The Limousin Region of France
Unspoilt, rural and away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, the region has wonderful lush countryside criss crossed by many rivers and lakes. There is the VassiviÓ¨re Lake and the valleys of the Dordogne, VÓ©zÓ¨re and Vienne. With high plateaux and rivers full of trout, pike and sander and chestnut forests carpeted with ceps and other edible fungi it is of course a region blessed with many gastronomic delights. Known for its excellent beef and milk fed veal it is also known for its charcuterie, saussison and pÓ¢tÓ©s which often feature the chestnuts. There are of course cheeses and the batter based cherry clafoutis and apple falugnarde. This terrain also offers opportunities for mountain biking, riding, hiking, watersports of all kinds ranging from waterskiing to windsurfing and sailing, canoeing, fishing and rambling and there are several golf courses.The region is also rich in history, chÓ¢teaux and medieval villages. In all there are seven of the most beautiful villages of France including Collonges-la-Rouge, Curemonte and Mortemart. When Richard the Lionheart set off on the third crusade with the French King Phiklippe-Auguste, the overlords strengthened their defences against him and a line of fortified towns and ChÓ¢teaux along the south west border of the Viscounty of Limoges was the result. The route of Richard the Lionheart includes the ChÓ¢teaux of ChÓ¢lus, Nexon, Rochechouart, Pompadour and Montbrun, which Richard ordered to be attacked after he had been shot at ChÓ¢lus, just before he died as he had heard it held treasure, were on his route. There are of course also fine Romanesque churches along the pilgrimò€™s route to St Jacques de Compostela.
Limoges is the capital of the region and was founded by Emperor Augustus in 16BC. Roman remains and villas. In the 12th and 13th centuries, champleve enamels were produced in quantity in Limoges workshops. The Opus Lemovicense impressed Christianity and the city became influenctial throughout Europe. The monks of Saint Martial began this tradition and in the 19th century the porcelain took over and fired the imagination of the New World whose people emigrated to create factories for these wonderful pieces. Now Limoges has a 900 acre business centre halfway between London and Barcelona and high technology is replacing the place held for so long by the porcelain trade. The sea and mountains are less than 3 hours away and Paris, only 50 minutes with daily flights to Orly and Roissy as well as Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand. The City benefits from the best of urban life including opera, theatre, films, baroque and rap music and many sports facilities within a peaceful environment. The climate is enviably mild with only one degreeò€™s difference between Toulouse and Limoges in January. In addition the city is surrounded by wonderful countryside ò€“ a giant natural park at the city gates.