Museums

Many museums, exhibitions and art centers which include such diverse exhibits as plants, animals, insects, poets, porcelain and enamels.
In particular:

Municipal Museum of the Plais de l' Eveche, Limoges. Enamelling, Egyptology, local archaeology, fine art, prints and drawings, folklore heritage of the Limousin, inscriptions and mineralogy.

Quartier de la Boucherie, Limoges a traditional Butchers in a picturesque quarter. One of 52 early 13th C houses built as butchers practice.

Les Palloux, Saint-Yrieix-la-Perce. Porcelain museum. In 1766/1768 French kaolin was discovered here, this substance being at the base of all hard porcelain.

Open-air Museum, Vassiviere. Sculptures in granite and wood, with terrace cafe facing the lake. Also a center of contemporary art.

Centre de la Memoire, Oradour- sur- Glane. A martyr village, dedicated to the memory of those 642 men, women and children murdered by the German SS on 10 June 1944. The village has been kept in the same state since 1944. The center de la memoir exposes the events leading to this barbaric act. A new town of the same name has been built close by.

Le Village du Bournat. Relive the ancient time in Perigord. Everyday life, skills, objects and local dishes. All entertainment inside the village is free.

Tapestry Museum, Aubusson. Classic and modern works

Maison du Vieux Tappissier, Aubusson. A 15th C house with a renovated tapestry maker's workshop.

Heritage Trails

Route Richard Coeur de Lion. Richard the Lion heart, King Richard of England spent no more than 6 months of his reign in England. The son of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II his reputation is that of a chivalrous king and a brave and skillful warlord. It would seem rather, that he was cruel and extravagant in many ways. The lands of Normandy and Aquitaine (inherited from his mother) caused him to enter into war with the King of France. After forcing a truce he continued the war into the Limousin to teach one of his vassals a lesson. During the middle ages, the viscounts of Limoges was bordered to the southwest by castles, churches and fortified towns, lined up so as to defend the limits of the Duchy of Aquitaine.

Richard was wounded at the Chateau of Chalus on 20 March 1199 and died shortly afterwards. His remains were placed finally at the Abbey of Fontevraud with his father, Henry II Plantagenet. Those who enjoy history and architecture will enjoy exploring the area of the Limousin and its typical scenery along this route. There are outstanding examples of life as it was in the middle ages, with churches, towns and many castles open to the public. The castles still portray their warlike purpose. La Route du Haute-Limousin. Following this route leads to sites of historical and architectural interest encompassing nine towns and villages in the immediate area of La Grue.

La Route de Saint Jacques de Compostelle. The Limousin has a very interesting religious heritage. The middle ages saw the development of pilgrimages and the veneration of holy relics held in the abbeys and priories of the area. One of the four pilgrims; routes to Santiago de Compostela (Spain) runs through the area. Pilgrims traveled across France staying in the monasteries or simple shelters. This particular route became known as the Route Limousin and is now officially recognized as part of European cultural heritage. Modern day pilgrims traveling from Vezeley to Santiago de Compost Ella use this route today. Touring this route provides the opportunity to discover the artistic and architectural heritage of the Limousin.