Top chrono: a day at the heart of limousine history

By Chloé, March 14, 2023

Reading time: 5 min.

Rich in different architectural styles and a history dating back to Antiquity, Limoges benefits from an important cultural heritage. Since 2008, the city has also been labeled "City of Art and History". To allow you to learn a little more, we have concocted a discovery day that a family has tested for you.

Museum of Fine Arts ©Anne-Sophie Dubreuil

Meeting with the Enamellers and the Impressionists at the Beaux-Arts

The day begins with the discovery of the collections of the Limoges Museum of Fine Arts. Housed in the former episcopal palace, it is at the foot of the Gardens of the Bishop's Palace and St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Spread over three levels, it allows you to immerse yourself in the history of Limoges from theGallo-Roman period, to discover a unique collection of enamels, from the Middle Ages to the present day, to go back in time to the time of ancient Egypt but also to delve into the Fine Arts collection from the Italian Renaissance to the great masters of the 20th century such as Renoir ou valadon. By the way, did you know that Renoir was born in Limoges?

For children, recreational activities are even proposed to discover the museum while having fun. Find all the useful information on the Museum of Fine Arts website.

Head to the Évêché for a gourmet break!

Midday strikes, it's time to regain strength and what could be more pleasant than picnic in the Jardins de l'Évêché?

On the menu, local produce who come from La locale » a grocery store located in the Quartier de la Boucherie. There's something for everyone: fresh salads, sandwiches, pâtés, sausages, apple juice, cookies...everything you need for a picnic with family or friends.

Otherwise, go for a meal on the terrace among the restaurants of the City district next to the cathedral…

The Quartier de la Cité: cobbled streets and half-timbering…

A small digestive stroll is essential and the City district, which runs along the Jardins de l'Évêché, is an ideal place. Here is the historic heart, we stroll among the small cobbled streets and their beautiful and typical half-timbered houses.

In its center, Saint-Étienne Cathedral sits majestically. Difficult to miss, its bell tower is visible from afar and houses a couple of peregrine falcons that can be seen soaring in the air at dusk. For the little anecdote, it took more than 600 years of construction to discover the cathedral in its current configuration.

Discover Limoges? On your marks, get set, “Tuk-Tukez”!

For the next activity, we find ourselves in a rather surprising mode of transport: a tour by Tuk-Tuk !

It's an original way that children really like to discover the unmissable places of the city like the cathedral, the station, the Town hall, the street of the butcher's shop... Throughout the visit you will be able to benefit from explanations and anecdotes on the various crossed places. You will also have the possibility to choose 3 stops to be able to immortalize in photos the walk with your loved ones.

The visit is accessible for a maximum of 6 people and there are several different circuits by reservation. To find out more, visit the website !

Retro atmosphere and nostalgia in Montrol-Sénard…

The day is coming to an end but before returning, we take the car to go to Montrol-Senard, about 45 minutes from Limoges.

Montrol-Sénard is a small typical and authentic village of Limousin in which a course has been laid out rural nostalgia ". Many houses and outbuildings have been decorated as at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. We go back in time and immerse ourselves in the rural life of the time. The children's favorite place is undoubtedly the communal school, which has been rebuilt identically, as evidenced by old class photos. In addition to the school, the whole life of the village has been reconstituted with the house " Chabatz d'Entrar », the bakery, the barn-cellar, the laundry, the bread oven, the clog maker's workshop, the shoemaker's workshop, the forge, the café-refreshment bar "Chez Angèle"...

The visit is free and accessible every day from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m. from April to November.