LIMOUSIN INFORMATION
LIMOUSIN Topography
The modern region of Limousin is located in the central part of France, on a series of rolling plateaus in the northwestern part of the Massif Central. It is bounded by the départements of Indre and Cher, in the region of Centre to the north, Allier, Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal, in the region of Auvergne to the east. The département of Lot, in the region of Midi-Pyrénées, is to the south, Dordogne is to the southwest, the département of Charente, in the region of Poitou-Charente, is to the west and Vienne, in Poitou-Charente, is to the northwest. Limousin is comprised of three départements: Corrèze, Creuse and Haute-Vienne. The region’s capital is Limoges.
The Blond Mountains are located in the southwest, between the Vienne and Gartempe rivers, and rise to more than 1600 feet. The Ambazac Mountains, to the east, rise to more than 2300 feet.
LIMOUSIN Climate
The Limousin region is almost entirely an upland area. The lowest land is in the northwest of the region (approximately 250 m above sea level) and the highest land is roughly in the southeast (approximately 1000 m above sea level). However, the greater part of the region is above 350 m. There are numerous important rivers in the Limousin such as the Dordogne, Vienne, Creuse and Cher. The region is well known for the high quality of its water and for offering first rate fishing.
Although summer temperatures often exceed 32 °C – and have even reached 42 °C – the Limousin region has a damper and milder climate than its neighbours. Winters are often long and cold, especially in the higher areas, and snow is not at all uncommon.
The area around Brive in the Corrèze has more than 2000 hours per year of sunshine, the same as the southern city of Toulouse.
LIMOUSIN Demography
With a slowly rising population of just under 750,000, Limousin is the second least populated French region in Metropolitan France after Corsica. There are fewer inhabitants in Limousin than in the city of Marseille.
The population of Limousin is aging and, until 1999, it was declining. The Creuse department has the oldest population of any in France. Between 1999 and 2004 the population of Limousin increased slightly, reversing a decline for the first time in decades.
LIMOUSIN Economy
Limousin is an essentially rural region. Famed for some of the best beef farming in the world, herds of Limousin cattle—a distinctive chestnut red—are a common sight in the region. In addition to cattle, the region is also a major timber producing area.
Due to its rural locality it is also famed for their French Oak orchards, so prized for its distinct characters and flavors in wine fermentation that only vintner Rémy Martin has exclusive rights to their oak orchards. It is a partnership that is over 100 years old.
The regional capital, Limoges, was once an industrial power-base, world-renowned for its porcelain and is still a leader and innovator in electric equipment factories (which used porcelain as an insulator originally). However, large factories are now few in number.
LIMOUSIN Main cities
Abusson, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Brives-la-Gaillarde, Collonges-la-Rouge, Guéret, Limoges, Sarlat, Tulle, Turenne
LIMOUSIN WINE
LIMOUSIN HOLIDAY RENTALS in Region of FRANCE
MORE THAN 10.000 B&B in all France
MORE THAN 10.000 Gîtes in all France
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