Limoges

If you have the chance to arrive by train at Limoges-Bénédictins station, a listed historic building, you'll be charmed straight away by its architecture, which is unusual and opulent, just like the city itself. Founded over 2000 years ago, Limoges is bursting with history and has a real mix of influences. It's no surprise that it very quickly became an obligatory stop-off point on the Camino de Santiago.

Catholicism has left a deep impression on the city, as shown by the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne de Limoges and the church of Saint-Michel-des-Lions, both impressive buildings with fantastic stained glass windows depicting the town's ceramics heritage. To find out more, head for boulevard Louis Blanc and its porcelain shops, or the Musée national Adrien Dubouché, which boasts a porcelain collection of 300,000 pieces.

If you're an art lover and you want to see more, head for the Musée des Beaux-Arts. As for history buffs, they can explore the Musée de la Résistance and should make sure they take a guided tour of the city. Meanwhile, children will be delighted to climb aboard the little tourist train that criss-crosses the city! Limoges is also a thoroughly modern city, as evidenced by the Zénith and the Technopôle, both of which have a modernist architectural style and offer decidedly modern activities.

Limoges boasts a top-level basketball team, and sports fans won't want to miss a match at the Palais des Sports de Beaublanc. The very green city centre won't disappoint nature lovers and walkers, with the romantic Victor Thuillat park or the jardins de l’Évêché which is spread over five hectares. Beautiful walks can also be had along the river Vienne.

Getting to Limoges by train is simplicity itself as the station is easily connected to Paris in just over three hours. Limoges also has an international airport and the city and surrounding area are served by a number of trolleybus and bus routes.

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