Limoges is a town in west-central France, and is the prefecture of the Department of Haute-Vienne and capital of the Limousin region. Its inhabitants are known as Limougeauds. The town is officially the 24th largest in France. It is built in the main on the right bank of the river Vienne, and can be considered to be the gateway to the Massif Central.
If so many people from all around desire to come and linger a while in Limoges, it's not just because of the services provided by this beautiful town, but also because of the quality of life it offers, which is no longer found in the big cities. This quality of life appears in both the preservation of the surrounding nature and the clemency of the climate. At the gates of the town you will encounter a huge natural park -- the countryside, offering itself to you! Its proximity to the sea makes its winters mild (in January only one degree separates Limoges from Toulouse), and it has a veritable Indian summer.
Limoges is also one of the towns of France with the lowest level of crime, so embarking upon an evening stroll will rarely pose a problem. Nor will its 692 hectares of green for sporting activities, of which there is almost an embarrassingly large selection.
For a thousand years, Limoges has been the capital of the porcelain and china industry, with its production exported throughout Europe. Three manufacturers -- Haviland, Bernardaud and Royal Limoges -- present their history in a specially developed area, and there are several manufacturers who welcome visitors to their works. There is also a preserved porcelain furnace dating from the end of the nineteenth century, which can be found in the Casseaux quarter.
As for history and culture, Limoges possesses the second most important library in France, after Cluny, and the abbey of Saint Martial is the birthplace of European polyphonic music. But when visiting Limoges, one of the most beautiful encounters is the collection of enamel ware of all periods and styles found in the Eveche enamel museum.
Limoges is also situated to the north of the cultural zone of the Langue d'Oc, and here people speak a Limousine version of occitan. Indeed the occitan texts discovered in Limoges are amongst the oldest in existence (notably those in the abbey of Saint Martial). So, from the middle ages, Limoges has been a cultural centre of prime importance in southern Europe, and its six libraries permit the reader to borrow transcriptions of many of the ancient texts.
Tradition is also present in the rich musical life Limoges has to offer. There are several halls for theatre and concerts, including five municipal cultural centers. Here you can still encounter the playing of ancient instruments such as the hurdy gurdy. Indeed a department of traditional music was created in the music conservatory in 1987, and students are able to study instruments such as the chabrette, bagpipes, traditional violin and the diatonic accordion. It's also possible to study dance and the occitan language through a repertoire of traditional regional songs. Folklore groups abound to regale both the locals and tourists alike with their diverse spectacles!
In summary, to encounter Limoges and its people is to embark upon the discovery of a culture and way of life entirely apart!
