The 18 things to do in the Limousin

It is time to take a bowl of fresh air, calm and nature! Discover the 18 essential things to visit in Limousin!

It is one of the smallest old regions in France, but also one of the most unknown. Travellers know her name, they know we eat well, maybe they have plates made of porcelain of Limoges but they never really stopped to visit the Limousin. Too bad.

Not frequented by tourists, except the Corrèze, it is the perfect destination to recharge the batteries. Indeed, the Limousin is located at the crossroads of Occitania, Auvergne and the Centre in the North. This geographical position is reflected in the diversity of its landscapes and its heritage. The North is the kingdom of large wilderness and green meadows.

The relief of the East announces the mountains of Auvergne , the Millevaches Park is even nicknamed the “water castle” of the region. As for the south, there is the accent of the Occitania , the sun gets warmer there reflected by the stone walls of fortified villages.

You will have understood it, there is nothing to be bored in this region. It’s time to fix your non-visit and discover these 18 must-sees to visit in Limousin.

1. Limoges

If everyone knows her name, little finally walked through her streets. The capital of porcelain is the city to visit in Limousin. You will discover the Boucherie district in medieval houses, the National Museum of Porcelain, the edges of Vienne bucoliques, not to mention the famous station of the Benedictines and many other beautiful things.

Gastronomy enthusiasts and especially meat lovers will not miss to go there during the famous Frairie des Petits Ventres. Finally, the most athletes must go to a CSP game at the Beaublanc Sports Palace. The basketball club has seen passing great players and is the first French club to win European championships.

2. Châlucet

Nestled in the heart of the forest of Ligoure, the vestiges of the fortress impress by their extent and the height of the walls. Indeed, there were several levels of fortifications built between the 12th and the 16th century.

Tours, creneaux, ruins of a fortified palace, archeological excavations have not yet revealed all the secrets of the site. A visit will be the opportunity to play Indiana Jones and get back to time.

3. La Haute-Vallée de la Vienne en locomotive

One of the most important activities to be done in the Limousin region is to board in Limoges in an old steam locomotive of 1932. From there, it left for a day of discovery of the landscapes of the gorges of Vienna from the railway line built in the 1880s.

You will go to the city of Eymoutiers that you can explore before taking the return journey.

4. Vassivière

The largest water map of the region, it is 1,000 hectares, the lake and the island of Vassivière are to be visited in Limousin. This is the perfect place for lovers of wild space and swimming. Its banks are lined with forests and its waters are the scene of many aquatic activities.

And, above all, don’t miss crossing the bridge to go strolling on the island and discover the International Centre for Art and Landscape.

5. The ruins of the castle of Crozant

It is certainly one of the most beautiful spots to visit in the Limousin region. It is more precisely on a rocky promontory overlooking the bed of the Creuse and the Sédelle. You walk between the remains before you land and admire the viewpoint on the wild valley and the meanders of the river.

All the great impressionist painters have succumbed to the panorama, you too certainly.

6. The sculpted village of Masgot

The village is known to tourists so you will not be alone. It must be said that it is not an ordinary village to visit in Limousin. It is adorned with hundreds of stone sculptures created by the artist François Michaud’s imagination in the 19th century.

Everything is there, animals, fantastic creatures, there's even Napoleon. In addition, the curious can learn about sculpture during different stages.

7. Lake Saint-Pardoux

It is the second lake in Limousin for those who want to enjoy the many aquatic activities but not only. Although it is an artificial lake created between the Monts de Blond and Ambazac, the landscapes are wild with irregular wooded shores.

With its 2 beaches and its impressive number of outdoor sports, let's have a good time.

8. The castle of Rochechouart

Are you passionate about contemporary art? Then you have to visit in the Limousin this converted castle in the centre of contemporary art of the Haute-Vienne. It has a permanent collection of more than 300 works as well as archives by Raoul Hausmann, founder of the Dada movement.

And to give life to all this, the center organizes numerous visits and workshops on themes.

9. Collonges-la-Rouge

Blind crowds in perspective in this village that the world wants to visit in Limousin. Located in Corrèze, it owes its reputation to the superb color of its red stone houses and the eternal charm of its paved alleys. It is a delight to stroll between its walls. Take a tour at the end of the day to admire the sunset. Maybe there will be less people too.

10. The Millevaches Plateau

Here reigns calm, between forests, peatlands and meadows that form the plateau. The otter, symbol of the Regional Natural Park of Millevaches, also announces the omnipresence of water. Moreover, the origins of the name would most likely come from an expression denoting “a thousand sources” rather than the animal.

There’s only one to do your hiking schedule. Don’t miss out on the Mont Gargan, which houses both natural riches and historical places such as religious vestiges and a stone of memory to resistance.

11. Aubusson

Aubusson is a discreet, hidden village but retains a centuries-old know-how, the famous tapestry. It is in the village that the Cité internationale de la Tapisserie (Cité internationale de la Tapisserie), whose handicrafts are classified at Unesco.

The place is not content with its conservation mission and emphasizes contemporary creation. It’s worth visiting in the Limousin area if you’re in the area.

12. Curemonte

It is not 1, not 2 but 3 castles that watch on the paved streets of this village ranked among the most beautiful in the country and that you must visit in Limousin, of course. Built on a rocky grove, Curemonte houses very beautiful buildings, in addition to its fortresses.

To complete the walk, don’t miss to go also strolling on the surrounding hill.

13. Uzerche

An old saying, “Who has a house in Uzerche in the Limousin castle” so unless it is really difficult, the visit should please you. The village has all the strengths to seduce, turrets, noble houses, abbey and small winding streets. As a bonus, there is the bucolic charm of the Vezère below. To take pictures, it seems that the most beautiful view is from the Turgot Bridge.

14. The towers of Merle

The landscape is worthy of a fantastic story or cartoon. Imagine, rather, a dense forest, gorges and suddenly, perched on a rocky promontory, the ruins of a medieval city.

In all, 7 majestic towers, partly surrounded by vegetation, form a show to be seen in Limousin. The site is classified not only for built heritage but also for fauna and flora.

15. Les Monts d’Ambazac

These are not mountains but almost, you can realize if you decide to climb them on foot or by bike. Here, natural spaces are preserved and rare villages despite the proximity of Limoges. This is the ideal playground for visitors in search of wild nature and views.

Among the most famous sites are the Tourbière des Dauges and the sandstone of Sauvagnac.

16. The castle of Boussac

The castle is famous because it is here that the famous tapestries from the Lady to the Unicorn were discovered. They are no longer there today but the building is worth the detour. Its imposing silhouette dominates the Creuse Valley and offers visitors a superb view.

Inside, the 4 floors house gigantic chimneys, furniture and objects that have crossed the centuries and testifying to the extraordinary history of the place. He was even attended by Georges Sand, it’s not nothing.

17. Oradour sur Glane

It is a must-see place to visit in Limousin but be warned, you must have the heart well attached. It is a martyr village ravaged by a division of SS on 10 June 1944. Everything remained in the state following the decision of the Provisory Government of the Republic to keep the ruins such as.

A Centre de la Mémoire was built nearby to provide scientific insight into history, including episodes of violence on civilian populations.

18. Turenne

It is impossible to miss this village whose houses are climbing to the assault of the hill on which the medieval fortress is proudly located. In fact, the latter will particularly like the grass knights. The buildings bear witness to the rich historical past of the village, the seat of a powerful family, with parts dating from the 13th century to the 18th century.

As with any beautiful village, the rule is simply to stroll. Anyway, here, you can't go to the charging pitch because the alleys are abrupt!

How to get to the Limousin?

By plane

The region has an airport, that of Limoges-Bellegarde that hosts flights Paris , Lyon and Corsica . However, it is a small airport and if you want a more regular offer, you have to turn to the international airport Toulouse , two hours drive, or Bordeaux .

It is also possible to find flights from Brive-la-Gaillarde Airport. To get a complete overview of the possibilities to visit the Limousin, we recommend using a typical flight comparison Skyscanner .

By train

Pending the super train of the future that will rally Paris in Limoges in record time, it takes about 4 hours to arrive in Limousin. But the advantage is that the train makes a few stops especially in Creuse, if you want to see some of the essentials who are there. You can also go down to Brive-la-Gaillarde to visit the Corrèze.

By car

There is nothing simpler than going to visit the Limousin by car, you take the car A20 direction Toulouse and it is straight. You also have the A89 crossing the center of France from Lyon to Bordeaux. You cross to Brive-la-Gaillarde and then direction Limoges. There is only one to spot the outputs that correspond to your tour schedule.

Where to stay in Limousin?

From the apartment Airbnb At the hotel via the campsites, you will find a wide range of accommodations to accommodate you in Limousin. For renting between people, cities and Limoges , Guéret, Brive and Tulle will be better indicated.

The campsites gather close to natural areas such as Vassivière and Saint-Pardoux lakes. Finally, the charming villages of Corrèze are full of beautifully renovated cottages. You also have very beautiful hotels especially in Corrèze where the old manors were divinely restored. To find the solution that suits you, do not hesitate to use a hotel comparison .

Above all to discover this charming department of our beautiful country!