Limousin – Origin
Limousin was established as an administrative region during the territorial reform of 1960. Limoges serves as its administrative center, or préfecture, and draws nearly 40% of the local population.
It is now part of Nouvelle Aquitaine, one of the 13 new regions created by the territorial reform that took effect on January 1, 2016.
The historic region includes 3 departments:
Corrèze (19 – Tulle), Creuse (23 – Guéret) and Haute-Vienne (87 – Limoges).
Despite its significance, Limousin ranks as the second least populated region in Metropolitan France, trailing only Corsica in terms of population density.
Historic Limousin
Limousin derives its name from the Lemovices, the Celtic tribe that governed the region before the Roman conquest. Initially part of Aquitania, a province established by the Roman Emperor Augustus in 16 BC, the area witnessed significant historical shifts.
In 412 AD, the Visigoths invaded this territory, which extended from the Atlantic Ocean to the northern Pyrenees. However, in 507 AD, the Frankish king Clovis vanquished Visigoth King Alaric II at the Battle of Vouillé, incorporating Aquitaine into his Kingdom of France.
Following these events, the Duchy of Aquitaine emerged in 675 AD, leading to the organization of Limousin into viscounties. Eleanor of Aquitaine brought the region into her dowry upon her marriage to Henry Plantagenet, who ascended to the throne of England in 1152.
However, Limousin’s fate shifted again when it definitively returned to the Crown of France in 1607.
Limousin picturesque landscape
The region’s picturesque landscape is characterized by a vast network of rivers weaving through lush green countryside, while rolling hills and forests envelop 34% of its total area. The region’s economy revolves around agriculture, cattle breeding, and forestry, which are its primary sectors.
Although mining was once prominent, with Gauls extracting gold over 2000 years ago, the focus has shifted. Kaolin, crucial for porcelain production, has been mined since the 18th century, along with a brief period of uranium mining in the latter half of the 20th century.
Limousin’s climate varies significantly due to its diverse terrain. Mountainous areas experience a continental climate, featuring cold winters and hot summers. Plateaus enjoy a temperate climate, while western valleys benefit from oceanic influences.
Despite its relative seclusion from major roads, Limousin has preserved its authenticity and remains unspoiled by excessive tourism. The establishment of the Regional Natural Park Périgord Limousin and Millevaches Regional Park has, however, catalyzed the development of cultural and eco-tourism in the region.
Some of Limousin’s many tourist sites
Limoges, the ancient historic capital, is globally renowned for its exquisite porcelain. However, did you know that it was also the birthplace of the Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir? And, did you know that the renowned tapestry Lady and the Unicorn was discovered in the 14th-century Chateau de Boussac?
Were you aware that Saint-Robert and Collonges-la-Rouge were ranked among the Plus Beaux Villages de France for their exceptional beauty, and that Uzerche is known as the Pearl of the Limousin for its captivating charm.
Furthermore, the discovery of the burial ground of a 45,000-year-old Neanderthal young adult in La Chapelle aux Saints sheds light on ancient human history.
The chateau of the Marquise de Pompadour, Louis XV’s favorite, also served as a national stud farm where the renowned Anglo-Arab breed was created. Lastly, did you know that Richard the Lionheart was fatally wounded at the castle of Chalus-Chabrol, and that Oradour-sur-Glane remains a poignant martyr village, preserved in its war-state as a haunting reminder of history?
Area: 16,942 km²
Population: 742,771 (01/01/2013)
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Saut du Chalard by Traumrune CC BY-SA 3.0 – Moulin Piangaud at La Coquille by Père Igor CC BY-SA 3.0 – Header and Photo1 and Lac de Vassivieres by BiacheB CC BY-SA 3.0
