Location

The Limousin lies roughly in the centre of France and has preserved much of its natural beauty, with its amazing diversity in its landscapes and unspoilt natural habitats. It is a region of hills, river valleys and lakes, high plateaux and forests. The chestnut forests of the Regional Nature Park of Perigord/Limousin alternate with the moorlands and peat beds of the Ambazac Mountains. It is, of course, where the distinctive Limousin cattle are bred and reared.

It is an area of mediaeval towns and villages with some Renaissance Chateaux.

You won't be bored with the variety or traditional festivals, village feast-days including huge firework displays, and local fairs and markets, giving you the opportunity to meet the people and share the local lifestyle.

The area is blessed with long, hot summers due to its inland position. To find out what the weather conditions are like at the moment, please click here.

Local Facilities

As the River Gartempe runs along the bottom of our field, fishing is very close at hand. Catch some rainbow or brown trout for the BBQ, or for the coarse fishermen there are barbel, chubb, roach, pike, zander and some very fine specimens of carp.

Anytime you fancy a break, the kitchen and a cup of tea are 1 minute away from the river bank!

The local village of Folles, which is about a five-minute walk away, has a bar with restaurant, hairdressers, church and post office, where you can also buy fishing permits.
The surrounding countryside is ideal for walking; there are scenic circular walks to do that start from the village.

About a 10 minute car drive will take you to Pont Lac de l’Age, a lake which is good for walks, picnics and fishing (permit necessary).

Further Afield

Canoeing is very popular and this can be done from Chateauponsac, where you can hire a kayak and take lessons.
Saint Pardoux is a very large lake about twenty minutes away. Several parts of the lake have been turned into beach areas, with the usual facilities of pedalos, swimming and cafes, but also canoes, sailing boats, water-skiing and windsurfing are available.

If you want to get back to civilisation then there are a number of towns within easy reach – such as La Souterraine to the north and Bessines sur Gartempe to the west - both with tourist information centres, shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, supermarkets and weekly markets.
Limoges is approx. 40 minutes drive from the house. The old town is full of character. Wander through the famous Meat Market, and then visit the museums and world-famous porcelain shops.

Your Journey

The cottage is approximately a 6-hour car journey from the Channel Tunnel or from the ferry ports of Calais, Caen or Boulogne. From Cherbourg it is about a 6½-hour car journey.

You can get up to 10% discount on Brittany Ferries crossings. We would be happy to supply you with the required reference code if you want to take advantage of this facility.

If you would like to break your journey you can find many interesting places to visit en route, such as Futuroscope in Poitiers, or you can meander slowly down the Loire valley and visit Tours, Blois and the many chateaux of that area. Limoges Airport is 45 mins away. EasyJet and Ryanair offer flights from the UK.