The Limousin is one of the least visited and least populated regions of France, spread across the western slopes of the Massif Central. For travellers in search of unspoiled countryside — rolling green meadows, deep river gorges, ancient village churches, and very few tourists — it is hard to beat.
The region covers three departments. The Haute-Vienne in the north is anchored by Limoges, famous for its porcelain. The Corrèze to the southeast has some of the most beautiful landscapes, with the gorges of the Dordogne and the medieval town of Tulle. The Creuse to the northeast is the quietest of the three, with vast forests and few roads.
The Limousin is cattle country — the Limousin breed of beef cattle takes its name from here — and the cooking is hearty and unpretentious. Chestnuts, walnuts, and wild mushrooms feature heavily in the local cuisine. This is also one of the great areas for Romanesque church architecture, with dozens of small village churches preserving extraordinary carved portals and painted interiors.
