Travel guideHistorySightsNightlifeMap

Limoges Sights and Landmarks Guide, France

Limoges Sights-Arts of Fire

70 miles from Poitiers and 101 miles from Clermont-ferrand, Limoges is famous for its porcelain, but also enamel and stained glass. The china it produces is made of kaolin, a rock containing fine clay. For admiring true masterpieces, visit Musée national de la porcelaine Adrien Dubouché. Enamel can be seen at Musée municipal de l’Evêché, which is also an exhibition place for Egyptian archeology. Francis Chigot is one of the most representative artists for stained glass. His workshop, founded in 1907 is still functional today and can be visited, but admiring this artist’s work, much of it in art deco style, is possible by walking to the Benedictines Railway Station or to the Sacré-Cœur Church. Manufacturers like Haviland, Bernardaud, Royal Limoges and others have specially conceived places for exhibiting their work.

Limoges Sights - Protection of Saints

Saint Martial is the one bringing Christianity to the city and many sights are somehow linked, directly or not, to this name. There is the Crypt of St. Martial discovered in 1960, although the relics of the saint found their rest in St-Michel-des-Lions, a church begun in 1364 and adorned in the 15th and 16th century with amazing stained glass windows. There is also an abbey with the saint’s name, founded in 848, destroyed in the 18th century and rebuilt in the 19th. Limoges sights also include The cathedral that has the name of Saint Etienne. It is a gothic building begun in 1273 and finished in 1888, with a remarkable octagonal tower. Both mentioned saints have their stone bridges built in the 13th century. That of St. Martial stands on the initial place of a Roman bridge. Other worth visiting churches are: Saint-Aurélien Chappell (14th-17th centuries) - a baroque building sheltering the relics of this saint, and the church of St-Pierre-du-Queyroix, begun in the 12th century.

Limoges Sights - Historical Spots

The city and its outskirts offer a landscape with castles (or at least remains of them) and beautiful gardens. One of the most visited is The Bishop’s palace or Palais de l'Évêché built in the 17th century and modified afterwards. Its gardens represent in fact a botanical garden, displaying species of plants from five continents. A fine baroque 17th century building is Château de La Borie or for those who think the older the better, there are the remains of 12th century Castle of Chalucet. Tours are available to see old styles of living in exhibitions like Les vieux quartiers alentours or on real streets in the District of la Motte. There, a street of the butchers is to be seen, including their traditional house and objects. Or you may go to the Halles d’Exposition built for the universal exposition of 1878.