Limousin

With its rolling pastures and little-visited villages, Limousin might be the most overlooked area of southwestern France. It's not nearly as exciting as the Dordogne to the south or the Loire to the north, but it does offer a chance to get off the beaten path, and aficionados will like Limoges for its porcelain and Aubusson for its tapestries.

Technically, Limousin is no longer an official région, as it was subsumed by the larger Nouvelle Aquitaine in 2016. However, regional cultural identity still exists, centred around three départements: Haute-Vienne, in the west, the capital of which is lively Limoges; the rural Creuse, in the northeast; and, in the southeast, perhaps the most interesting area, the Corrèze, home to Brive-la-Gaillarde and the region’s most beautiful villages.

Explore Limousin

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Limousin.

  • Gallery

    Musée des Beaux Arts

    The city’s wonderful art museum is inside the beautifully restored 18th-century bishops’ palace. Get an overview of the town's history through Roman…

  • Museum

    Musée National Adrien Dubouché

    This museum, founded in 1845, has one of France’s two outstanding ceramics collections (the other is in Sèvres, southwest of Paris), so it’s a must for…

  • Church

    Abbatiale St-Pierre

    Beaulieu’s most celebrated feature is this 12th-century Romanesque abbey church, with a wonderful tympanum (c 1130) depicting incredible scenes from the…

  • Church

    Cathédrale St-Étienne

    Built between 1273 and 1888, Limoges’ Gothic cathedral is worth a visit for the Flamboyant-style Portail St-Jean, as well as a glorious rose window, a…

  • Church

    Église St-Michel des Lions

    Named for the two granite lions flanking its door, Église St-Michel des Lions was built between the 14th and 16th centuries. It contains the relics …

  • Church

    Abbaye St-Pierre de Solignac

    This still-operational 11th-century church is a Romanesque wonder, renowned for its 14m-wide domed roof. The stalls in the nave are decorated with carved…

  • Museum

    Centre de la Mémoire

    Through multimedia displays and survival testimonies, this moving museum pays tribute to the 642 victims of the brutal Oradour-sur-Glane massacre, which…

  • Chateau

    Château de Pompadour

    The history of Pompadour's 15th-century château is intertwined with that of its stud farm. While you can peek in 11 rooms on a self-guided tour (the…

  • Church

    St-Pierre Church

    The fortified St-Pierre church, constructed from the 11th to the 15th centuries on the site of an 8th-century Benedictine priory, is an important stop on…

  • Museum

    Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie

    This museum moved to a grand new space at the colourfully striped former National School of Decorative Arts in 2016. The building was completely…

  • Ruins

    Château de Châlucet

    Five kilometres southeast of Solignac are the moody ruins of the Château de Châlucet, a 12th-century keep occupied by the English during the Hundred Years…

  • Historic Site

    Rue de la Boucherie

    Pedestrianised rue de la Boucherie was named for the butchers’ shops that lined the street in the Middle Ages. Today it has many attractive medieval half…

  • Distillery

    Maison Denoix

    Since 1839, this traditional distillery has produced the favourite Corrèze firewater, l’eau de noix (walnut liqueur), alongside concoctions such as…

  • Factory

    Porcelaine Royal Limoges

    One of the oldest porcelain factories, dating from 1797, offers guided tours by reservation, and has the 19.5m-high Four des Casseaux, the only surviving…

  • Museum

    Musée de la Résistance

    The Limousin was a stronghold of the Resistance during WWII, and this museum explores the story of their struggle against German occupation through…

  • Church

    Chapelle des Pénitents

    The pretty riverside Chapelle des Pénitents was built to accommodate pious parishioners – access to the abbey church was strictly reserved for monks and…

  • Historic Building

    Pavillon du Verdurier

    Around Limoges, look out for porcelain and enamel tiles on many buildings, including the Pavillon du Verdurier, a beautiful octagonal building dating from…

  • Church

    Collégiale St-Martin

    In the heart of town, the Romanesque Collégiale St-Martin dates from the 11th century. Original parts include the transept and a few decorated columns…

  • Factory

    Four des Casseaux

    Four des Casseaux is the only surviving 18th-century brick kiln used in Limoges' porcelain factories. It's part of the factory of Porcelaine Royal Limoges…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Limousin.

  • Activities