ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Limousin - Favourite family holiday destination in France 2017

Updated on January 7, 2017
Irises growing on the edge of a pond near Videix
Irises growing on the edge of a pond near Videix | Source
Limousin is 'Constable Country'
Limousin is 'Constable Country' | Source
Fields of corn flowers.
Fields of corn flowers. | Source
Videix Lake and Beach
Videix Lake and Beach | Source
Sailing and windsufing
Sailing and windsufing | Source
Pedalos and Kayaks
Pedalos and Kayaks | Source
Horses by Videix Lake. There are two riding stables within 5 minutes of Videix.
Horses by Videix Lake. There are two riding stables within 5 minutes of Videix. | Source
Watch the sun going down from the (west facing) bedroom of our B&B. What could be more restful or more inspiring?
Watch the sun going down from the (west facing) bedroom of our B&B. What could be more restful or more inspiring? | Source

Limousin is great for family holidays

Why put up with all the traffic, exorbitant prices and crowded beaches. Why flock to expensive resorts with all the rest of the sheep when you could relax in Limousin?

Limousin is a little known and unspoilt region of south west France that still retains its own special character. It is perfect for a family holiday because of the open spaces, tranquility, wonderful landscape, fabulous heritage and excellent restaurants where you can enjoy traditional Limousin cuisine. The area is steeped in history and teeming with chateaux and castles.

Limousin is known as "The Lake District of France" because of all its beautiful swimming lakes and beaches. Children can play in the safest of environments. The accommodation is fantastically good value and it's easy to get here. What more could you want for your family holiday in France 2017?

I loved Limousin so much that I moved here

Ever been on holiday to somewhere you liked so much that you just wanted to stay there forever? That happened to me with Limousin. It was love at first sight. I am not well travelled, but in my youth I loved Italy. I've been to Florence and Venice and many sleepy little villages in the south. I've seen Naples and wondered at Rome. I've been to Munich, to Granada and Madrid in Spain, and Paris and Casablanca. I've been to Istanbul, Trabizon and Ankara, to Amsterdam and The Hague in Holland: all marvellous places to visit but only Limousin struck me as a wonderful place to live and bring up a family.

After months of house hunting to find the ideal property, I finally settled in the tiny hamlet of Videix on the borders of Limousin, The Dordogne and The Charente, just ten minutes from the medieval town of Rochechouart, - the perfect place to create our B&B, holiday home and to start our painting courses.

Why? I think the reasons for moving here can be divided into two groups. The practical and the emotional. In the first group lay cheap property prices, close proximity to England where my family live, cheap and easy transport links to England, a strong English community here, a smattering of French to get me going with the language, no traffic to speak of, hardly any crime.

Emotionally Limousin is the dream that many British people are searching for. A Constable Country of oak forests, lakes, stone farm houses, wild flower meadows and corn fields full of blue corn flowers and red poppies. It is a safe and clean place to bring up children; no car pollution, no farming chemicals to worry about, no violence or drugs. And last but not least the weather. Yes, it is cold in winter, but a bright cold with sapphire blue skies and mid-day temperatures that can mean you could sunbathe in January. We do have rain: you don't get all that green grass and miles of lakes and forests without a drop or two, but the summers are generally warm and sunny without being too hot. The Brits do love the sun, but we can't cope with too much!

For all these reasons this was my favourite holiday destination and it has been my home now for almost eight years and for eight years it has lived up to the dream. Could it be your dream holiday too?

Why is Limousin a favourite holiday destination for families?

  • Lots of things to do for all the family
  • Can be warm and sunny but not too hot
  • No traffic
  • Lots of great activities for kids
  • Lots of things for children to see and do
  • Very cheap accommodation and restaurants
  • Limousin is a calm, no hassle place
  • We are a genuine community so you won't feel ripped off all the time as you often do in more commerialised tourist centres.

What is there to do?

Far from being a well-thought out article, these are just a few thoughts off the top of my head. There are just so many things I could write about. I'm going to leave out great chunks of interesting stuff about arts and crafts, local markets, gold mining, history, super chateaux, villages, quaint towns, things like karting and sport (because I don't know much about this!) and all the other things I haven't yet discovered!

Let us help you to organise your activity holiday

When you visit a new place for holidays or when you don’t speak the language organising activities can be a bit daunting and is certainly time consuming. At Les Trois Chenes we aim to please and to that end we offer to arrange activities for our Bed and Breakfast and gite guests free of charge. You can pick activities from our list or make your own suggestions and we’ll make the bookings for you.

Why is Limousin a favourite holiday destination for families?

  • Lots of things to do for all the family

  • Can be warm and sunny but not too hot
  • No traffic
  • Lots of great activities for kids
  • Lots of things for children to see and do
  • Very cheap accommodation and restaurants
  • Limousin is a calm, no hassle place
  • We are a genuine community so you won't feel ripped off all the time as you often do in more commerialised tourist centres.

What is there to do?

Far from being a well-thought out article, these are just a few thoughts off the top of my head. There are just so many things I could write about. I'm going to leave out great chunks of interesting stuff about arts and crafts, local markets, gold mining, history, super chateaux, villages, quaint towns, things like karting and sport (because I don't know much about this!) and all the other things I haven't yet discovered!

A
Limousin:
Limousin, France

get directions

Where is Limousin?

Limousin borders the Dordogne, Auvergne, Midday Pyranees, Centre and the Charente.

There are excellent transport links to Limoges airport or railway station. Why not take advantage of cheap flights by Ryanair.

The railway stations are also about the same distance.

Clafouti, just one of many regional specialities
Clafouti, just one of many regional specialities | Source
The restaurant Parquei Pai, less than ten minutes from us produces creative cusine with home grown produce
The restaurant Parquei Pai, less than ten minutes from us produces creative cusine with home grown produce | Source

Food and drink

Limousin has a rich culinary heritage stemming from the beef cattle and chestnut forests. Fish is a favourite as our lakes and rivers are teeming with a wide variety of species that are delicious when served up on a plate. Venison and wild boar are hunted here and in spring there are hunt banquets. Or try some of the desserts made with cherries and apples.

Limousin is also great for foie gras, apple juice and cider and in the autumn the locals will collect mushrooms and other edible fungus. Autumn, harvest time, is a great time to visit the Limousin.

For more information on these restaurants and more See Where to eat in France - the lakes of the Haute Charente

Chateau de Rochechouart - Rochechouart castle, now a centre for contemporary art
Chateau de Rochechouart - Rochechouart castle, now a centre for contemporary art | Source
La Rochefoucauld has a real fairytale castle.
La Rochefoucauld has a real fairytale castle. | Source
The castle of Rochebrune is only ten minutes away.
The castle of Rochebrune is only ten minutes away. | Source
Montbrun chateau is for sale!
Montbrun chateau is for sale! | Source
Castle at Jumilhac, about 35 minutes from us.
Castle at Jumilhac, about 35 minutes from us. | Source

Fairytale Castles and Romantic Chateaux

We are on The Route of Richard the Lion Heart (or Richard coeur de Lion). This is a route linking no less than 13 spectacular castles and 15 impressive tourist destinations. There are many, many more castles and chateaux to see that are not on this route. There are also ruined castles, fortified villages and remnants of town walls. Many of the castles are open to the public, though some are limited to the hight of the tourist season.

Here are just a few:

  • The Castle of Rochebrune An 11th century fortified house and residence of the Princes of Chabanais.
  • Rochechouart Castle Now a major centre for Contemporary Art.
  • La Rochefoucauld castle in it's beautiful setting.
  • Chateau de Brie An imposing house at Champagnac la Rivière.
  • Château de Montbrun A castle reflected in the water of its moat. If you dream of living in a castle like this - the dream could become a reality. This castle is for sale. It was viewed by Angelina Joli and Brad Pitt. Think you might like to buy? Click here.
  • Château de Chalus-Maulmont Magnificent ruins and beautiful views
  • Chalus-Chabrol Ruined castle. It was here where Richard was killed in 1199. The chateau is the 'symbol of the Limoges Viscounts' resistance against the Plantagenets. Richard the Lionheart's entrails lie in the chapel.’Le Cars The ruins of time!
  • Lastours Moats and ruins and a Romanesque keep.
  • Nexon Elegant 17th century Chateau and garden.
  • Jumilhac This is the fairytale castle of picture books!
  • Cussac Bonneval Four massive round towers and a moat.
  • Seguire-Le-Chateau Listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France.Pompadour Fortress started 1026. Famous horse breeding centre and the National Stud farm of France.

Old porcelain kiln, Limoges
Old porcelain kiln, Limoges | Source
So many places to buy Limoges Porcelain
So many places to buy Limoges Porcelain | Source
Corot painted by the river at St Junien
Corot painted by the river at St Junien | Source
Portrait by Renoir (1899 ) in the Musée des beaux-arts de Limoges - Palais de l'Évêché Renoir came from Limoges (Photographer Sergey Prokopenko)
Portrait by Renoir (1899 ) in the Musée des beaux-arts de Limoges - Palais de l'Évêché Renoir came from Limoges (Photographer Sergey Prokopenko) | Source

History and Culture of Limousin

Limoges is famous for porcelain and St Junien for its leather industry, especially glove-making. Both of these industries offer factory tours as well as opportunities to buy direct from the factories. These are only two of the many historical and cultural highlights of this area:

  • The Porcelain Museum at Limoges
  • The church of Les Salles -Lavauguyon Impressive 12 & 13th century frescoes.
  • The village of Oradour-sur-Glane preserved as an anti-war monument and the impressive visitor centre. The saddest thing you will see, but also the most powerful; a visit you will remember for the rest of your life.
  • Limoges Museum of Metiers and the Musée de Beaux-Arts
  • Rochechouart Centre of Modern Art
  • Cassinomagus, the impressive Roman remains in Chassenon

Art and Artists in Limousin

Monet worked in Limousin along with many of the Barbizon painters. They appreciated the wild and savage landscapes of Limousin. Corot worked on the banks of the Vienne in St Junien, painting the amazing rocks. This is a lovely area to take children. There are picnic tables, shady walks and safe river bathing.

There are Renoirs in the Museum in Limoges; the city is proud that Renoir was born here, and Raoul Hausmann, the Dada artist died in Limoges. There is a permanent exhibition of his work in Rochechouart Castle.

Two other local artists are Jean Tilliet who painted landscapes and lived in St Junien, and Jacques Bleny who died tragically young in a car crash.

Enjoy a relaxing painting holiday and improve your skills. Painting courses are held at Les Trois Chenes - www.lestroischenes.com for absolute beginners and for those with some experience.

Local Crafts

Limousin is famous for barrel making, woodland and wood crafts from coppicing, paper-making. Porcelain painting and enameling are also specialties of the area.

There are lots of potters who will welcome you into their studios but these are rather hidden away, and artists take advantage of all the barns and houses going for a song.

Cycling guests outside our gite.
Cycling guests outside our gite. | Source
Espace Hermeline is a fabulous outdoor recreation space built around a beautiful Limousin lake.
Espace Hermeline is a fabulous outdoor recreation space built around a beautiful Limousin lake. | Source

Sports and Outdoor Activities in Limousin and the Charente

Limousin really comes into its own if you enjoy the great outdoors. The outdoor activities are made for family enjoyment and you will adore enjoying the countryside almost free from traffic and noise. Limousin is excellent for

  • Fishing, permits are cheap and easy to acquire
  • Riding. There are two riding centres within five minutes of Videix.
  • Walking: There are local and long distance paths starting right outside our B&B
  • Cycling, Limousin is great for cycling and one fabulous annual event is the Tour de Limousin. Of course the Tour de France also springs to mind.
  • Outdoor adventure at the Park in Massignac
  • Water sports on Videix Lake
  • Kayaks and canoes on the rivers
  • Quad biking and Karting
  • Swimming in the pools at Angouleme and St Junien
  • Swimming in the lakes
  • Ice skating in Limoges
  • Play golf at one of two courses just 30 minutes away.
  • Swing through the trees or zip over the lake at Bussier Galante outdoor activity centre

Children love small farm animals
Children love small farm animals

Especially for Children

Playing on the beach, swimming in the lake, visiting castles are all adored by kids. They will also love to visit Park Bellevue just outside Limoges. A full day out, this park offers swimming, lots of bouncy castles, a small zoo, a miniature train, lots of huge slides and funfair rides. There is a restaurant or you can take a picnic. The entry fees are modest and the adults will love to have a day to chat to each other while the children amuse themselves.

Futuroscope in the Charente is a bit of a drive, it is about two hours away, but the kids are wild for a really big treat. Worth making the effort.

Much nearer they will enjoy the collection of working models, Féeriland, the world of Insects or the Meteorite Museum in Rochechouart.

The Aquarium in Limoges is great if the weather isn't or take the kids on a tour of Limoges on the little tourist train.

The Zoo Reynou is worth a visit and makes an excellent day out.

There are still more things to do and see

  • Visit a vide grenier, (Empty your attic)
  • Go on a tour of one of the many open farms and buy straight from the producer
  • Enjoy the gardens open to the public
  • See the markets, especially the Wednesday market at Piegut
  • Watch boules in the parks
  • Go to the botanical gardens in Limoges
  • Visit the fabulous cities of Angouleme and Perigueux: videix is right in the centre of a triangle formed by these two historic cities and Limoges.
  • Pretty villages with churches are everywhere in Limousin. Two of the prettiest village in France, Mortemart and Brantome are within driving distance.
  • Discover the wild life. We are within the Parc Naturel du Perigord Limousin, a natural park created to preserve the spectacular wild life and landscape.
  • Join one of the meals organised by the communes (parishes) and meet the locals.

If you have enjoyed this Hub and have anything that you would like to write about, why not join us on HubPages?

Gifts and Cards from Limousin

You can buy a whole host of gifts, from mugs to aprons with my French and Limousin designs. You can personalise all these designs to make them really special
You can buy a whole host of gifts, from mugs to aprons with my French and Limousin designs. You can personalise all these designs to make them really special | Source

© 2010 Les Trois Chenes

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)