Limousin | French At a Touch French At a Touch The Region of Limousin – France Region 12 Consists of the Départements of Correze [19], Creuse [23] and Haute-Vienne [87] The Region of Limousin – Region 12 of 22 The Location of Limousin 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. The History of Limousin During the Pre-Roman and Roman periods [50 BC to 550 AD], the general area of Limousin was inhabited by a Gallic tribe known as the Lemovices. The name Limousin is derived from that Gallic name. Under the Romans, the area became a part of the province of Aquitania . During the 6th to 8th centuries the Merovigian Franks were the rulers. They gave it the name Pagus Lemovicinus. From the 8th to 10th century it was ruled by the Carolingian Franks and, in 918, it once again became subordinate to Aquitaine. During the Middle Ages it was known for its troubadour poetry. The 10th century saw Limousin divided into a number of small governmental [feudal] units. The northern part of Limousin became the country of Marche.

The counts of Angouleme, Auvergne and Poitou annexed other parts. By the middle of the following century, the Duke of Aquitaine, through the viscounts of Comborn, Limoges , Turenne and Ventadour, ruled the remaining territory. In 1466, Jean Bourbon II, the 6th duke of Bourbon, was made governor of Limousin [together with Berry, Languedoc, Orléanais and Périgord] by Louis XI . This honor was bestowed as a result of Jean Bourbon’s contribution to the earlier rout of the English. The middle of the 12th century saw increased competition for Limousin between the French and English. During the Hundred Years’ War [1337 to 1453], the area was the scene of heavy fighting. Ultimately, Henry IV annexed the area to France. It then became the French province of Plateaux du Limousin, in 1790, with its center at Limoges . The present region contains much of the territory formerly found in the old province.

Region of Limousin Département Information The Dèpartements of Limousin Corrèze The département of Corrèze is located on the western border of the Massif Central, in the southern part of Limousin . It is bounded by the départements of Creuse in the north, Cantal and Puy-de-Dôme , in Auvergne , on the east, Lot , in the region of Midi-Pyrénées , to the south and Dordogne and Haute-Vienne [Limousin] on the west. In 1790, Corrèze was formed from the old province of Limousin. The Dordogne River flows through the département. Tulle is the capital. Creuse The Département of Creuse is located on the northwestern border of the Massif Central, and occupies much of the Creuse River basin. The ground, in the southeast of the département, rises to more than 3000 feet. The Creuse département is bounded by the départements of Indre and Cher on the north, Allier and Puy-du-Dôme on the east, Corrèze to the south, and Haute-Vienne on the west.

Creuse was formed, with Guéret as the capital, in 1790 from the old provinces of Marche [a province prior to the French Revolution], plus northern Haute-Vienne and a piece of Indre, Berry [a former province in central France; its capital was Bourges], Bourbonnais [another old province in central France], Auvergne, Poitou, and Limousin. The area is well known for its stockbreeding of the Limousin cattle. Cereals, chestnuts and potatoes are grown. Industry is poorly developed and scattered and consists of food processing, metal production, mining, quarrying and spinning. Haute-Vienne The Département of Haute-Vienne is located in the western part of Limousin, on the northwestern slopes of the Massif Central. It was carved principally from the old province of Marche with samplings of the provinces of Berry, Limousin and Poitou. The département’s north is separated from the south by the westward-flowing Vienne River. The Vienne River traverses the rolling uplands of Limousin before joining the Maulde and Taurion rivers. It then flows through Limoges.

Region of Limousin Town Information The Towns of Limousin The Capital of Limousin – Limoges Limoges is the capital of the Département of Haute-Vienne and of the Limousin region. It is located in the heart of France, south-southwest of Paris on the right bank of the Vienne River. This places it on the western edge of the Massif Central, about 210 km (130 mi) northwest of Bordeaux .Limoges is an ancient community. During its pre-Roman period, it was the capital of a Gallic tribe called the Lemovices. After the Roman conquest, it was called Augustoritum. It became an important Roman center, with its own Senate and currency.The 3rd century brought Christianity to the small town of Saint Martial, which was located on the hillside overlooking Limoges. Due to the quickly spreading legends of the miracles being performed at the shrine of Santiago de Compostela [located in northwestern Spain] Saint Martial quickly became a stopping-off place for the numerous pilgrimages to the shrine. Santiago de Compostela had become one of the most important of all Christendom’s religious shrines.

In the 9th century, the Abbey of Saint Martial was built over the crypt and tomb of Saint Martial. During the 12th century, Limoges became the seat of the viscounty of Limousin. The power of the Abbot of Saint Martial soon rivaled that of the Bishop of Limoges. During the Hundred Years’ War , between France and England [1337 to 1453], the two towns found themselves on opposing sides. Finally, the two towns grow into each other, and in 1792 the towns were officially merged into Limoges. Until the 16th century, Limoges was frequently ravaged by famine, fire and plague. It wasn’t until the later part of that century that it was made the capital of Limousin Province. The surviving parts of the two medieval towns, now merged into and overgrown by the modern city, can still be recognized by their narrow winding streets that are in contrast to the spacious roads of the newer neighborhoods. Beginning in 1771, a hard-paste porcelain industry developed near Limoges, where kaolin deposits had been discovered.

By the 1800’s, Limoges had become one of the largest porcelain centers in Europe. An American named David Haviland opened a porcelain factory at Limoges in 1842 to make tableware for the American market. Haviland porcelain features soft colors that blend together and small floral patterns. The porcelain factories have been modernized to use natural gas and have developed new production techniques. Uranium is mined in the region. Other industries include the manufacture of leather products, cotton textiles, and machinery. It is a railway junction on the main Paris-Toulouse line and a trade center for stock farming. Points of Interest Limoges boasts a ceramics museum [the Musée National de Céramique Adrien-Dubouché] possessing a fine collection of ceramics and porcelain. It was opened in 1867. The cathedral of Saint-Étienne, which was constructed between 1273 and 1520, is the city’s most imposing structure. Its elegant, partly octagonal bell tower is typical of the Gothic churches of the region.

The church of Saint-Michel-des-Lions, constructed during the 14th and 15th centuries, has a 198 ft high tower with a spire surmounted by a big bronze ball. The church also possesses an excellent 15th century stained-glass windows. The 18th century Palais de l’Évêché now houses the municipal museum, which has a large collection of old enamels. The city’s Université de Limoges was founded 1808.Limoges is the birthplace of Pierre Auguste Renoir. Economic Activity Since 1771, Limoges has been famous for its fine porcelain that is made from nearby deposits of kaolin. It is also an industrial and commercial center in south central France. Limoges also produces automobile parts, electrical equipment, leather goods, including shoes, paper and textiles. Uranium is mined in the vicinity. Aubusson Northeast of Limoges, on the Creuse River, in the Département of Creuse, is the market town of Aubusson. The town is well known for its high quality wool carpets and tapestries.

In 1869, a National School for the Decorative Arts was founded in the town. Brive-la-Gaillarde Brive-la-Gaillarde is a town lying along the Corrèze River in the Corrèze Département, just south of Limoges. It is located in a fertile area that was the juncture of three old French provinces…Limousin, Perigord and Quercy. In the Middle Ages it was the capital of lower Limousin. It owes its growth to its positioning on the Paris-Toulouse and the Bordeaux -Geneva railway and road routes. There are rock caves, in the surrounding areas, that evidence a prehistoric occupation. The town itself was the result of a Roman settlement where they built a bridge over the Corrèze River with the Latin name of Briva Curretiae. In 1226 Saint Anthony of Padua built a monastery there. The 12th century church of Saint-Martin is a novel example of Romanesque architecture coupled with Limousin art. The area’s economy is primarily agrarian with fruit, grain, poultry and pork the primary products; it is an important agriculture market.

However, there is also some light and heavy industry. Guéret Guéret is the capital of the modern Département of Creuse, and was the feudal capital of the old French province of La Marche. It is located about 45 miles northeast of Limoges, in the foothills at an elevation of 1440 feet. With the coming of the railway, the town has grown from a small market town into becoming the center of the local agricultural cooperatives. Over the years, the town expanded about a 7th century abbey. The town’s most impressive structure, the Hotel de Money-roux, is the 15th century mansion that houses the local archives. The municipal museum displays an interesting collection of 12th to 15th century Limoges painted enamels. Oradour-sur-Glane Oradour-sur-Glane was a village in the Département of Haute-Vienne, located about 14 miles northwest of Limoges. It was the site of a brutal Nazi atrocity during WWII.

On June 10, 1944, in reprisal for Resistance activity in the area, an SS detachment of 200 men dynamited and burned the village, killing 642 men, women and children. The gutted village has not been rebuilt, but left as a memorial to the victims of the massacre. A modern church was built nearby. Tulle The Corrèze river flows through Tulle, the capital of the Corrèze Département, which is located on the western edge of the Massif Central. The town is situated in the deep, narrow Corrèze valley. Tulle was, at one time, the center for the manufacture of a fine silk called Tulle. Tulle is the site of a national firearms factory. The Region of Limousin consists of the Départements of Correze [19], Creuse [23] and Haute-Vienne [87]. With alphabetized lists of towns and villages, by Département [with population], with a link to each location’s tourist office for phone, fax and address Cassbeth Limoges Collectible Gifts From France Search and Mining . General Document Analysis . Specification Analysis . Constitutional Analysis .

Legislative Analysis . Plain Language Analysis . Your future leisure time is waiting! CassBeth Collectible Gifts cyber shop offers Porcelain Limoges Boxes from France. Each piece is entirely hand made, hand painted, signed and numbered by the artist. Each piece comes gift boxed and accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity. We are pleased to be able to offer the following collections. If you can't find it here, then drop us an E-Mail and we will search the vaults of CassBeth to find your particular item. This page has thumb nail images of many of our collections and may take a while to load. Each collection has 3 pictures, a thumb nail image usually pictured on this page, a brochure picture, and a stand alone picture. Just select each picture to get the next size up in view. Our individual collection pages will load much faster and you may wish to just jump to a collection from the following table. The individual collection pages also have all the pictures in the collections group. Limoges From Artoria Home To Artoria These famous little hinged boxes are made in the beautiful town of Limoges, France. It is located approximately 150 miles South of Paris, which is about a 3 hour drive.

They are made from the native soil of the region, which is truely unique soil. It cannot be duplicated nor found anywhere on earth other than Limoges, France. Limoges Caribbean collection. Limoges Sports Players collection. The Limoges clay, when fired, produces the fine white porcelain known as Limoges. The factories in Limoges started producing these boxes in the mid-eighteenth century. Legend has it that the marquis of Pompadour was the very first patron of the porcelain box. They were purchased as gifts for his lady friends. Limoges Fruits and Shells collection. Limoges French Market collection. Throughout their early history, the boxes had a variety of uses. Long, narrow ones were containers for scarce and expensive sewing needles. Other boxes held thimbles and embroidered scissors. The most interesting use for the Limoges boxes were as message containers. A young nobleman, seeing a desirable lady across a public room, would send a message by way of a servant, who would carry it concealed in a small Limoges box. The answer would returned in the same way. Limoges The Garden collection. Limoges Flowers collection.

The older examples of Limoges became family heirlooms and were passed through the generations. The modern American interest in Limoges surfaced when former First Lady, Nancy Reagan was interviewed at the White House. Next to her was a table covered with a collection of the beautiful porcelain boxes. The American public became fascinated. The makers in Limoges were inspired to design newer, modern shapes and patterns to meet the demand. Traditional "wallpaper" patterns are still produced, but now they stand side by side with dogs, cars, carousels and other wonderful images. Spring Garden Collection. Limoges Baby collection. The creation of Limoges porcelain boxes is a laborious and time consuming process involving multiple firings and glazings. The final firing at a temperature of 1400 C is unique to Limoges, giving it a fine white finish. Porcelain Limoges Birds collection. Porcelain Limoges Animals collection. The painting of the boxes is a cottage industry often accomplished by young women, expert at the fine brush strokes required for such miniature work. No two of the tiny paintings are exactly alike. After painting, there are several more firings. Finally, the metal mountings are meticulously fitted to the finished box.

The work is done by hand, so small variations are the norm, the art. . Porcelain Limoges Les Fableries collection. Porcelain Limoges Farm Animals collection. Limoges is in central France, capital of Haute-Vienne Department, on the Vienne River. Limoges has been famous for its fine porcelain made from nearby deposits of kaolin since the late 18th century. Points of interest include a cathedral (begun 13th century) and a museum of ceramics. The University of Limoges (1808) is here. Walt Disney Licensed Pieces, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. More Walt Disney Licensed Pieces Donald Duck, Tigger, Pooh, Figaro, Cleo, Jiminy Cricket and other characters. An ancient community, important in Roman times, Limoges became the seat of the viscounty of Limousin in the 12th century. In the late 16th century, after a long period of destruction by war, plague, and famine, it was made the capital of Limousin Province. Today the population (1990) is about 136,000 people.

Porcelain Limoges Jewelry and Mini Bustes. Porcelain Limoges Mother Goose collection. The journey of porcelean begins in China, finds its way into Germany and England. By the late 12th century, Limoges in France began to replace the Rhenish and Mosan centers of enamel. Limoges continued as a principal center through the Gothic period and the Renaissance into the 17th century. Early Limoges enamel was champlevé influenced by the Rhenish and Mosan styles. In the 15th century Limoges artists painted secular enamel portraits and scenes in a naturalistic style. CassBeth offers a fine selection of Porcelain Limoges dogs. One for every owner. Porcelain Limoges cat collection Soft-paste porcelain factories had sprung up in France, Italy, and England. Principal among the French factories were St-Cloud, Vincennes, Sevres, Chantilly, and Mennecy-Villeroy. Vincennes and its successor Sevres were under the personal patronage of the kings Louis XIV and Louis XV. Other French porcelain factories were subsidized by lesser nobles.

For a time none but the royal factory could make use of gold in decoration. Porcelain Limoges Easter collection Porcelain Limoges Romantic collection Madame de Pompadour was a patroness of the royal factory. For her the factory created beautiful and naturalistic porcelain flowers mounted on branches of bronze. The magnificent and often ornate creations of the Vincennes and Sevres artisans in soft-paste porcelain reflect the splendor of the French royal court of the rococo period. Porcelain Limoges Travel collection Porcelain Limoges Titanic The Sevres factory produced hard-paste porcelain beginning in 1769, when the secrets of its manufacture became known in France. The factory continued to turn out soft-paste porcelain until 1800. Porcelain Limoges American Pop (Foods) collection Porcelain Limoges Gourmet Foods collection Meissen was the preferred European porcelain until about 1756, when Sèvres became increasingly popular. Sèvres, the most celebrated French porcelain, was first produced in Vincennes in 1738.

Through the influence of Madame de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV, the factory was moved from Vincennes to Sèvres in 1756. Sèvres porcelain is renowned for its richly colored backgrounds and white panels decorated with birds. The production of hard-paste porcelain began in Limoges in 1771, when deposits of kaolin were discovered near that city. In 1784 the Limoges factory became a subsidiary of the royal factory in Sèvres. Porcelain Limoges Fruits and Vegetables collection Porcelain Limoges Western collection Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born in Limoges France on February 25, 1841. As a child he worked in a porcelain factory in Paris, painting designs on china. He showed artistic talent early and became an apprentice in a porcelain factory when he was 13. There he learned to paint floral patterns on the porcelain. Renoirs' family moved to Paris when he was young.

Porcelain Limoges Whimsical collection Porcelain Limoges Halloween and Thanksgiving collection David Haviland born in Westchester County, New York established a pottery factory at Limoges France in 1842 and produced fine porcelain primarily for export to U.S. In 1864 he admitted his sons, Charles Edward Miller Haviland, born in Manhattan, N.Y., and Theodore Haviland, born in Limoges France as partners. In 1892 Theodore withdrew from the partnership and built his own factory at Limoges, which is still in operation. Porcelain Limoges Christmas collection Porcelain Limoges Traditional Christmas collection Today, an amazing variety exists. Traditional and modern, some are limited editions signed and numbered. Some contain a tiny surprise painting on the inside, or an additional porcelain piece. Whether they are collectors or own only a few pieces, the owners of Limoges are proud to have these objects of true art. The Limousin The Limousin THE LIMOUSIN The Limousin region is a land of upland pastures, forestry and pure water, springing from the region itself or just a little higher in the Massif Central.

Waterfalls, springs and fountains, rivers and streams, flow into the Loire or south into the Garonne, irrigating the green fields and flowing through woodland and gorges. The abundance of these natural staples explains the industries for which the region has made itself a name: Limousin beef (still eaten confidently due to its natural raising outdoors), wool, weaving and tapestry, oak barrel making and, from the pure kaolin supply, chinaware and enamelling. The region’s three d�partements, Creuse, Correze and Haute Vienne, are ideal destinations for those in search of peace and quiet and unspoilt scenery: ramblers, riders, anglers, rock climbers, canoeists and other water sports fans. Artists and art-lovers are also drawn here for similar reasons and because the Limousine has a serious share of museums dedicated to all epochs of art including the most contemporary.

If there are few large towns, the countryside is dotted with charming, authentic little villages and, the legacy of the ‘builder monks’ and the masons of the Creuse: castles, manors, Romanesque abbeys and churches, often concealing elaborate enamelled casks, finely wrought altar-pieces, frescoes and stained glass. The region is of course world-renowned for the porcelain and enamels of Limoges and the tapestries of Aubusson and has been muse to many a painter, most famously perhaps the so-called ‘Ecole de Crozant’, the name covering all the painters inspired by the gorgeous gorges along the Creuse river. Many other contemporary applications of traditional decorative arts, crafts and industries are still thriving, among them weaving, haute couture, pottery and goldsmithing. The Haute-Vienne The Haute-Vienne, a region of open countryside, with Limoges as its capital, stretches westwards from the flanks of the Massif Central mountain range. Being the first obstruction to be met by clouds off the Atlantic, it’s eroded and corrugated granite base is subjected to a great deal of rain, which is why the region is green, and abundantly wooded.

To the north of the d�partement lies the Basse Marche, dominated from the South by the Monts de Blond and the Monts d’Ambazac. These mini-mountains reach a maximum height of 700 metres, but afford some magnificent views from their rounded, sometimes barren, granite slopes. The soil is usually considered to be poor and it is animals, which reign here, flocks of grazing sheep and the famous Limousin cows. The farmers of the Haute-Vienne are essentially breeders, keen to preserve local varieties of livestock such as the pig of Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, known by the delightful name of ‘cul noir’ (black bum). Apart from Limoges and a few smaller towns, the population is scattered throughout villages and tiny hamlets. The houses, often very beautiful, combine the dark granite walls of the North with the broad roofs and light brown Roman tiles of the South. Le Dorat A must in Le Dorat is a visit of the collegiate, “one of the largest, most complete and most curious Romanesque edifices in France” (Leclerc).

From outside, the eye is drawn to the three-storey octagonal belfry, each floor receding from the one below with the soaring stone spire, bearing aloft, at 90 feet above the ground, a XIIIc gilded copper angel, itself four foot high. Once you have entered by the Moorish mosa�c doorway, the view from the top of the monumental stone staircase is staggering. The church is laid on a Latin cross plan, 231 feet long with narrow side aisles, a nave of five bays, a Carolingian baptismal font, two cupol� on pendentives, one of which is illuminated by the eight stained glass windows in the octagonal belfry, the choir and the crypt. From 1420 to 1431, Guillaume l’Hermite was empowered by Jacques le Bourbon to surround Le Dorat with the soundest fortifications. These included 20 towers. The collegiate also benefited from defensive measures, which included the tower rising from the end of the chevet, bristling with arrow slits and capped by three bartizans on which the corbelling follows the pattern of the old Romanesque cornice.

Guided visits take you back in time through ancient alleys and squares, past XVIc and XVIIc buildings - the monumental XIXc fountain, the terraced gardens along the ramparts and the view over the valley of the Courtoison. The Ostensions, a Limousin religious tradition held every seven years, took place in 2002. The Church called this display and veneration of relics of the Saints ‘Ostensions’. They last for 50 days and give rise to many religious ceremonies and processions associated with the reliquaries of the local saints Isra�l and Th�obald. Oradour-sur-Glane On Saturday June 10th 1944 a company of 120 of the Der F�hrer Das Reich Second SS Panzer Division sealed off the exits of Oradour-sur-Glane and moved into the village. Their arrival aroused more curiosity than fear. The open land around Oradour was unsuitable for operations by the maquis and the war had largely passed the village by. But that afternoon many had come here to collect their tobacco ration, to shop and, by a cruel irony of fate, bring their children for a medical check-up.

The German officer in charge, Dickman, ordered the Mayor to assemble everyone in the village on the Champ de Foire for an identity check. The village was searched for weapons and prohibited merchandise. The assembled population was separated, the women and children escorted to the church, and the men told to sit in three rows facing a wall. The troops returned from the house-to-house search and the men were marched in groups to stables and barns, told to clear them of equipment and enter. Dickman fired a shot, the signal for his troops to rake the men with machine-gun fire. The barns were set alight. The SS then moved on to the church, opened the doors, threw in grenades, sprayed the 450 women and children with automatic fire and set fire to the church. Only one woman escaped by jumping through the east window, the village was torched and the victims burnt in a mass grave. The troops moved out around seven o’clock, many drunk after looting the houses of linen and silver. They left 642 dead. When General de Gaulle visited the village he decreed that it should remain untouched as a monument of man’s inhumanity to man.

Below the Champ de Foire is a small museum where the victims’ names are engraved on the walls; showcases display personal items that did not burn - toys, watches, glasses, cigarette cases and jewellery. Limoges LIMOGES is a fusion of two cities, which, after the sack of the Roman-built Augustoritum by the Barbarians, grew up separately over the centuries and were not united until the French Revolution. One is the ancient cathedral quarter, rising up above the riverbanks. The Gothic cathedral of St Etienne still dominates the scene, despite having lost its spire, struck by lightning in the XVIc. It is surrounded by the gardens of the bishop’s palace, which has vast subterranean passages. The Mus�e de l’Ev�ch� inside the palace displays fine enamels dating back to the XIIc, as well as Egyptology, a lapidary collection and paintings by Auguste Renoir, who was born in Limoges in 1841. Excellent exhibitions are staged here. Nearby is the Mus�e de la R�sistance, commemorating the exploits of the maquis, which was very active in the Limousin.

Many of the Resistance fighters took part in the liberation of Limoges itself (on August 21st, 1944). The Flamboyant Gothic architecture of the monumental Portail Saint Jean looks ethereal floodlit at night. Between here and the second original city are the enamel workshops, from the Boulevard de la Cit�, through the Rue Raspail and along the Rue des Tanneries. The second city was the centre of political power, known as ‘the Ch�teau’ - the Royal Town, ever at odds with the Bishop’s City. Limoges’ architecture ranges widely from the Jesuit severity of the XVIIc Gay-Lussac Chapel’s main door, to the Art D�co surrealism of the Pavillon de Verdurier, a former cold store. In counterpoint is Limoges’ famed main railway station, crowned with its campanile and copper dome, like some latter-day mosque. The picturesque quarter of the Ancestral Guild of Butchers was established in the XIIIc near the highest point of the town. The entire trade was controlled by six large families who have maintained their grip on it virtually ever since.

Limoges’ exquisite china only really emerged 200 years ago when a very pure supply of kaolin was discovered near Saint Yrieix-la-Perche. Hard-paste porcelain was first made in France in the 1760s at the royal factory in S�vres. Limoges has had a reputation for enamels since the XIIc so it was logical that a china works be set up here: fuel for the kilns grew abundantly in the region’s forests, and the Vienne river made distribution easy. The local people soon set up their own factories and developed their own decorative style. At the turn of the century, there were no less than 35 porcelain works in Limoges with an annual production of up to 3,000 firings. In The Steps Of The Lionheart Ch�lus guards her Duke’s entrails His body Fontevraud in marble shrines. The Normans boast the King’s unconquered heart. Three countries thus the glorious ashes share Ofring under pressure from the king of France.

On 20th March 1199, Richard laid siege to the Ch�teau of Ch�lus, a keystone in the circle of fortresses protecting the south west of the Vicomt�. He was wounded shortly afterwards by a crossbow bolt and died on 6th April, but not before he had entreated a pardon for the garrison and the sharp shooting crossbowman. Needless to say, the entire garrison was promptly hung and the crossbowman was flayed alive. One account for Richard’s zeal in besieging this stronghold is that he coveted the treasure the Vicomte of Limoges was supposed to have unearthed there. While this is no doubt a legend, there may well be a shred of truth in the tale since the area has been mined for gold since antiquity. One can still see certain traces of this tragic event in Ch�lus’ interesting corps de logis (living quarters within a castle) and fine XIIc keep. Lovers of history and architecture will enjoy exploring the Route Richard Cœur de Lion with its outstanding examples of life as it was in the Middle Ages: churches, towns and above all castles, which are open to the public.

Some have been partly rebuilt, some embellished, but their warlike purpose is still evident. Start from the high open landscape of the limits of the Charente and the XIIIc and XVc fortress castle of Rochechouart, which houses an excellent museum of contemporary art. Then southwest to the Romanesque church of Salles Lavauguyon with its marvellously rich XIIc frescoes. To the southeast is the Ch�teau de Brie, a former fortified stronghold with walls three metres thick. Inside the square keep is a splendid spiral staircase in granite, which ends in a cluster of vaultribs. On to the historic Ch�teau de Marval and its XIIIc guardroom, then west of Ch�lus towards Montbrun, the finest example of a fortified castle in the Limousin. Its round towers, overshadowed by the enormous Romanesque keep, are reflected in the waters of the lily pond.

Then to Ch�lus, with the XIIIc Ch�lus-Maulmont in the heart of the old town and, overlooking the Tardoire valley, the now ruined Ch�teau de Ch�lus-Chabrol (XI-XVIIc), site of the Lionheart’s death. East of Ch�lus are the ruins of the ancient feudal fortresses of Lastours and Cars. Two interesting stages before you reach Nexon, where you should visit the church and XVIIc castle, a former barony, and its stables. Now head south to the Romanesque church and monks’ cemetery of Le Chalard, and follow the route briefly into the P�rigord as far as the ch�teau of Jumilhac, built on a rocky spur. The fairytale turrets make it difficult to remember that this was a castle made for war. From here, go eastwards to the ‘china town’ of Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, for its XVc and XVIc houses, a ruined tower from the Hundred Years War and a wonderful museum of porcelain.

To the east is Coussac-Bonneval, an XIc fortress destroyed in the Hundred Years War, rebuilt in the XVc and XVIIc. Then south to S�gur-Le-Ch�teau, one of the most beautiful villages in France, with its XVc and XVIc wood framed houses and little turrets. The Route ends at Pompadour, birthplace of the Limousin cow and now home to the National Stud. The imposing ch�teau was a gift bestowed on a favourite by Louis XIV. Beneath the towers and curtain walls is the famous racecourse. Fit for a king! The Lover Of Food With its high green plateaux covered with herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, fruit trees everywhere, crystal-clear mountain torrents full of trout, pike and zander, and forests of chestnuts, where ceps and other edible fungi like to lurk, it is easy to understand the Limousin’s reputation for gastronomy. There are plenty of recipes for hearty dishes and long-simmered stews and the region is also known for its charcuterie, its sausages and p�t�s often stuffed with the omnipresent chestnut.

The beef, raised outdoors on these emerald plains, has an international reputation along with the milk-fed veal (veau sous la m�re). The woodlands yield game and, near Ussel, are particularly rich in fungi - c�pes, girolles, trompettes de la mort... - which are used in sauces or as a vegetable in their own right. Round off your meal with some local cheese (similar to Roquefort) and traditional cakes and puddings such as the apple flaugnarde, cherry clafoutis (both batter-based cakes), Corr�ze’s special galettes or the Creuse’s almond gateau. Treasures Of The Creuse Meaning ‘hollow’ in French, it is true that the Creuse is one of the least inhabited d�partements of France. If you are looking for peaceful, unspoilt countryside of gentle pastoral scenery, dramatic landscapes and breathtaking views... and water, water everywhere, the Creuse is it. The unpolluted rivers, still jumping with ‘fario’ trout, tench, roach, carp and pike, has long made it a favourite with anglers.

But the Creuse also has a history, with the royal tapestry town of Aubusson, the architecture and building of the sought-after masons of the Creuse, and many fine Romanesque churches hiding priceless altar screens, enamelled reliquaries and other treasures inside their walls. Starting in the northeast corner of the d�partement, bordering the Auvergne and Centre regions, or the old Berry and Bourbonnais, is Boussac, on a fortified rocky spur much fought over since the times of the original Gallo-Roman site (Bociacum). Here George Sand once lived and set her first rural novel (‘Jeanne’), in the XIIc and XVc castle above a waterfall, and the six mysterious tapestries, called ‘The Lady and the Unicorn’ series, were found. The town has some marvellously conserved buildings, with stone spiral staircases and wrought iron balconies. Following the Petite Creuse river from Boussac towards Fresselines and Crozant, where it meets the Grande Creuse, you are still in George Sand country (‘Laura’).

The landscapes between the two rivers have been well celebrated by artists, from the Ecole de Crozant to Monet and the most contemporary. To find out more about the Limousin region please: CLICK HERE articles - The Wise Collector The Wise Collector First Reader Consulting Limoges Porcelain The history of the fine porcelain now known as "Limoges" begins with kaolin, the pure, soft white clay first discovered in China. This clay retains its pure white color when fired. Before they discovered the pure white clay, the Chinese used sandstone/stoneware. Marco Polo was one of the first Europeans to see porcelain; he named it after very white and translucent shell. Vasco de Gama brought back the first porcelain objects to Europe in the fifteenth century . How to Fix the Budget Deficit? Louis XIV ordered all silver plate to be melted down to make coins. The dishes needed to be replaced by something else, and the result was immediate demand for porcelain from China. However, the pieces were very expensive. The State decided to find out how porcelain was made and an order went out that anybody who could discover the manufacturing process would be handsomely rewarded.

The earliest deposits of the mineral required to make porcelain were discovered near Meissen, in Germany during the seventeenth century. Shortly thereafter, in 1768, Jean-Baptiste Darnet discovered kaolin at Clos de Barre, Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, which was close to Limoges. (Limoges is the capital of Haute-Vienne in South Central France.) This discovery led to the foundation of the Limoges porcelain industry. Turgot, at that time Intendant of the Limousin area, recognized the economic potential for this rather poor region, where all the other elements necessary for this output were readily available. Underground deposits around Limoges also included metals which since the Middle Ages were used to provide metallic oxides for coloring enamel and faïence (high-relief pottery). The first factories to produce porcelain in Limoges and Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche were set up in 1772 and protected by the Count of Artois. In 1771 the Faïence manufacture was converted into porcelain manufacture, and the region's first hard-paste porcelain began to be made.

This initial factory became a subsidiary of the royal factory in Sèvres in 1784. After the French Revolution, there were no State-sponsored factories remaining, but private manufacturers continued the development of porcelain. By the early nineteenth century the factories were creating the most perfectly white porcelain in Europe, proving the superiority of Limoges kaolins. By the 1830s there were as many as thirty porcelain factories at Limoges. The international renown of this center of porcelain excellence grew, culminating with the triumph of Limoges Porcelain at universal expositions organized around the world from 1855 onward. The overwhelming majority of porcelain produced in Limoges was decorated by hand, by both well-known and anonymous artists. The best of the collectible hand-painted Limoges china has the artist's signature near the manufacturer's mark. There are literally dozens of well-known manufacturers whose porcelain survives from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Some of the best known are Haviland (H&Co), T & V, Paroutaud Freres, Flambeau, Elite, and JP/L.

The name "Limoges, France" usually appears, or the letter "L" beneath the name of the manufacturer. Collectors will find that much Limoges china is modest in price. Individual, artist-signed, dinner or dessert plates may cost between $35 and $60, depending on condition. It is quite possible to find complete sets of dinnerware, breakfast or tea sets, candlesticks and jars, large chargers and tureens priced in the $200 to $500 range. While a great deal of fine china from other famous areas of France, Germany, Bavaria and Russia also survives from this period, Limoges has become very popular in the United States as the china our grandmothers received as brides. Today, Limoges retains its popularity with the introduction of small hinged boxes in a fantastic variety of shapes and themes. Their prices are high because each is still hand-painted by local artisans, which unfortunately has resulted in just as many knock-offs from China and Taiwan. The cheap versions lack the fineness of detail and perfection of the construction. You get what you pay for!

Here are some great links for collectors of both old and new Limoges porcelains: LimogesLovers.com - specializes in antique Limoges china. Excellent photos with back stamps, reasonable prices. La Boutique de la Porcelaine de Limoges - A French site with a great deal of historical information as well as galleries, museum links, and sales. Haviland Collectors Internationale Foundation - Organization for devotees of Haviland Limoges china, with newsletter, annual conference, and a limited gallery of photos. My Great Web page

Question: Name the town in South Central France which has made hard-paste porcelain since 1771.
Answer: LIMOGES