about_the_limousin

My name is Caroline Phillipson. I am an English estate agent and having lived and worked in the UK for most of my life in the legal profession, my family and I decided to move to France for a better life a few years ago. I have two children, the youngest at the local primary school and the other at the lycée (college). They are both fluent in French and have totally integrated into the French way of life. My husband is a builder and he has a good client base of both English and French. Let me help you find your perfect house and guide you through the buying process.

Character

This stunningly beautiful French region of still lakes, fast flowing streams, gentle rolling valleys and forested mountains has been one of the best kept secrets in France. From the lovely old city of Limoges to the tiny hamlets scattered across the hills and forests, and the pure rivers and lakes, discover the friendliness and old world charm of one of the last remaining havens of the "real France". As one of the lowest populated regions in France, the Limousin has largely escaped the onward march of "progress" and retains some of the most unspoilt countryside in Europe, from the gently rolling countryside of the Haute Vienne to the rugged terrain of the Ambazac hills. The Limousin is an ideal destination for those in search of peace and quiet and unspoilt scenery. More and more leisure facilities and visits are adapted for young families and since the region's rise in popularity with British settlers, some of them also offer activities in English. Fascinating and serene, rich yet unspoilt, the Limousin offers its own brand of quality time.

Location

350 Kilometres south of Paris, the Limousin region is the traditional heartland of France. The region is made up of three departments - Creuse (23) to the east, Haute Vienne (87) to the west, and Correze (19) to the south. We cover the north of the Haute Vienne, which finds itself between Poitiers and Limoges, so most of our properties will be no more than an hour from either of the airports. The A20 motorway cuts through the centre of the region providing excellent road links both north to Paris and south to Toulouse.

History

The Limousin countryside has witnessed over 2000 years of history. The ancient landscape where Neanderthal man once roamed gave shelter to the Romans and later, Richard the Lionheart. The moorlands, purple with heather, inspired Monet and the impressionist painters. The magnificent tapestries of Aubusson, the world famous porcelain of Limoges, the resting place of Richard the Lionheart, the ancient Pilgrim route of St. Jacques de Compostella, and the architecture of a region which gave birth to the masons who built Notre Dame and the Louvre.

Visit Breezy Break for a light hearted look at living in France particularly the Limousin.