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10 Exciting Things to Do in Limoges

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Let us pack our bags and head to a city of enamels, porcelain and stained glass, a city of great and intricate details; well at least that is what Limoges is known for! It is the capital of Haute Vienne, one of the most creative cities in Europe.Ìý

Get to experience a city that has great details; most churches you will see will have complex and elaborate stained glass windows; an art whose history is found in this very city. Porcelain discovered in 1768, is used as decoration in houses and fountains and has its roots in this city as well as enamel, a copper or precious metal plate covered in different colors that vitrify when fired.Ìý

This city, located in the southwest-central of France is however not just about porcelain. There are a ton of things to and a ton of experiences there!

1. Visit the Porcelain Pavilion- Haviland Museum

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Take a seat amid kings, queens, and presidents and have your dinner served in the world’s finest porcelain pieces. Their history would surely be from the talented David Haviland who started his business in 1842 specializing in dinnerware and decorative porcelain. The museum is probably one of the only remaining porcelain factories in the world, to confect and decorate each of their collection from beginning to the end. It has fine porcelain and all pieces displayed have a description of its history. You will be able to buy porcelain pieces; from different times and generations at fair prices. You cannot leave Limoges without a porcelain piece so, you don’t have to look for a palace to be served in porcelain, get yours in Limoges!Ìý

2. Explore the Aquarium Du LimousinÌý

Get to see the more than 300 species of marine wildlife without having to go deep ski diving. At the heart of Limoges is an aquarium with over 2,500 sea animals in 160,000 liters of water! The aquarium offers a variety of activities like fish feeding and you also get to touch and learn about the fish. Here, you will experience color in every shape and form; you will see indigenous sea life like catfish, sturgeon, perch, stark fish, crocodile fish, sea horses, stark fish, sea urchins, and many others.Ìý

It is situated in what used to be an underground and vaulted water reservoir, which was built by Napoleon III to prevent the city from contracting cholera.Ìý

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It is open seven days a week at about 8 Euros per adult.

3. Limoges Cathedral

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The Gothic, Renaissance and Romanesque styled cathedral opened in 1888, is located in the heart of Limoges. One of the most interesting things about the cathedral is that it took a good six centuries to be completed! I believe the wait was worth it since the nocturnal lighting and the Renaissance-styled architecture gives it so much life! In 2005, an excavation at the cathedral saw the discovery of an extraordinary baptistery, one of the largest in France. You should visit to check out the beautiful cathedral which is in the process of being listed as a Historical Monument.Ìý

Unguided tours are from Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM and Sundays from 10 AM to 2 PM and 12 PM to 6 PMÌý

4. Adriene Debouche National MuseumÌý

You are in a porcelain city so it is only fair that you get to experience the history of the craft. This museum has a collection of more than 300,000 ceramics. It holds the largest collection of Limoges porcelain in the world. Apart from admiring the delicate items, you will also get to experience the various stages of making porcelain, throughout history, from various parts of the world. Craftsmanship from ancient porcelain making to the recent practices. The museum has a vast contribution in knowledge and history of the porcelain world and you will be surprised at how much there is to learn about the not-so-fragile world of ceramics!

Entry to the museum will cost you from 7 Euros- depending on the tour you are taking- but it is free for people under 26 years, teachers and recipients of unemployment benefits. You can check out the ticket prices on:Ìý

It is free or everyone on the first Sunday of every month.

5. Casseaux Porcelain Kiln MuseumÌý

This museum houses the Casseaux porcelain kiln, which was built in 1904. In this museum is where you will be told of the tedious process of making porcelain especially using fire; the process included: preparing the clay, casting, calibrating then baking.Ìý

You will travel back in time looking at the mechanical, technical and ideological developments in the ceramics industry and just how much the industry has grown. If you love porcelain, enamel, and stained glass, this museum will make you appreciate the workmanship event more. The kiln itself stopped being uses in 1957, after being in service since 1902. One of the most important lessons will be to look at the various tools in the display that have been used over time, and to appreciate the workers’ struggle to master fire using the kiln, which by the way took about a week to bake a batch!

6. The Bernardaud FoundationÌýÌý

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Now, I hope you are ready because it is time to get your hands dirty! We are going to get involved in the actual porcelain making, and this should be exciting. The Bernardaud Foundation allows its guests to take part in the various steps of porcelain making. You will be involved in the experience from the beginning to the end including decorative techniques used; you get to use the materials and the tools and one of the most exciting things on this trip will be, once you are done, you will be taken through dinner service presentations used in the world’s finest tables, using the porcelains and bouquets as well as using the most recent and contemporary pieces from the museum. This is an experience you would not want to miss! The foundation, meant to appreciate the work of skilled hands, was founded in 2005 by Michel Bernadaud.Ìý

There are only eight Bernardaud shops in the world!

7. Wander in the Jardin Botanique De L’Evêché- Botanical GardensÌý

Roam in the beautiful gardens while exploring over 1,000 species of botanical plants, which range from medicines, flowers, vegetables, those used in tanning, those in food coloring and so on. The more than five hectares of land are segmented into French parterres so it will be easy for you to investigate the various gardens and plants. The immaculately mowed and landscaped lawns will give you a serene environment to sit and enjoy the Limoges air for a few hours, with an amazing view of the river Vienne.

It is open daily, free of charge!

8. Explore the Gare Des Benedictines

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Well, this is not a recommendation you get all the time, because we are going to check out a train station. I know I know! Did you know, that the train station was suspended on top of ten railway lines, and was built on a 70 Meter by 90 Meter platform? It is one of the most beautiful in Europe since its copper dome has a stained glass highlight, typical of Limoges. The station has a four-faced clock, which interestingly is two minutes ahead, and has an interesting twist to the Roman numerals because IV is illustrated as IIII! The station was designed by Roger Gonthier; it got the name from the Benedictine monastery that was closed during the French revolution. The first train ticket was sold in 1929. It also has underground passages that were used by German troops between 1942 and 1945. Each wall angle feature of the dome has an emblem of the four French provinces which the train station serves, which are: Touraine, Brittany, Limousin, and Gascogne.

9. Check out the Historic Bridges

This is probably one of the things you will first see when you get to Limoges it is considered one of the best-preserved medieval bridges in France. The historic bridges date back to 1215 and were built on the foundations of a Gallo-Roman crossing. It has seven gothic arches and is one of the best-preserved medieval bridges in France.Ìý

10. Chateau De Chalucet

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This place will take you back to the times of war, one of the most beautiful ruins you will ever encounter. It is a remnant of what was once the largest fortress in Limousin. It is about 10 kilometers out of Limoges and looks like a set of an epic movie. It is in the slopes of a rocky outcrop, and you need good shoes and enough water for the hike. The lower Châlucets were both a military establishment and a luxurious residence which were destroyed by the Consuls of Limoges.Ìý

You can access it anytime, any day and charges are from 3 Euros from guided group tours.Ìý

Limoges is a city of contrasts, and you will find a lot of fascinating things to do; mould your porcelain plate for dinner, hike up to the ruins and explore museums and churches! There is something for everyone!