracting dynamic tourist and economic activity. The majority of Limousin’s rivers have their source in the plateau of Millesvaches, flowing towards the basin of the Loire and the Garonne.
Boasting water of exceptional purity, these rivers are a paradise for fishermen of perches, pike and trout, and they also accommodate lovers of canoeing, kayaking and canyoning. The rivers earn their own keep, providing hydroelectric energy for all of France.
The Dordogne River, with its famous valley (the portion of river which flows from Beaulieu to Argentat) and wild gorges (from Argentat to Bort-les-Orgues) puts on a permanent show for hikers and nature-lovers, as does Vézère and Auvézère. The multitude of lakes and ponds strewn over the territory, are also ideal for exploration and water sports. Of these, the lake Royère-en-Vassivière, in the south of the district, is truly a first-class tourist destination. An inland sea, this lake of more than 1000 hectares is one of the largest in France. The Saint-Pardoux and Val lakes accommodate many fishermen, hikers and water sport enthusiasts, who revel in their pleasant and preserved environments.
This territory of contrasts amazes visitors to France with its diversity of natural environments and historic architectural treasures. Here, tourists also can find some of the most picturesque villages in France, such as Collonges-la-Rouge, with its awesome red stone constructions, Curemonte and its three castles, Turenne, dominated by its feudal past, and Saint-Robert, which still enjoys a handsome medieval flavor.
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