The Limousin Region Of France

T his region is one of the         cheeses and the batter based       few remaining regions in        cherry clafoutis and apple         France where it is still        falugnarde. This terrain also      possible to find a property           offers opportunities for mountain  ranging from a chateau to an old      biking, riding, hiking,            rambling farmhouse for a modest       watersports of all kinds ranging   sum. Relatively unknown as a          from waterskiing to windsurfing    holiday destination, the Limousin     and sailing, canoeing, fishing     is beginning to enjoy the             and rambling and there are         popularity it deserves.               several golf courses.                                                                                       Unspoilt, rural and away from the     The region is also rich in         hustle and bustle of modern life,     history, châteaux and medieval     the region has wonderful lush         villages. In all there are seven   countryside criss crossed by many     of the most beautiful villages of  rivers and lakes. There is the        France including                   Vassivière Lake and the valleys       Collonges-la-Rouge, Curemonte and  of the Dordogne, Vézère and           Mortemart. When Richard the        Vienne. With high plateaux and        Lionheart set off on the third     rivers full of trout, pike and        crusade with the French King       sander and chestnut forests           Phiklippe-Auguste, the overlords   carpeted with ceps and other          strengthened their defences        edible fungi it is of course a        against him and a line of          region blessed with many              fortified towns and Châteaux       gastronomic delights. Known for       along the south west border of     its excellent beef and milk fed       the Viscounty of Limoges was the   veal it is also known for its         result. The route of Richard the   charcuterie, saussison and pâtés      Lionheart includes the Châteaux    which often feature the               of Châlus, Nexon, Rochechouart,    chestnuts. There are of course        Pompadour and Montbrun, which      Richard ordered to be attacked        factories for these wonderful      after he had been shot at Châlus,     pieces. Now Limoges has a 900      just before he died as he had         acre business centre halfway       heard it held treasure, were on       between London and Barcelona and   his route. There are of course        high technology is replacing the   also fine Romanesque churches         place held for so long by the      along the pilgrim’s route to St       porcelain trade. The sea and       Jacques de Compostela.                mountains are less than 3 hours                                          away and Paris, only 50 minutes    Limoges is the capital of the         with daily flights to Orly and     region and was founded by Emperor     Roissy as well as Lyon and         Augustus in 16BC. Roman remains       Clermont-Ferrand. The City         and villas. In the 12th and 13th      benefits from the best of urban    centuries, champleve enamels were     life including opera, theatre,     produced in quantity in Limoges       films, baroque and rap music and   workshops. The Opus Lemovicense       many sports facilities within a    impressed Christianity and the        peaceful environment. The climate  city became influenctial              is enviably mild with only one     throughout Europe. The monks of       degree’s difference between        Saint Martial began this              Toulouse and Limoges in January.   tradition and in the 19th century     In addition the city is            the porcelain took over and fired     surrounded by wonderful            the imagination of the New World      countryside – a giant natural      whose people emigrated to create      park at the city gates.            About the Author: Mark Russell is founder of Limousin Homes - the specialists in French real estate and property sales in the Limousin region of France. More information can be found at http://www.limousinhomes.com Published At: www.Isnare.com