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Limousin, France tourist information

Limousin is found in the centre of France, around the town of Limoges. It is high - much of the region is at an altitude of more than 350 metres - and is mostly hills covered with woodland. The climate is not especially inviting - rain is frequent, and winters are very cold, so it is not (yet) usually on the tourist circuit.

There are three departments in Limousin - La Creuse, Haute-Vienne and Correze.

Places to visit in Limousin

Limousin is something of an undiscovered region of France, but is often very beautiful. Lakes and mountains, valleys and forests, interspersed with crashing rivers and tiny lost villages all combine to give the Limousin its own very distinctive personality.

The countryside is often very attractive in Limousin. Quiet roads, an unspoiled calmness (and the chance to see plenty of the famous Limousin cattle), make the area one well worth exploring.

To note especially: the region around Limoges has much to offer; the southern part of the region - where it borders on the Lot and Dordogne departments - has a cluster of classified 'most beautiful villages', and the attractive scenery around Eymoutiers.

A particularly poignant visit is to Oradour-sur Glane, the village completely destroyed by the germans during world war 2.

Photo courtesy Dennis Nilsson, Sweden

Meymac is a town with several interesting architectural highlights in the south-east of the Limousin, south of Aubusson, known worldwide for its rugs and tapestries.

Rochechouart is the site of a meteorite impact and an attractive chateau.

In the south of the region, a cluster of 'three most beautiful villages of France' includes Turenne, Collonges-la-Rouge and Curemonte - the three are each unique and well worth exploring.

Collonges-la-Rouge
(photo kindly contributed by Jan Rees)

Near to the cluster of villages above, also in the south of the Limousin, is the pretty town of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne.

Uzerche is a walled town north of Brive-la-Gaillarde

Other Most Beautiful villages in Limousin

Treignac (Correze) - Treignac
Ségur-le-Chateau (Correze) Ségur-le-Chateau

Segur-le-Chateau

Most beautiful villages not covered in this guide:

SAINT-ROBERT - 20 km NW of Brive-la-Gaillarde
MORTEMART - 10 km SW of Bellac

Visit Limousin - travel information

Map of Limousin, France