LIMOUSIN
The Limousin
region of central France is a beautiful and peaceful area of undulating farmland criss-crossed by wide, slow rivers sometimes cutting through spectacular steep limestone valleys, riddled with caves, many containing world-famous prehistoric paintings. The region is dotted with small towns and villages, all typically French in character.Because this area has been inhabited since prehist sites and monuments to visit or you can just relax and lakes and rivers, cycling through the quiet lanes or wal plateaux of the area with their distinctive scrubby vegetation provide good walking and off-roa
oric times there is a huge variety of spend all day swimming in the many king the marked footpaths. The higher d cycling.
Limousin contains three départements: in the south lies Corrèze, located on the western border of the Massif Central; in the north-east is Creuse, located on the north-western border of the Massif Central, and occuping much of the Creuse River basin; and in the east of the region lies the Département of Haute-Vienne, carved principally from the old province of Marche with samplings of the provinces of Berry, Limousin and Poitou. The département's north is separated from the south by the westward-flowing Vienne River, which traverses the rolling uplands of Limousin before joining the Maulde and Taurion rivers.Limoges is the capital of Haute-Vienne and of the Limousin region, and is located on the right bank of the Vienne River. Limoges is an ancient community, and during its pre-Roman period, it was the capital of a Gallic tribe called the Lemovices. After the Roman conquest, it became known as Augustoritum, and was an important Roman center, with its own Senate and currency.
The 3rd century brought Christianity to the small town of Saint Martial, which was located on the hillside overlooking Limoges. Due to the quickly spreading legends of the miracles being performed at the shrine of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, Saint Martial quickly became a stopping-off place for the numerous pilgrimages to the shrine. Santiago de Compostela had become one of the most important of all Christendom's religious shrines.
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