Tourist information on Limoges, France

Limoges is a city in west-central France, the capital of both the Haute-Vienne department and the Limousin region. The largest town on the River Vienne, Limoges is a lively modern city that remains wedded to its colourful past via its historic architecture. It is most famous for its Medieval enamels and its 19th century porcelain, which have earned it the epthet "la capitale des arts du feu". It has also been nicknamed the ville rouge (Red City) on account of its record of strikes in the late 19th century and its part in the creation of the Confédération générale du travail (CGT), one of France's main trades union confederations. Although a modern industrial city, Limoges is a thriving tourist centre and a popular holiday destination.

The city was founded as Augustoritum by the Romans, circa 10 BC, when the Gaulish provinces were being reorganised by the Emperor Augustus. In around 250 AD, Saint Martial came from Rome to evangelise the city and became its first bishop. By the end of the 4th century, the city was prone to attack by Germanic tribes, so the population moved to a safer site, Puy Saint-Étienne, near the centre of modern Limoges. Over the following centuries, the city developed in two sites: La Cité, controlled by the bishop, and Le Château, controlled by the monks who guarded the sacred tomb of Saint Martial. By the 11th century, now part of the Duchy of Aquitaine, Limoges flourished as a centre of art and learning. In 1370, during the 100 Years War, Limoges's urban split was accentuated when La Cité sided with the French whilst Le Château remained loyal to the English crown. That same year, La Cité was ransacked by the Black Prince. By the end of the Middle Ages, Limoges had become part of the kingdom of France under Henri IV. The city was relatively unscathed by the religious wars of the 16th century and prospered in the 18th century through its textile and leather manufacture industries. In 1792, La Cité and Le Château, were unified into the single city of Limoges. The discovery, in 1765, of the clay mineral kaolin in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, 40 km south of Limoges transformed the city and made it one of the world's most important manufacturers of porcelain. The city saw considerable development in the 19th century, with much of the city rebuilt to accommodate the growing population and alleviate social unrest.

The area formerly known as Le Château is the heart of the Old City and exhibits a dizzying mix of architectural styles. Grand mansions of the 18th and 19th century are interspersed with Medieval dwellings and houses built in the first half of the 20th century, including impressive Art Deco structures. Dominating Limoges's historic centre is the imposing Cathédrale St-Étienne, a Gothic cathedral which dates back to the late 13th century and is noted for its octagonal bell tower, its elaborate 16th century north façade and the finely sculptured tomb of the bishop Jean de Langeac. To the west of the cathedral is the partially renovated Old City, which includes the quaint Village de la Boucherie, a maze of narrow streets (dating from the Middle Ages to the 17th century) that was once occupied by the guild of butchers but which today is the site of some of the city's best restaurants. Just as attractive is L'Abbessaille, a Medieval area with steep narrow streets which stretches from the River Vienne to the cathedral.

L'Église Saint-Pierre du Queyroix is one of the principal churches in the Le Château quarter of the Old City. Constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries, it is a striking example of Gothic architecture and contains several remarkable statues and a magnificent altarpiece. The Chapelle Saint-Aurélien dates from the 14th century and houses the relics of St. Aurelian, the second bishop of Limoges, as well as a striking Baroque altarpiece and some beautiful statues. L'Église Saint-Michel-des-Lions is a Gothic church, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, which contains the relics of St Martial. It is distinguished by its 65 m high tower, with a bronze sphere mounted on its steeple, and some impressive 15th century stained glass windows. The famous Saint-Martial Crypt is situated on the Place de la République and contains the tombs of Saint Martial, the first bishop of the town, and Sainte Valérie. Lost for hundreds of years, this was discovered by chance during building works in the 1960s.

The Bishop's Palace (Palais de l'Évêché) is an 18th century building of neo-classical design which now houses the city's Fine Arts Museum. Of the city's many attractions, the most fascinating are the uncovered remains of the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre, which was one of the main features of the Roman town of Augustoritum and the largest of its kind in Gaul. Other landmarks include the many Medieval bridges across the River Vienne (notably le pont de Saint-Michel) and the Pavillon du Verdurier, an Art Déco styled public space which now serves as an exhibition centre.

The Musée des beaux-arts de Limoges (previously known as the Musée Municipal de l'Évêché) is housed in the Bishop's Palace, near to the cathedral in the historic city centre. Limoges's largest museum, its main attraction is a collection of enamelware which dates back to the 12th century. Its other exhibits include sculptures, archaeological findings and paintings by such masters as Renoir, Delacroix, Chagall and Matisse. The Musée national de la porcelaine Adrien Dubouché (situated on the Place Winston Churchill) pays homage to the city's main industry, porcelain manufacture, and offers a remarkable collection of porcelain and china from around the world. The two museums in the rue de Belfort - the Musée des Distilleries limougeaudes and La maison traditionnelle de la Boucherie - provide an insight into two of Limoges's other main industries, brewing and butchery. The Enamel Workshop (31 rue des Tanneries) exhibits traditional enamel production techniques.

Limoges is endowed with a large number of beautifully landscaped parks and gardens. These include les Jardins de l'Évêché (adjacent to the Bishop's Palace), le parc Victor Thuillat, le Jardin d'Orsay and le Champ de Juillet (situated near the Gare des Bénédictins). The city is host to several festivals and other cultural events throughout the year, including: le Festival des Francophonies en Limousin, an international festival of francophone theatre; le Festival du court-métrage de Limoges, which allows amateur and professional filmmakers to screen their short films; and the jazz festival Éclats d'émail.

Limoges International Airport is situated about 15 minutes from the city centre by car and is served by Air France, Ryanair, FlyBe and Brit Air. The city's main train station is Gare des Bénédictins, which offers connections to other cities in France, including Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Lyon. The city has a good public transport system, including a network of buses and trolleybuses.