Limoges
Encyclopedia
Limoges is a city and commune
, the capital of the Haute-Vienne
department and the administrative capital of the Limousin
région
in west-central France.
Limoges is known for its medieval enamels
(Limoges enamels) on copper, for its 19th-century porcelain
(Limoges porcelain
) and for its oak barrels (Limousin oak), which are used for Cognac
production.
Limoges is the chief-town of 16 cantons:
Limoges-Beaupuy,
Limoges-Carnot,
Limoges-Centre,
Limoges-Cité,
Limoges-Condat,
Limoges-Corgnac,
Limoges-Couzeix,
Limoges-Émailleurs,
Limoges-Grand-Treuil,
Limoges-Isle,
Limoges-La Bastide,
Limoges-Landouge,
Limoges-Le Palais,
Limoges-Panazol,
Limoges-Puy-las-Rodas, and
Limoges-Vigenal.
ish people of the Lemovices
, who lived in the area, was probably some kilometres south-east of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat
.
The city proper was founded as Augustoritum by the Romans
, around 10 BC. The foundation was part of the reorganization of the province by the emperor Augustus
, hence the new name. The Roman city included an amphitheatre
measuring 136 x 115 metres, a theatre, a forum
, baths and several sanctuaries. According to tradition, a temple consecrated to Venus
, Diana
, Minerva
and Jupiter
was located near the modern cathedral. The city was on the typical Roman square plan, with two main streets crossing in the centre. It had a Senate and a currency of its own, a sign of its importance in the imperial age.
Limoges was evangelized by Saint Martial
, who came to the city around 250 with two companions, Alpinianus and Austriclinienus. However, in the late 3rd century it was increasingly abandoned, due to unsafe conditions created by German invasions. The population was concentrated instead in a more easily fortifiable site, the modern Puy Saint-Étienne, which is the centre of the modern Limoges. Starting from the construction of the Abbey of St. Martial
(9th century), another settlement grew around the tomb of the saint, while a third area, next to the residence of the viscount
(the future Castle of Saint Martial), seems to have been populated from the tenth century.
Starting from the eleventh century, thanks to the presence of the Abbey of St. Martial and its large library, Limoges became a flourishing artistic centre. It also was home to an important school of medieval music composition, which is usually called the St. Martial School
; its most famous member was the thirteenth century troubadour
Bertran de Born
.
In the 13th century, at the peak of its splendour, central Limoges consisted of two different fortified settlements.
Outside the lines of walls were the popular quarters.
In 1370, Limoges was occupied by Edward, the Black Prince
, who massacred some 3,000 residents, according to Froissart
. See Massacre of Limoges
. However, Froissart's account is described in Jonathan Sumption's account of the war as "exaggerated and embroidered with much imaginary detail." Citing a monk of St. Martial's Abbey, Sumption posits that a more reliable figure for the number killed is around 300 people, "perhaps a sixth of the normal population," with another 60 members of the garrison of 140 dead as well.
several religious edifices, considered symbols of the Ancien Régime, were destroyed by the population: these included the Abbey of St. Martial itself.
Some years later the porcelain industry started to develop, favoured by the presence of kaolinite
which was discovered near Limoges in 1768. Many of the inhabitants became employed in the new sector or in connected activities (including the lumbering of wood needed for firing the porcelain) in manufacture and exporting needed for European distribution of Limoges Box
es, dinnerware, and other porcelain wares.
In the 19th century Limoges saw strong construction activity, which included the destruction and rebuilding of much of the city centre. This was necessary, as the town was regarded as unhealthy because of prostitution. The unsafe conditions of the poorer population is highlighted by the outbreak of several riots, including that of July–November 1830
; April 1848 and early 1905. The first French confederation of workers, Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) (General Confederation of Labour), was created in Limoges in 1895.
During The Holocaust
, many Jews from Alsace
were evacuated to Limoges.
The team currently plays in Pro B, the french second basketball professionnal division.
(Köppen climate classification
Cfb) common to much of Western France. Most precipitation occurs between October and February. On 27 December 1999, winds reached 148 km/h. On average, the city receives 41 days of frost and seven days of snow each winter. In June, July and August, precipitation tends to come only from violent thunderstorms which are formed over the Bay of Biscay
.
At the 1999 census, the population was .
by Modest Mussorgsky
In 1768, kaolin
, a rock rich in fine, white clay which is used for making porcelain
, was discovered at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
, near Limoges. Under the impetus of the progressive economist Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune
, who had been appointed intendant of this impoverished and isolated region, a new ceramics
industry was developed, and Limoges porcelain
became famous during the 19th century. However, Limoges porcelain
is a generic term for porcelain produced in Limoges rather than at a specific factory. More than 50% of all porcelain made in France comes from Limoges
connects Limoges with Vierzon and Paris to the north, and Brive-la-Gaillarde and Toulouse to the south. The nearest airport is Limoges – Bellegarde Airport.
Urban transport in Limoges and its metropolitan area is operated by Société de transports en commun de Limoges Métropole (STCL). The Limoges urban bus network includes the Limoges trolleybus system
, one of only four such systems currenlty operating in France.
, United States Fürth
, Germany Grodno, Belarus Seto
, Japan Plzeň, Czech Republic
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
, the capital of the Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne
Haute-Vienne is a French department named after the Vienne River. It is one of three departments that together constitute the French region of Limousin.The chief and largest city is Limoges...
department and the administrative capital of the Limousin
Limousin (région)
Limousin is one of the 27 regions of France. It is composed of three départements: Corrèze, Creuse and the Haute-Vienne.Situated largely in the Massif Central, as of January 1st 2008, the Limousin comprised 740,743 inhabitants on nearly 17 000 km2, making it the second least populated region of...
région
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
in west-central France.
Limoges is known for its medieval enamels
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
(Limoges enamels) on copper, for its 19th-century porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
(Limoges porcelain
Limoges porcelain
Limoges porcelain designates hard-paste porcelain produced by factories near the city of Limoges, France beginning in the late 18th century, but does not refer to a particular manufacturer.- History :...
) and for its oak barrels (Limousin oak), which are used for Cognac
Cognac (drink)
Cognac , named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy. It is produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente and Charente-Maritime....
production.
Limoges is the chief-town of 16 cantons:
Limoges-Beaupuy,
Limoges-Carnot,
Limoges-Centre,
Limoges-Cité,
Limoges-Condat,
Limoges-Corgnac,
Limoges-Couzeix,
Limoges-Émailleurs,
Limoges-Grand-Treuil,
Limoges-Isle,
Limoges-La Bastide,
Limoges-Landouge,
Limoges-Le Palais,
Limoges-Panazol,
Limoges-Puy-las-Rodas, and
Limoges-Vigenal.
Ancient and medieval history
Scarce remains of pre-urban settlements have been found in the area of Limoges. The capital of the GaulGaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
ish people of the Lemovices
Lemovices
The Lemovices were a Gaulish tribe of Central Europe who established themselves in Limousin and Poitou between 700 and 400 BC. Their capital was Durotincum and in the era of Roman occupation, it was Augustoritum...
, who lived in the area, was probably some kilometres south-east of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat
Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat
Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in west-central France.Perched on a hill above the river Vienne, the town is named after Saint Leonard of Noblac, who, as legend suggests, was responsible for the liberation of many prisoners in 11th century...
.
The city proper was founded as Augustoritum by the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, around 10 BC. The foundation was part of the reorganization of the province by the emperor Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
, hence the new name. The Roman city included an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
measuring 136 x 115 metres, a theatre, a forum
Forum (Roman)
A forum was a public square in a Roman municipium, or any civitas, reserved primarily for the vending of goods; i.e., a marketplace, along with the buildings used for shops and the stoas used for open stalls...
, baths and several sanctuaries. According to tradition, a temple consecrated to Venus
Venus (mythology)
Venus is a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, sex,sexual seduction and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths...
, Diana
Diana (mythology)
In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt and moon and birthing, being associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy...
, Minerva
Minerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess whom Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards equated with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic...
and Jupiter
Jupiter (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
was located near the modern cathedral. The city was on the typical Roman square plan, with two main streets crossing in the centre. It had a Senate and a currency of its own, a sign of its importance in the imperial age.
Limoges was evangelized by Saint Martial
Saint Martial
Saint Martial was the first bishop of Limoges in today's France, according to a lost vita of Saturnin, first bishop of Toulouse, which Gregory of Tours quotes in his History of the Franks.-Life:...
, who came to the city around 250 with two companions, Alpinianus and Austriclinienus. However, in the late 3rd century it was increasingly abandoned, due to unsafe conditions created by German invasions. The population was concentrated instead in a more easily fortifiable site, the modern Puy Saint-Étienne, which is the centre of the modern Limoges. Starting from the construction of the Abbey of St. Martial
Abbey of St. Martial
St. Martial's Abbey was a monastery in Limoges, France, founded in 848 and dissolved in 1791.The buildings were razed at the beginning of the 19th century...
(9th century), another settlement grew around the tomb of the saint, while a third area, next to the residence of the viscount
Viscounty of Limoges
Between Limoges, Brive and Périgueux, the viscounts of Limoges, also called viscounts of Ségur created a small principality, whose last heir was Henry IV. Ségur was the main home of these viscounts, in the heart of their domain...
(the future Castle of Saint Martial), seems to have been populated from the tenth century.
Starting from the eleventh century, thanks to the presence of the Abbey of St. Martial and its large library, Limoges became a flourishing artistic centre. It also was home to an important school of medieval music composition, which is usually called the St. Martial School
St. Martial School
The Saint Martial School was a medieval school of composition centered in the Abbey of Saint Martial, Limoges, France. It is known for the composition of tropes, sequences, and early organum. In this respect, it was an important precursor to the Notre Dame School.Most of the manuscripts that are...
; its most famous member was the thirteenth century troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
Bertran de Born
Bertran de Born
Bertran de Born was a baron from the Limousin in France, and one of the major Occitan troubadours of the twelfth century.-Life and works:...
.
In the 13th century, at the peak of its splendour, central Limoges consisted of two different fortified settlements.
- The town proper, with a new line of walls encompassing the Vienne RiverVienne RiverThe Vienne is one of the most important rivers in south-western France, a significant left tributary of the lower Loire. It supports numerous hydro-electric dams, and it is the main river of the Limousin region and also of the eastern part of the Poitou-Charentes region.Two French départements are...
, inhabited mainly by clerks and the connected workers. It has a bridge named after Saint-Étienne, built by the bishops, and a developed port. Sacked in 1370, it never recovered entirely. - The castle, with 12 m-high walls, including the abbey and controlled by the abbot, sometimes in contrast with the bishop-ruled town. Traces of the walls can still be seen in the city's centre.
Outside the lines of walls were the popular quarters.
In 1370, Limoges was occupied by Edward, the Black Prince
Edward, the Black Prince
Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Prince of Aquitaine, KG was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainault as well as father to King Richard II of England....
, who massacred some 3,000 residents, according to Froissart
Jean Froissart
Jean Froissart , often referred to in English as John Froissart, was one of the most important chroniclers of medieval France. For centuries, Froissart's Chronicles have been recognized as the chief expression of the chivalric revival of the 14th century Kingdom of England and France...
. See Massacre of Limoges
Massacre of Limoges
The Massacre of Limoges was a battle in 1370 during the Hundred Years' War. The town of Limoges had been under English control until the Bishop gave the town over to the French. Due to the English Prince Edward's closeness to the Bishop he sacked the town....
. However, Froissart's account is described in Jonathan Sumption's account of the war as "exaggerated and embroidered with much imaginary detail." Citing a monk of St. Martial's Abbey, Sumption posits that a more reliable figure for the number killed is around 300 people, "perhaps a sixth of the normal population," with another 60 members of the garrison of 140 dead as well.
Modern history
The city and castle were united in 1792 to form the single city of Limoges. During the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
several religious edifices, considered symbols of the Ancien Régime, were destroyed by the population: these included the Abbey of St. Martial itself.
Some years later the porcelain industry started to develop, favoured by the presence of kaolinite
Kaolinite
Kaolinite is a clay mineral, part of the group of industrial minerals, with the chemical composition Al2Si2O54. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra...
which was discovered near Limoges in 1768. Many of the inhabitants became employed in the new sector or in connected activities (including the lumbering of wood needed for firing the porcelain) in manufacture and exporting needed for European distribution of Limoges Box
Limoges Box
The Limoges Box is a small hinged porcelain trinket box produced by Limoges factories near the city of Limoges France that are collected worldwide made of a specialized made of a clay called Kaolin that is only found in the Limousine Region of France....
es, dinnerware, and other porcelain wares.
In the 19th century Limoges saw strong construction activity, which included the destruction and rebuilding of much of the city centre. This was necessary, as the town was regarded as unhealthy because of prostitution. The unsafe conditions of the poorer population is highlighted by the outbreak of several riots, including that of July–November 1830
July Revolution
The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution or in French, saw the overthrow of King Charles X of France, the French Bourbon monarch, and the ascent of his cousin Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, who himself, after 18 precarious years on the throne, would in turn be overthrown...
; April 1848 and early 1905. The first French confederation of workers, Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) (General Confederation of Labour), was created in Limoges in 1895.
During The Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
, many Jews from Alsace
History of Jews in Alsace
The history of the Jews in Alsace is one of the oldest in Europe. It was first attested in 1165 by Benjamin of Tudela, who wrote about a "large number of learned men" in "Astransbourg", and it is assumed that it dates back until around the year 1000 CE...
were evacuated to Limoges.
Sports
The city is also known for its basketball team CSP Limoges which became european champion in 1993. It was the first french club team to become european champion in a collective sport.The team currently plays in Pro B, the french second basketball professionnal division.
Climate
Limoges experiences an oceanic climateOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
(Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfb) common to much of Western France. Most precipitation occurs between October and February. On 27 December 1999, winds reached 148 km/h. On average, the city receives 41 days of frost and seven days of snow each winter. In June, July and August, precipitation tends to come only from violent thunderstorms which are formed over the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
.
Demographics
Population city: 139,502 (limougeauds), urban area: 247,944.At the 1999 census, the population was .
Main sights
- The Crypt of Saint Martial (10th century), including the tomb of the bishop who evangelized the city. It was discovered in the 1960s.
- Remains of the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre, one of the largest in the ancient Gaul. It was covered with earth in the 1960s.
- The GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
Limoges Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Limoges), begun in 1273 and finished only in 1888. It is noted for a fine rood loft built in 1534 and for the partly octagonal bell tower. The main artistic works are a Renaissance rood screenRood screenThe rood screen is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron...
and the tomb of the bishop Jean de Langeac, with sculpted scenes of the Apocalypse. - The Chapelle Saint-Aurélien (14th–17th centuries). It includes the relics of St. Aurelian, the second bishop of Limoges, and has medieval statues and Baroque works of art.
- The church of St-Pierre-du-Queyroix, begun in the 12th century
- Church of St-Michel-des-Lions, begun in 1364. It houses the relics of St. Martial and has stained-glass windows from the 15th–16th century. The most striking feature is the 65 m-high tower, with a spire surmounted by a big bronze ball.
- The bridges of Saint Martial (dating from the Roman era) and of St-Etienne (13th century).
- The Bishops' Palace (Palais de l'Évêché, 17th century). Of the original building, only a chapel remain. It is the seat of the Musée de l'Émail, with a large collection of old enamels. [Palace Exterior:
- The modern Gare de Limoges BénédictinsGare de Limoges BénédictinsLimoges-Bénédictins is the main railway station of Limoges. It is situated on the Orléans–Montauban railway. It was named Bénédictins due to the presence of a Benedictin monastery closed during the French Revolution.-History:...
, inaugurated in 1929. - The Château de La Borie (17th century), at 4 km (2.5 mi) from the city. It is home to the Centre Culturel de Rencontre de La Borie et l'Ensemble Baroque de Limoges.
- The remains of the 12th century Castle of Chalucet, 10 km (6.2 mi) outside the city. During the Hundred Years' WarHundred Years' WarThe Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
it was a base of the bands of pillagers which ravaged the country. - The city's botanical gardenBotanical gardenA botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
s include the Jardin botanique de l'EvêchéJardin botanique de l'EvêchéThe Jardin botanique de l'Evêché , also known as the Jardin botanique de Limoges, is a botanical garden located behind the Cathedral and Musée de l'Evêché in Limoges, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France...
and the Jardin botanique alpin "Daniella"Jardin botanique alpin "Daniella"The Jardin botanique alpin "Daniella" is a botanical garden specializing in alpine plants, located at 16, rue General du Cray, Limoges, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France. The garden was established in 1983 and now contains 1,590 taxa of alpine plants....
. - Université de Limoges was founded at Limoges in 1968.
Art
"The Marketplace at Limoges" is the name of section of Pictures at an ExhibitionPictures at an Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite in ten movements composed for piano by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874.The suite is Mussorgsky's most famous piano composition, and has become a showpiece for virtuoso pianists...
by Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
In 1768, kaolin
Kaolinite
Kaolinite is a clay mineral, part of the group of industrial minerals, with the chemical composition Al2Si2O54. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra...
, a rock rich in fine, white clay which is used for making porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
, was discovered at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche is a commune in the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region in west-central France.Its name refers to Saint Yrieix .Inhabitants are known as Arédiens.-References:*...
, near Limoges. Under the impetus of the progressive economist Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune
Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune
Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune , often referred to as Turgot, was a French economist and statesman. Turgot was a student of Francois Quesnay and as such belonged to the Physiocratic school of economic thought...
, who had been appointed intendant of this impoverished and isolated region, a new ceramics
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
industry was developed, and Limoges porcelain
Limoges porcelain
Limoges porcelain designates hard-paste porcelain produced by factories near the city of Limoges, France beginning in the late 18th century, but does not refer to a particular manufacturer.- History :...
became famous during the 19th century. However, Limoges porcelain
Limoges porcelain
Limoges porcelain designates hard-paste porcelain produced by factories near the city of Limoges, France beginning in the late 18th century, but does not refer to a particular manufacturer.- History :...
is a generic term for porcelain produced in Limoges rather than at a specific factory. More than 50% of all porcelain made in France comes from Limoges
Transport
The main train station of Limoges is the Gare de Limoges-Bénédictins. It offers direct connections with Paris, Lille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon and several regional destinations. The motorway A20A20 autoroute
The A20 autoroute or L'Occitane is a highway through central France.-Regions Crossed:The road travels through the areas of Occitania, Limousin and Midi-Pyrénées. It starts at Vierzon in Cher and finishes in the south at Montauban in Tarn-et-Garonne...
connects Limoges with Vierzon and Paris to the north, and Brive-la-Gaillarde and Toulouse to the south. The nearest airport is Limoges – Bellegarde Airport.
Urban transport in Limoges and its metropolitan area is operated by Société de transports en commun de Limoges Métropole (STCL). The Limoges urban bus network includes the Limoges trolleybus system
Trolleybuses in Limoges
The Limoges trolleybus system forms part of the public transport network of the city and commune of Limoges, in the Limousin region of the Great South West of France.In operation since 1943, the system presently comprises five urban routes.-History:...
, one of only four such systems currenlty operating in France.
Notable people
Limoges was the birthplace of:- Maryse BastiéMaryse BastiéMaryse Bastié was a French aviator. Born Marie-Louise Bombec in Limoges, Haute-Vienne, at age eleven Bastié's father died and her family struggled to survive. However, as an employee in a shoe factory, money was scarce and an early marriage that failed left her with a child and limited means...
(1898–1952), aviatrix - Marie François Sadi CarnotMarie François Sadi CarnotMarie François Sadi Carnot was a French statesman and the fourth president of the Third French Republic. He served as the President of France from 1887 until his assassination in 1894.-Early life:...
(1837–1894), President of France - Henri François d'AguesseauHenri François d'AguesseauHenri François d'Aguesseau was Chancellor of France three times between 1717 and 1750.-Biography:He was born at Limoges, France, in a family of magistrates...
(1668–1751), chancellor of France - Jean DauratJean DauratJean Daurat was a French poet, scholar, and a member of a group known as The Pléiade.-Early life:...
(or Dorat) (1508–1588), poet and scholar, member of the PléiadeLa PléiadeThe Pléiade is the name given to a group of 16th-century French Renaissance poets whose principal members were Pierre de Ronsard, Joachim du Bellay and Jean-Antoine de Baïf. The name was a reference to another literary group, the original Alexandrian Pleiad of seven Alexandrian poets and... - Fabienne DelsolFabienne DelsolFabienne Delsol is a French singer, who performs primarily in English. Influenced by the 1960s, her music is a mix of UK garage, Pop, and Psychedelic.-Biography:...
, a singer active since 1996 - Roger GonthierRoger GonthierRoger Gonthier was a French architect, whose major works were in Limoges, France. He worked within the Compagnie du Paris-Orléans architectural practice....
(1884–1978), architect - Stephen GrelletStephen GrelletStephen Grellet was a prominent French Quaker missionary.He was born Étienne de Grellet du Mabillier in Limoges, the son to a counsellor of King Louis XVI. Raised as a Roman Catholic he was educated at the military College of Lyons, and at the age of seventeen he entered the body-guard of Louis XVI...
(1773–1855), Quaker missionaryMissionaryA missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin... - Jean-Baptiste JourdanJean-Baptiste JourdanJean-Baptiste Jourdan, 1st Comte Jourdan , enlisted as a private in the French royal army and rose to command armies during the French Revolutionary Wars. Emperor Napoleon I of France named him a Marshal of France in 1804 and he also fought in the Napoleonic Wars. After 1815, he became reconciled...
(1762–1833), marshal of FranceMarshal of FranceThe Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements... - Edmond MalinvaudEdmond MalinvaudEdmond Malinvaud is a French economist. He was the first president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences....
(1923–present), economist - Jean-Baptiste Joseph Émile MontégutJean-Baptiste Joseph Émile MontégutJean-Baptiste Joseph Émile Montégut , was a French critic.He was born at Limoges. He began to write for the Revue des deux mondes in 1847, contributing between 1851 and 1857 a series of articles on the English and American novel, and in 1857 he became chief literary critic of the review...
(1825–1895), critic - René NavarreRené NavarreRené Navarre was a French actor of the silent era. He appeared in 109 films between 1910 and 1946.He was born in Limoges, Haute-Vienne and died in Azay-sur-Cher, Indre-et-Loire.-External links:...
(1877–1968), actor - Thomas Robert Bugeaud de la PiconnerieThomas Robert Bugeaud de la PiconnerieThomas Robert Bugeaud, marquis de la Piconnerie, duc d'Isly was a Marshal of France and Governor-General of Algeria.-Early life:...
, Duke of Isly (1784–1849), marshal of FranceMarshal of FranceThe Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements... - Pierre-Auguste RenoirPierre-Auguste RenoirPierre-Auguste Renoir was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. As a celebrator of beauty, and especially feminine sensuality, it has been said that "Renoir is the final representative of a tradition which runs directly from Rubens to...
(1841–1919), preeminent French painter - Pierre Victurnien VergniaudPierre Victurnien VergniaudPierre Victurnien Vergniaud was a lawyer and statesman, and a significant figure of the French Revolution. A deputy to the Assembly from Bordeaux, Vergniaud was a notably eloquent and impressive orator...
(1753–1793), orator and revolutionary
Twin towns
CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, United States Fürth
Fürth
The city of Fürth is located in northern Bavaria, Germany in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is now contiguous with the larger city of Nuremberg, the centres of the two cities being only 7 km apart....
, Germany Grodno, Belarus Seto
Seto
-Places:*Seto, Aichi, production place of Japanese pottery and venue of Expo 2005*Seto, Ehime, faces the Seto Inland Sea*Seto, Okayama, adjacent to Okayama, in Okayama Prefecture*Seto Inland Sea of Japan-People and fictional characters:...
, Japan Plzeň, Czech Republic
See also
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Limoges Bishopric of Limoges
- Communes of the Haute-Vienne department
External links
- City council website
- Adrien Dubouché Museum – ceramics, glassware, porcelain from Limoges]
- History and Geography at Academy of Limoges