Haute-Vienne is a department in the central French region of Limousin. Named after the River Vienne that runs via the area, the Haute-Vienne is a rural region with numerous historic towns and with the ancient town of Limoges as its capital.

Limoges

The historic town of Limoges is now well-known as a centre for porcelain production, a procedure that began in the 18th century and still continues these days. There is even a museum dedicated to the art in the town, with examples of porcelain produced over the generations as well as an explanation of how it is developed. On weekends, they occasionally hold porcelain-painting sessions, so the artists in your family can have a go at creating a masterpiece. The rest of the town boasts several gorgeous buildings, such as the Gothic cathedral of St Etienne with its octagonal bell tower. You can also go to the remains of a 10th century crypt and a Roman amphitheatre.

Outdoor Pursuits

The countryside in the Haute-Vienne region is perfect for walking and horseback riding and has over 2,000 kilometres for marked paths to take pleasure in. There are also mountain bike trails by way of the woods at Chateauneuf-la-Foret and Vaulry. In an area that is dominated by its rivers there are plenty of canoeing centres, which run organised day trips on the water. Far more active water sports, like water skiing, are offered at the lakes of Vassiviere and Bujaleuf, where there are also sandy beaches for those who prefer to relax.

Abbeys and Castles

There are a number of historic abbeys and castles, dotted throughout the Haute-Vienne countryside. 1 of the most well-known, and most well-known with visitors, is the abbey at Solignac. There has been an abbey on this web site since 652, though the present building dates only from the 12th century, with Additional added in the last few hundred years. It\’s a main stopping point on the pilgrim’s route to Santiago de Compostela and is an impressive building filled with religious artwork and artefacts. The Rochechouart castle is located on a high rocky promontory, overlooking two rivers and giving a terrific view of the Haute-Vienne countryside. It\’s an fascinating combination of the medieval – complete with working drawbridge – and the Renaissance, also featuring a museum dedicated to contemporary art.

The ruined village of Oradur-sur-Glane may well not sound like significantly of a tourist attraction, but is a deeply moving place to go to. The village was destroyed by German forces at the end of World War II who murdered the 600 residents as they withdrew from the region. The village has never been rebuilt and stands as a permanent memorial. There is a visitor’s centre nearby which not only details the events leading up to the massacre but the presence of Nazi forces throughout France as a entire.

The Author writes for Holiday Property Rentals who have a selection of Villas in Haute-Vienne and Villas in France which can be rented direct from their owners.

Haute-Vienne is a department in the central French region of Limousin. Named after the River Vienne that runs by means of the area, the Haute-Vienne is a rural region with several historic towns and with the ancient town of Limoges as its capital.

Limoges

The historic town of Limoges is now well-known as a centre for porcelain production, a procedure that began in the 18th century and still continues right now. There is even a museum dedicated to the art in the town, with examples of porcelain developed over the generations as well as an explanation of how it is developed. On weekends, they occasionally hold porcelain-painting sessions, so the artists in your family can have a go at creating a masterpiece. The rest of the town boasts a lot of attractive buildings, such as the Gothic cathedral of St Etienne with its octagonal bell tower. You can also go to the remains of a 10th century crypt and a Roman amphitheatre.

Outdoor Pursuits

The countryside in the Haute-Vienne region is perfect for walking and horseback riding and has over 2,000 kilometres for marked paths to get pleasure from. There are also mountain bike trails by way of the woods at Chateauneuf-la-Foret and Vaulry. In an area that is dominated by its rivers there are plenty of canoeing centres, which run organised day trips on the water. Additional active water sports, like water skiing, are out there at the lakes of Vassiviere and Bujaleuf, where there are also sandy beaches for those who prefer to relax.

Abbeys and Castles

There are a number of historic abbeys and castles, dotted throughout the Haute-Vienne countryside. 1 of the most well-known, and most preferred with visitors, is the abbey at Solignac. There has been an abbey on this internet site since 652, though the present building dates only from the 12th century, with Additional added in the last few hundred years. It\’s a main stopping point on the pilgrim’s route to Santiago de Compostela and is an impressive building filled with religious artwork and artefacts. The Rochechouart castle is located on a high rocky promontory, overlooking two rivers and giving a good view of the Haute-Vienne countryside. It\’s an fascinating combination of the medieval – complete with working drawbridge – and the Renaissance, also featuring a museum dedicated to contemporary art.

The ruined village of Oradur-sur-Glane might not sound like a lot of a tourist attraction, but is a deeply moving place to go to. The village was destroyed by German forces at the end of World War II who murdered the 600 residents as they withdrew from the region. The village has never been rebuilt and stands as a permanent memorial. There is a visitor’s centre nearby which not only details the events leading up to the massacre but the presence of Nazi forces throughout France as a entire.

The Author writes for Holiday House Rentals who have a selection of Villas in Haute-Vienne and Villas in France which can be rented direct from their owners.