Limoges, France

Limoges is a city and commune (roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities/cities in the United States or Canada) in the South-Central region of France, with a population of approximately 137,500 in the city proper, but if you include it’s urban area, the population jumps to nearly 250,000 people.

The city was founded as Augustoritum by the Romans, around the year
10 BC. During the Hundred Years War, Limoges was a base for the bands of pillagers which ravaged the country. Limoges is known worldwide for its medieval enamels (Limoges enamels) on copper, for it’s 19th century porcelain (Limoges porcelain), and for its oak barrels (Limousin Oak), which are used for Cognac production.

You’ll want to rent a car to explore the factories that make this famous local art form. In 1771, Kaolin, a rock rich in fine, white clay which is used for making porcelain, was discovered at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, near Limoges, and a new ceramics industry was developed.

Limoges porcelain became famous during the 19th century. However, Limoges porcelain is a generic term for porcelain produced in Limoges rather than at a specific factory. The city of Limoges offers something for everyone, but with having a land area of 125 square miles, you’d do well to hire a car so you can explore the beauty of Limoges at your own pace.

The city features such attractions as The Crypt of Saint Martial (from the 10th century, which includes the tomb of the bishop who evangelized the city), which was only discovered in the 1960s. As well, the remains of the Gallo-Roman amphitheater, is located in Limoges - one of the largest in the ancient Gaul. It was covered with earth in the 1960s.

The Bishops’ Palace (of the original building, only a chapel remains) is the seat of the Musée de l’Émail, which houses a large collection of old enamels.

The Gothic cathedral of St-Etienne, had begun being built in 1273, and was only finished in 1888. It is noted for a fine rood loft built in 1534 and for the fine, partly octagonal bell tower. The main artistic works are a Renaissance rood screen (an ornate screen, constructed of wood, stone or wrought iron that divides the area with the main altar in a church from the nave), and the tomb of the bishop Jean de Langeac, with sculpted scenes of the Apocalypse.