We are based in the Haute-Vienne region of the Limousin, which is made up of three regions, namely The Haute-Vienne, The Creuse and The Correze. www.tourismelimousin.com/fr

The area is part of an unspoilt national park known as the Parc naturel du Perigord. www.parc-naturel-perigord-limousin.fr

To visit the local website for our commune maisonnais-sur-tardoire.fr

If you enjoy walking and want some maps click This French Life

For up to date weather forecasts for the Haute-Vienne click METEO FRANCE.

The following information is reproduced in a folder in the gite for you as well.

LIMOGES is the capital of the Limousin, famous the world over for its fine porcelain The city large and vibrant with many shops, coffee bars, cafes, restaurants and you could spend a day wandering. The architecture is superb as can be seen by the photo opposite which is the railway station Benedictin. Just off the main A20 which runs past Limoges there are many Zone Industrielle, which offer the opportunity to discover some huge retail outlets with tempting prices to match. We are just 45 mins from Limoges.www.tourismelimoges.com. www.welcome-en-limousin.com
Recently opened on the outskirts of Limoges is the Family Village. 29 Shops and 4 restaurants. You can spend a day here shopping easily with such names as Leroy Merlin (DIY and household), Alinéa (similar to Ikea), Casa, Darty (electronics and home), a huge Decathlon sports shop, and many more. Plenty of places to eat and take coffee breaks. Easy to find and about an hours drive from us. For more info www.familyvillagelimoges.com
PERIGUEUX, the capital city of the Dordogne, attractive city with beautiful small shops and river walks. There are some wonderful old parts of the town to meander around and take in the atmosphere. There is a weekly market which sprawls throughout the street. Again plenty of small and large eating places, and numerous coffee bars from which to sit and watch life. We are about an hours drive from Perigueux.
CHATEAU MONTBRUN, situated in a forested area just 25 mins from our base. Tours are available all year around between the hours of 2.00 and 6.00. 10 euros for adults and 5.00 euros for children. The chateau is stunning, set in its own grounds with beautiful lake. Just opposite is La Taverne restaurant and bar. A more tranquil place to enjoy a coffee or indeed a lunch or evening meal is difficult to find. There is usually live music one evening a week too.
PIEGUT PLUVIERS. The best market locally every Wednesday with wonderful local produce, livestock, clothing, gifts etc. etc. Also in Piegut you will find Credit Agricole bank, restaurants, bars and hotels. There is an Ecomarche supermarket just on the outskirts of the town. A mere 12 mins from us. For all market days in Haute-Vienne, Dordogne and Charente.Click the links below. Haute-Vienne| Dordogne| Charente
ROCHECHOUART. The area of Rochechouart was the site of a meteorite landing centuries ago. The impact created the crater which the town now sits around. Indeed much of the meteorite material has been used in local buildings. Rochechouart is a small market town with pretty shops and a superb chateau with stunning views. Just 20 mins from us. Great boulangerie - see opposite........ www.ville-rochechouart.fr
AIXE SUR VIENNE. Beautiful river walks, good market, shops and cafes. Fantastic pottery factory and retail outlet. Of course for the fishermen/women, there are some excellent places to cast a line. During the summer, you can normally wade towards the weir - where the Chub lie. Just 25 mins away.www.ot-valdevienne.com
BRANTOME. A famous town about 40 mins drive away from us into the Dordogne. Picturesque doesn't get much better than this. Known as the Venice of the Perigord. River walks, small shady alleyways with shops, great restaurants and coffee bars. Street market on Fridays. See www.ville-brantome.fr for full details.
BOURDEILLES: this is just a short trip further on from Brantome and has an interesting chateau. It is possible to walk by the river and enjoy the countryside. 10 minutes further on from Brantôme. www.cc-brantomois.fr/bourdeilles.html
JUMILHAC LA GRAND. Just 45 mins drive into the Dordogne countryside and you can discover the fairytale chateau here. Guided tours are available which take an hour or so and cost around 7 euros. The setting is stunning. There are of course coffee bars and a great Boulangerie For full details of tours etc and a map see Jumhilac La Grand
BUSSIERE GALLANT. A beautiful lake complex offering supervised swimming, fishing and a buvette offering coffees and snacks etc. Picnic tables are provided in the peaceful shady surroundings. Just a 30 min drive from us.
ORADOUR SUR GLANE. The original village still stands here as a memorial to the day, Sat 10th June 1944, that german troops marched into the village and brutally murdered over 600 men, women and children before destroying much of the village. It is a sobering trip, but we think worthwhile. There is also an exhibition centre here. Entry to the village is free. also see www.oradour.info
ST JUNIEN. Sitting on the banks of the River Vienne which flows slowly past this town, famous for its glovemakers. Large hypermarkets on the outskirts. This is a pretty town with many smaller shops and coffee bars on winding streets, a lot of which are now pedestrianised. We are just 25 mins away.
ST MATHIEU LAKE. Just 8 minutes drive from us you will find the lake of St Mathieu, a 14 hectare lake with artificial beach, swimming, fishing and pedalo rental. You will also find the "Grange de Lac" restaurant and bar on the banks of the lake. Superb value for money meals at lunchtime - Menu de Jour" and evening meals too.
LAC DE VASSIVIERE. A stunningly beautiful and vast lake of over 1200 hectares, surrounded by forests. The lake offers walking, fishing, kayaking, swimming all in peaceful surroundings. There is a cruise available which will take you on a 2 hour trip around the lake also offering you a 7 course meal. The boat normally leaves at 12.15 p.m. It is a drive of about an hour and a half from us.
ST JEAN DE COLE. Situated midway between Villars and Thiviers, St-Jean-de-Cole is one of the loveliest villages in the Dordogne. Its main square is surrounded by half-timbered houses, a covered marketplace, a 12th-century church and the Chateau de la Marthonie. You will also find the famous Grottes De Villars here with cave paintings dating back into prehistory. Just a 35 min drive from here.www.ville-saint-jean-de-cole.fr
Grand lac de St Estèphe: A truly outstanding leisure lake with a beach, snack bars, and a superb restaurant just over 20 mins from the gite. Supervised bathing and beautiful walks around the lake.
THE LAKES OF THE HIGH CHARENTE. The nearest of these lakes is just 15 mins from our gite. There is an English bar/restaurant, a French Bar Restaurant and a French snack bar. all offer magnificent views across the lakes. These lakes are vast and offer many quiet corners where you can relax, swim or just wander.
CHALUS.Just 25 kilometres away lies the town of Chalus, one of Richard the Lionhearts favourite haunts. Indeed he had a chateau there which still stands. There are routes that you can drive following in his footsteps throughout the area .Medieval fair once a year with a costumed procession through the town.
COUSSAC BONNEVAL: Close to St Yrieix la Perche and Segur le Chateau, this village boasts a huge chateau dating back to the 10th century. It's well stocked with artefacts and antiques, and there is a large park that you can wander around in. Good restaurant just outside.
HAUTEFORT: The chateau at Hautefort has existed since the middle ages and is well worth a visit. Lovely gardens too. The village is very pretty with delightful old cottages and welcoming bars and restaurants. About 1 hours drive away. www.ot-hautefort.com
COLLONGES LA ROUGE: This amazing village dates back to the 8th century and although further afield, is well worth a visit. It is famous for its beautiful old buildings made of red sandstone, giving the village a distinctive look. www.collonges-la-rouge.fr. From here you can get to Beaulieu sur Dordogne, another outstandingly beautiful village with large waterway .
GOLF: Our gite is within reach of the 9 hold golf course at the Domaine d'Essendiéras and the 18 hole golf course at Perigueux. Day tickets can be purchased at a very reasonable price. Other courses are at Brive and Limoges,and St Junien all within easy reach.

This is the land of wild deer, truffles, cèpe mushrooms, chestnuts, foie gras, world famous Limoges Pottery and of course the Limousin cattle which provide the region with its succulent steaks.

Throughout the year there are various fetes and markets with varied themes ranging from chestnuts, mushrooms, pig and cider, to woodcarving- with chainsaws!!!!

If you are a car boot/vide grenier/brocante fan here is a link to a great site that gives you dates and details of vide greniers and brocantes in the Haute-Vienne and neighbouring Dordogne and Charente regions. Just click VIDE GRENIERS

For information on local events and some photos

There are walks galore through woodland and along riverbanks. The Limousin is known as the land of 1000 lakes, they are not wrong there are lakes everywhere, some with artificial beaches and lake side restaurants.

We border both the Charente and Dordogne regions making us ideally placed if you are house hunting in the those regions as well as ours. You will find so many things to do within an hours drive that you will be able to fill a week or two with excursions, visits and entertainment.

Although we are in a rural area you are never too far from the shops. Indeed our nearest supermarket is just 5 kilometres away from our hamlet at St Mathieu.This charming small French town boasts two boulangeries, a post office, mairie, tabac, supermarket, and three small bar/restaurants.