The Limousin is probably the most rural region of France with an overall population less than Marseilles. It is famed for some of the best beef farming in the world and the distinctive Limousin cattle can be seen throughout the region. It is made up of three very different departments:



Correze

The department is named after the pretty, meandering river Correze. The Prefecture is based in the city of Tulle which is predominantly known for having French President, Francois Hollande as its Mayor between 2001-2008, however the real driving force of the Correze economy is the town of Brive la Gaillarde. This is by far the biggest town in the department and the medieval centre is packed with shops, cafés and restaurants. The famous Pont Cardinal is a bridge, outside the city centre, that used to act as an important link between Paris and Toulouse. Brive is a rugby town with a long history and an excellent team, French scrum half Dimitri Yachvili was born there.



Creuse

The rural Creuse department is dominated by the Massif Central mountain range and has rolling hills and steep valleys down to the river Creuse itself. Most of the farming is beef cattle and you will see a mix of Charolais and Limousin herds. There are no real urban centres in the department which has become a "green tourism" destination. There is little pollution here with plenty of forests throughout the department containing oak, ash, chestnut and hazel trees - this means that it has become a popular "second home" destination for international purchasers seeking to escape modern urban life. House prices in the Creuse are the lowest in the region and amongst the lowest in the country.



Haute-Vienne

The Haute-Vienne department is renowned for one thing - being the home of Limoges and the most famous porcelain in the world. There is, of course, much more to the city of Limoges (and the Haute-Vienne itself), Limoges was founded by the Romans in around 10 BC and was called Augustoritum. The Abbey of St Martial was razed at the beginning of the 19th century but was founded as a monastery in 848 AD. Limoges is the driving force behind the economy of the Limousin and the airport on the outskirts of Limoges is an important access points for the thousands of tourists and holiday home owners.

The Limousin has some of the most affordable housing in France but there is a big differential between areas. The average price in the region is ?114,200 (for an "old" house) and 2010/11 saw a rise of 6.3% - however these figures are affected by prices in and around Limoges and Brives la Gaillarde. For a more accurate picture we have to look at departmental prices:



Correze - average price is ?122,000 with a big premium paid around Brive. Lowest prices in the department are to be found around Ussel where the average price is ?85,000. Prices rose by 6.4% across the department in 2010/11.

Creuse - average price is just ?77,300 with the lowest prices in the sector around Aubusson. Prices rose by 6.3% in 2010/11.

Haute-Vienne - average price is ?127,000 and the highest house prices in the whole region are to be found in the secor around Limoges at ?134,000. 2010/11 saw prices rise by 6.3%.

The Limousin may well be one of the most rural regions in France but there are still plenty of activities to be enjoyed.



Of course first stop should be to visit Limoges, enjoy the hospitality of some first class restaurants, cafés and bars and maybe even buy some of the local porcelain. There is plenty more to the city centre though with theatres, cinemas, museums, parks and all of the major shops.



One of the museums is devoted to the trials and tribulations of the French resistance and many tourists find themselves drawn to the ruined village of Oradour sur Glane. On June 10th 1944 the village was destroyed and 644 inhabitants massacred by the German SS. A new village was built nearby but the original was preserved as a memorial and attracts visitors from all over the world who come to pay their respects.



The Eglise St Michel des Lions and Cathedral St Etienne, in the city centre are both worth visiting as is the small but excellent municipal museum.



If you have an equestrian bent then a visit to Pompadour is a must. It is home to the French national stud and the principal breeding centre for anglo-arabian horses, it also has an excellent racecourse (hippodrome).



There are numerous specialist fisheries in the Limousin (which is known as the land of a thousand lakes) as well as excellent fishing in the rivers which host carp, pike, perch and zander. The Haute Vienne alone has over 190 hectares of category 1 lakes and 1,800 hectares of category 2.



Golfers can enjoy ten different courses in the Limousin the most famous of which is Golf de la Porcelaine (on the outskirts of Limoges). Carved out of a 75 hectare estate it is a challenging course with plenty of trees, ponds, streams and bunkers to test even the best of golfers. Further north and east Golf de Saint Junien is another treat. The magnificent clubhouse is set in 200 hectares of wooded land and at 5165 metres the course is not too challenging for a holiday round. Only 5 minutes from the centre of Brive the pretty course at Brive Planchetorte is more testing with plenty of ancient trees ready to knock your ball into the stream that winds through 13 of the holes!

Being such a rural region definitely has its advantages when it comes to the quality of air, soil and general conditions for agriculture. The markets of Limousin reflect this and are bursting with colour, sound and flavours.



Of course the local beef is renowned throughout the world (indeed it is exported to over 70 different countries) and the Limousin and Charolais cattle are regarded with reverence, however the lamb and pork (from the cul noir, black bottomed, pigs) are almost as well regarded.



If you like strolling round local markets then some of the best are:



Correze - Brive la Gaillarde & Tulle both have a daily market, open in the mornings. You might also like to try the markets in Objat or Uzerche or even the town fair in Allasac which is on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month.

Creuse - Aubusson has a daily market (in the place du marché fittingly) or you could try the daily market in Bourganeuf or the pretty Friday market in Felletin.

Haute-Vienne - there are plenty to choose from here. How about the general morning markets in Limoges at Le Vigenal and Place Marceau or the morning food market in Rochechouart. There is a fair on the last Saturday of each month at St Germain les Belles or on the second Sunday of each month at Chateauneuf la Foret.



You should definitely look out for Clafouti cake (made with local cherries) or the refined violet mustard, both of which are popular in the region. You will also see plenty of apples and chestnuts in the markets, both of which are grown locally in abundance.



The bi-weekly or monthly fairs are usually bigger than the markets and have miscellaneous stalls as well as those selling food and drink. Look out for clothes, farm equipment, tools, live animals and plenty of other things to keep you entertained while taking your morning coffee with the locals.