CorrezeWeb English Version
At the crossroad of the former Provinces of Quercy, Limousin and Auvergne, the actual Department of la Correze shows cultural and human harmony. From an important geographical disparity between North and South, human unity came to life. This land, which saw the coming of the Neanderthals, is the birthplace of 3 Avignon-resident Popes, and did set up the stage of the famous Troubadours, poetry of the XII Century, everywhere in all European courts. This piece of land shone in every respect: temporal and political, spiritual and religious.
Livestock, milk-fed veal, a traditionnal and quality agriculture:
Among other things, the correzian cultural identity is shown at its best with the agriculture centers, livestock fairs, livestock judging contests, and farming organisations, which are all parts of the indigenous agricultural economy.
Member of the " Association des Plus Beaux Villages de France" ( the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages of France "), Turenne is the medieval village "par excellence".
Les Tours de Merle ( The Towers of Merle ): The remains of 7 casles are registered as Historical Monuments. At the same time, it is, too, a remarquable defensive place, located on a long rocky spine which grasps a marked winding of the river La Maronne, which runs 30 metres below, or about 90 feet.
Collonges la Rouge is a member, too, of the "Association des Plus Beaux Villages de France". Considered as the most visited location of the Department la Correze.
Curemonte is registered on the Inventaire des Sites Pittoresques, (Register of picturesque locations ), and is another village member of the " Association des Plus Beaux Villages de France". It is elongated on a rocky spine above a hilly countryside, crossed by the valley dug by a river, La Soudoire. Known as a "bourg castral", old French language for a medieval village built on a circular pattern, most of the time around its castle.
Uzerche, the "Limousine Pearl", is built on an elevation surrounded by a river's winding, La Vezere. The spire of its roman-style church, the towers of its castles and its old houses give some particular charm to this little city.
Egletons: This ancient city, active and prosperous, with beautiful stone-built houses is spread out on a green and pastural landscape. This medieval city was one of the most important places of the de Ventadour duchy, whose castle still stands in ruin a few kilometres away, towering above the gorges of a river, la Petite Lusege.
A beautiful example of Renaissance architecture is the chateau de Sedieres, which represents all the finesse of the XVI Century inside a wild landscape of forests and ponds in Clergoux.
The castle of Sainte Fortunade is built around a living quarters of 3 floors, flanked by corner turrets and crowned by a wall walk above machicolations which links the earlier tower, a big and round one, to the sqare tower of the XV century.
The religious architecture of the earlier Middle Ages in the Department Correze:
The department saw a blossom of a large number of religious buildings at the time of the Romanesque period. The definite Know-How, associated with the use of granit stone and decorative particular shapes gives a regional touch to the monuments, and did last till the Gothic-style period. A masonry art, whose technicity in stone building of archs and vaults needs not to be demonstrated is, at the same time, an art of talented architects whose vision got the support and orders of enlightened high ranking Church officials. The XII Century saw the raise of the churches of Beaulieu and Tulle, to be followed by the one of Saint Robert. All are fitted with an ambulatory and absidial chapels.
Curemonte has three churches of the Romanesque period ( XI and XII Century ). The ones of Saint Hilaire la Combe and Saint Genest are located outside the village; they are of difficult access and are in need of renovation. The church of Curemonte, with a walled bell-tower sheltered by a projecting roof dates back to the XII Century and was refurbished during the XV Century.
The Tympana:
Lower Limousin is noted for its limestone carving skill. If considered for its program and style, the Grand Tympanum of Beaulieu, which depicts the classical theme of the Last Judgement, desserves its place among the masterpieces of the French Romanesque art. 3 more tympana are well worth to be noted: the one of Saillac, with the theme of Adoration of the Magi, and those of Collonges and Saint-Chamant, whose tympana represent the Ascent. The most beautiful serie of historiated capitals will be found particularly in Vigeois, Arnac and Lubersac. Presently, an interior work of renovation takes place in Lubersac, in order as to rejuvenate the mural paintings and stained-glass windows. In the near future, a similar work will take place in Vigeois and Lagroliere.
The stained glass windows:
The church of Seillac was rebuilt in 1882 and has modern stained-glass windows. The pilasters of engaged columns are what is left of romanesque art in the XII Century's church of Clergoux. the beautiful and modern stained glass windows are the work of Claude Blanchet and of Saint Benoit sur Loire's monastic workshop. The romanesque church of Champagnac la Noaille is from the XI and XII Century. The church is enlightened by the modern stained-glass windows of Claude Blanchet. In Egletons, the church was partly rebuilt in the XII Century style. Its modern stained -glass windows from 1957 were made by Lesage and Claude Blanchet. The Masterworks: The Saint Martial church In Sainte Fortunade shelters a masterpiece of limousine goldsmith art, which is the main-reliquary of Sainte Fortunade. From the XV Century, made of brass, and copper layered on tin. Rmarquable by its resulting grace. In the same church, there is a pieta from the XV Century. An historiated capital of the choir depicts Saint Martial, the patron saint of the parish, who receives the bishop's cross at the hands of Saint Peter during the ressuscitation of one of his disciples.
From chicken raising to fly-fishing:
According to place and geomorphology, the aquatic fauna from rivers and lakes varies, and anglers did adapt their fishing technique. The department la Correze possess 4000 ha from hydro-electric lakes and 5000 km of rivers, 1ist and 2nd class. The Trout (Salmo Trutta Fario) likes the many swift-flowing streams of Upper Correze, North of Tulle. The fly-fishing technique is in use to catch the Grayling (Thymallus Thymallus) and the Northern Pike (Esox Lucius), between Argentat and Beaulieu, on the river Dordogne till the hydro-electric dam. Predator or carnivorous fishes like the silver Walleye and the Pike inhabit those lakes, and bait-cast is widely in use. The Limousin cockerel, or"coq de peche" is a regional breed of cockerel. It is a rare animal, and for the same reason is much appreciated by anglers who are using its fethers to manufacture artifiicial flies. Moreover, this cockerel has the particularity to breed with unpredictable certainty, which makes its feathers more valuable. They are found at some amateurs-producers or on specialised markets. The Centre Permanent d' Initiatives pour l'Environnement ( CPIE ) in Neuvic is in charge for the organisation of the national contest of those particular cockerels, "coq de peche", grown up and youngsters. The goal is to keep the specie alive and to make it known. This association ruled by law of 1901 (French law for non-profit institutions) accepts, too, schoolchildren associations.
Angling in Correze:
In the Department la Correze, there are 33 Associations for angling and protection of the aquatic environment. Those Associations are issuing the "cartes de peche", or fishing licenses, and they are in charge to supply young fishes to the rivers. Fishing licenses are for sale in Tobaco Shops. There are 12411 anglers in the department la Correze. Many are fond of the "No-Kill", which means catch and release. Done as a matter of gesture and ethics.
La Maison de l' Eau et de la Peche, (or house of Water and Angling) at Neuvic rules the organisation of fly-fishing trainings, of miscelaneous expositions, and prints info and news for anglers. The scientific branch studies hydrobiologie to check the water quality.
At Tulle, you may get in touch with la Federation de la Correze, for angling and protection of the aquatic environment, and the Federation Departementale de Peche et de Pisciculture. Finally, at Beaulieu sur Dordogne, possibility to get fly-fishing training and lessons, from the beginner level to the pro.
A FEW FIGURES AND INFOS:
Department la Correze 5857 km2.
Elevations: Maxi. Mont Bessou at 976 m; Mini: 80 m;
River la Vezere, at its lowest part.
Population:
Census 1996: 235 600 inhabitants
Year 1801: 243 654 inhabitants;
1851: 320 866 inhabitants;
1872: 302 746 inhabitants
1891: 328 151 inhabitants;
1936: 262 743 inhabitants;
1954: 242 798 inhabitants
1975: 240 363 inhabitants;
1982: 241 448 inhabitants;
1990: 237 908 inhabitants.
Among them: 4569 naturalised french citizen. 7152 foreigners: 3844 Portuguese, 1500 Morocans; 1288 Turks, 520 Spaniards.Density: 40
Agricultural zones: Lower Country of Brive (78220 hectares, elevation from 90 to 300 metres). Vegetables, small fruits( strawberries, raspberries,) nuts, tobacco, vines, livestock. Causse (7208 hectares) production of trufles, White Perigord. Valley of the river la Vezere (3945 hectares, elevation less than 300 metres.) Mild climat and low humidity 900---1000 mm Upper Limousin: South West Plateau 142 724 hectares. Elevation: 300 to 650 metres. Humid climat ( rains 1 metre and more ) Polyculture, livestock, apples. South East Plateau 119 145 hectares. Livestock, milk-fed veal Upper Valey of the river la Dordogne (6940 hectares) Similar to the South West Plateau, with more important moorland plateaus ( 1/3 of the area) Xaintrie (40 052 hectares) more difficult terrain, timber, livestock (breed Salers). Mountain or Millevaches Plateau, from the celtic language "mille batz": thousand springs. 890 till 976 metres at Mount Bessou. 186 782 hectares, with 67 480 dedicated to cultivation and livestock. Harsh and humid climat. Timber, Scotch heather (Calluna Vulgaris) and Scotch broom, (Cytisus Scoparius) livestock, (milk,meat) blueberries. Artense (1510 hectares, elevation 650 metres.) Many steep sides river valleys (Correze, Vezere, Dordogne, Triouzoune, Diege, Luzege). Forests, 270 00 hectares ( 46 % of the Department area ) with evergreen or conifers 70 %, and deciduous 30 %.
Prefecture (Administrative capital): Tulle, elevation 212--347 metres; 17 164 inhabitants (1846: 11646; 1906: 17 245; 1975: 21 634. ) grand total : 18 631 inhabitants.
Industries: farming, canned food, groceries; manufacture of arms; machinery, manufacture of accordions.
Monuments: cathedral, abbey (museum). Collections from the Manufacture, Museum of the Resistance. (1997: 2498 visitors.) International Lace Festival.
Sous-Prefectures: Brive la Gaillarde, elevation 142 metres, 49 714 inhabitants. (1846: 8829 inhabitants; 1906: 20 636 inhabitants; 1954: 36 088 inhabitants; 1975: 54 730 inhabitants.) Airport, electronics, furniture and cabinet-makers, farming, markets. Book fair, Labenche Museum. (1997: 10 214 visitors). house of Edmond Michelet. (Grand total 63 811 inhabitants, with Malemort sur Correze 6484 inhabitants. Saint Pantaleon de Larche 3478 inhabitants). Ussel, elevation 631 metres, 11 448 inhabitants. Airfield, aluminum foundry, machinery, wood working industry, packaging and salted pork products. Local museum.
Other cities: Argentat at 188 metres, 3189 inhabitants, salted pork products. Arnac-Pompadour, 1444 inhabitants; electrical products, machinery; church, castle of Pompadour (XV Century). Famous horse breeding location, established by Colbert. Aubazine 788 inhabitants; cistercian abbey XII Century. Beaulieu sur Dordogne 1265 inhabitants, abbey. Bort les Orgues (elevation 430m.) 4208 inhabitants, clothing industry, Castle of Val, XV Century. 1997: 34 635 visitors. Museum: Radio and Phonograph 1997: 11 068 visitors. Leather industry (1997: 3270 visitors). Hydro-electric dam: 120 metres height, 1997: 100 000 visitors. Basaltic columns or "organ pipes". Clergoux, 367 inhabitants; Castle of Sedieres (XIV and XVI Century.) Collonges la Rouge 381 inhabitants. La Sirene Museum (1997: 500 000 visitors). Donzenac 2050 inhabitants, fortifications. Egletons, elevation 650 metres, 4487 inhabitants; salted pork products, airfield, flour-milling industry. Gimel 655 inhabitants, water falls. ( 1997: 27 453 visitors) La Chapelle aux Saints, 184 inhabitants; museum of the Neanderthal Man ( 1997: 3102 visitors.) Lapleau-Soursac 514 inhabitants; viaduct of the Black-Rocks. Meymac 2796 inhabitants; pharmaceutical industry, church abbey (XII Century); Museum Marius Vazeilles, Museum of Modern Art. Moustier-Ventadour 383 inhabitants; castle of Ventadour (XI Century, ruins). Naves 2187 inhabitants; church, reredo. Neuvic 1829 inhabitants, Henri Queuille Museum (1997: 2454 visitors) Noailles 648 inhabitants, Abyss de la Fage (1997: 9097 visitors). Objat 3163 inhabitants, agriculture, food processing and machinery. Reygades 172 inhabitants. Sound and light entertainment of the Entombment of Christ. Sarran 276 inhabitants, Museum of President Chirac's 7 years presidency (in the near future). Segur 269 inhabitants, castle (XII Century, ruins) Saint Angel 566 inhabitants, fortified church. Saint Geniez o Merle 135 inhabitants, sound and light spectacle of the Tours de Merle, XII XV Century. 1997: 17 529 visitors) Saint Pantaleon de Lapleau 65 Inhabitants, church ( XII Century) Theater Festival. Saint Privat 1126 inhabitants, pond of Malesse. Treignac 1520 inhabitants, hous Marc Sangnier. Turenne 740 inhabitants, castle (XIII and XIV Century, ruins, 1997: 15 009 visitors)Uzerche, elevation 334 metres 2813 inhabitants, packaging, salted pork products. Church, crypt (XI Century). Vigeois 1210 inhabitants, abbey. (XI Century)
Lakes ( in hectares): Lake of Val 1400 ha; Lake of Chastang 750 ha; lake of Neuvic 410 ha; lake of Marcillac la Croisille 230 ha; lake Viam 189 ha; lake of le Sablier 106 ha; lake des Bariousses 99 ha; lake of the Causse 82 ha.
Locations: Collonges la Rouge, Curemonte, (1991: 50 000 visitors), castles of Plas, Saint Hilaire and La Johannie, Saint Robert.
Traduction: Guy Monteil
After a Celt-Iberian period, the region was under the Roman domination (Diocletien) with the foundation of Augustoritum (Limoges). Saint-Eloi founded the monastery of Solignac. Then the region was linked up to England kingdom, after the wedding Aliénor of Aquitaine with Henri II Plantagenêt, king of England. The region has been formed since the Revolution with the departments of Creuse, Corrèze and Haute-Vienne. Aliénor of Aquitaine tomb
La Corrèze
Tulle : Surrounded with seven hills slopes and their flat gardens, you should discover as walking in its medieval narrow streets the Saint Martin cathedrale, the Cloister’s museum, the Renaissance mansions of Loyac, the museum of Resistance and Deportation. Notorious with its national firearms factory, Tulle actually houses the only french company which still manufactures accordions. Other stages not to be missed are Brive-la-Gaillarde and its famous food market (Brive-la-Gaillarde is well known for its foies gras), Saint-Pantaléon-de-Larche (Viaduct), Ussel, Egletons and Pompadour (its stud farm was created by Colbert) Among the site you can visit : the villages of Uzerche, Argentat, Beaulieu, Collonges, Treignac, Turenne ; and the castles of Merle (ruins) and Sédières.
La Creuse
Guéret : At Guéret, you should visit its Senatorie’s museum (art collection, natural history and the work of Limoges), as well as the Monneyroux’s mansion, ancient living house of La Marche’s earls (15th-16th centuries). Do not miss Aubusson, the capital city of tapestry with the national school of Tapestry, the Tapestry museum, the Old Tapestry maker’s house. To also see the site of Jaumâtres stones (megalithic), and the castles of Saint-Germain, Beaupré and Sainte-Feyre.
La Haute-Vienne
Limoges : Known in the World for its porcelains and enamels, Limoges houses the Adrien-Dubouché (10 000 pieces of crockery) and the Evêché museums (Enamel collection). You should also visit the Saint-Etienne cathedrale (gothic and Renaissance) and enjoy, in the center, the railway station of Bénédictins, and the town hall with a tower of 42,50 meters high. In the district of "la Boucherie", do not miss the chapel and the museum of butchery (unique in the world). You could walk along the Vienne or the Gartempe riversides, or prefer an organized tour of the Puys and the high mounts. Do not miss Châteauponsac, a popular art site and museum. The Procession of Magnac Laval is the longer of the World (the Whitsun Monday).
Limousin is a famous region for cattle breeding, and the "limousine" is its best figure. In gastronomy, we can mention : Foie gras of Brive-la-Gaillarde Pork butchery Chestnuts In craftman’s trade, Limousin is famous in the world with the tapestry (even if Aubusson produces an agreable liquor) as well as with the porcelain and enamel of Limoges.
English Version 
