Limousin: Introduction

Off-the-beaten track, remote and neglected by traditional tourism, Limousin has only recently become popular with tourists looking for the old fashioned image of rural France : sheep roam over the lower slopes of the Cévennes, Limousin cattle graze on the pasturelands, and the rivers and lakes teem with fish.

The region forms the western bastion of the Massif Central. Its originality is emphasized by its wet winter climate and verdant countryside.

The plateaux

The northwest area is a patchwork of woods and fields known as the bocage. The pastures make good cattle grazing country. The Marche area, further north is a marshland between the Loire country and the Massif Central. the plateaux of Bas-Limousin are known for their milder climates, and the influence of Perigord and Quercy can already been felt here.

Brive Basin

The depression of the Brive Basin is a sunken zone between the escarpment of the Uzerche plateau and the limestone ridges of the Quercy river.

Picturesque villages

Perched on a gently angled slope above a tributary of the Dordogne, Collonges la Rouge is well known as one of the most beautiful villages of France. 'Collonges-the-Red' is built entirely of bright redstone. Its small streets, turreted manor houses surrounded by chestnut trees and finished off with a romanesque church make this hamlet a delightful place for a stroll. Visitors can double their luck by visiting Turenne 11 km (6 miles) west of Collonges, a small city dominated by an imposing chateau which offers panoramic views of the countryside.

Plateau de Millevaches

One of the region's biggest attractions is the plateau de Millevaches, a regional park with a vast expanse of hills, rivers and slopes perfect for hiking. Along the park are old villages where one can take a respite from a day's walking. Even though this is a superior grazing ground, the name does not have anything to do with the number of cows one can spot there, but is derived from an ancient Celtic word meaning a thousand springs.

Limousin includes three départements:

• Corrèze (19)
• Creuse (23)
• Haute-Vienne (87)