The Upper Limousin Route
The Upper Limousin, land of transition between Oc country and that of Oil, presents a true mosaic where widely contrasting landscapes express themselves through their astonishing varity: the gentle, wooded hills of Monts d'Ambazac, the Monts de Blond land of legends, the hedged farmlands and plains of Basse-Marche, the wild ponds and managed lakes of Saint-Pardoux country and the sumptuous valleys of the Vienne and the Gartempe.
The natural decor, the untouched, open spaces, the numerous walking trails flanked by dry-stone walls lead to an unhurried discovery of charming and picturesque villages: Mortemart, listed as one of 'France's loveliest villages', Blond, Saint-Pardoux, Montrol-Senard, Châteauponsac. Your Upper Upper Limousin voyage is a search for traditions and the local history; a sometimes turbulent past whose events are evidenced by numerous edifices: Mortemart and Rochechouart Châteaus, the Romanesque abbey-churches of Dorat and Saint-Junien where one can admire the religion-inspired treasures. In Oradour-sur-Glane, the ruins of the martyred village remind us of the drama of 10 June 1944. The Memorial Centre places the massacre in its historical context.
The Upper Limousin is an invitation to taste. Local family inns will introduce you to specialities of the Limousin: pâté de pommes de terre (potato pie), Baronnet lamb, chestnut black sausage, Limousin hotpot and top off your generous meal, delicious clafoutis (a type of fruit flan).
Let us guide you.
