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With
a history spanning 2000 years you would expect the Limousin to have
it's fair share of chateaux and museums - you would be right. There
are some 26 chateaux you can visit in the region and countless museums
covering local traditions and the many famous people who were born
in the Limousin, below is a selection.
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 Chateau
de Boussac
Built on an exceptional site where fortifications have existed
since Roman times, the current castle dates partly from the XII and
XIII centuries and the beginning of the XV century. Marshal Jean 1
" of Brush, Companion of Jeanne-d’Arc rebuilt the castle around 1400.
Open every day 09:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00
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Chateau
de Chalus
 Final
resting place of Richard 1st (Richard the Lionheart) mortally wounded
during the seige of the castle in 1199. The chateau consists of
the first main building (XI-XII and XIII th centuries). second main
building (XVII th century), the cylindrical dungeon (XII th century)
- pictured right, the chapel, where Richard’s remains are still
lying and the
medieval garden.
Open - 1st July to 15th September - Every day from 10:00 to 19:00
Off season From Monday to Friday : 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00
to 18:00 (Closed Tuesdays)
Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, from 14:00 to 18:00.
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 Château
de Rochechouart
15th Century chateaux which also houses
the departments Centre of Contemporary Art. The chateau is built on
the edge of a 20 km crater formed by a meteorite 160 million years
ago.
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 Centre
de la Memoire - Oradour sur Glane.
Martyred village destroyed during
the second world war and left in its original state as a memorial
to the 642 men, women and children massacred there by a German SS
Panzer division. The
new Centre de Memoir museum was opened in 1999 by Jacques Chirac.
For more details visit the sites listed on the Limousin Links page.
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 Distillery
Museum - Limoges
The last operating distillery in
Limoges. For two centuries Limoges was an important distillery centre,
producing local liquers from Cognac, Armagnac, rum and spices. Need
I say more?
Open:
Tuesday to Saturday from 08:30 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00
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 Gay-Lussac
Museum - St Leonard de Noblat
Charts the life of the famous
19th Century scientist - with photographs and his collection of
laboratory equipment. Reproduces a typical 19th Century laboratory.
Open:
Easter to 30th June: 14:00 to 18:00 Sundays only.
July / August: 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 18:00 every day.
From 1st September to All Saints day 14:00 to 18:00 Sundays only.
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 Museum
of Electricity - Bourganeuf
It was in 1886 that the first 4000
homes in the region changed from oil lamps to electric lighting.
The museum charts the history of electrification in the region up
to the present day.
Open from 15 June to 15 September Open each day from 10:00 to 12:00
and from 14:00 to 18:00 except Tuesdays.
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