Central France
Local town and villages
Please note this section is a "work in progress"
as we only add information provided from the inhabitants
of, or regular visitors to, each town or village.
If you live in, or regularly visit a town or village
not included here and would like to add a section, please
email the webmaster.
Aubusson
Famous for its exquisite tapestries and weaving, Aubusson is situated along the valley of the the Creuse River near the northern edge of the Plateau de Millevaches (the highest point of the Monts du Limousin). The town is charming with many architectural features from the Middle Ages; strange turrets, carved windows and doorways. The "Maison du Tapissier" (closed on a Tuesday) houses permanent and temporary exhibitions in its spacious, well-lit halls, which trace the history of tapestry from the 15th Century to the present day.
Also worth a visit are the 'Vieux Tapissier', a 15th Century house with weavers workshops and tapestry making demonstrations, the 11th Century ruined castle, ordered destroyed by Richelieu in 1632, the 13th Century church of Sainte Croix, the clock tower, and the old bridge, Le Pont de la Terrade, originally a wooden bridge, rebuilt using stones from the ruined castle.
Auzances
Located in Eastern Creuse, near the border of Puy de Dôme, Auzances is a small, quiet town surrounded by beautiful countryside. Auzances has a large variety of shops and restaurants, a busy market on Tuesdays, an archaeological museum and the oldest church in the area, the L’eglise Saint-Jacques.
Bonnat (pronounced Bonna)
A larger town some twenty minutes from Gueret with bakers, a supermarket, petrol station, credit agricole bank with English speaking staff, an English speaking doctor, garden centre, ironmongers, bars and restaurants. Bonnat is also just minutes from the very picturesque "Three Lakes" where you can swim, walk, fish, sail or just sit and relax at the riverside restaurant. This area is a well kept secret, as it never gets busy even in August!
Bourganeuf
Bourganeuf, once the regional capital of the Templars,
renowned for its five storey medieval tower
of Zizim, built for the Ottoman Prince Djem
who was given asylum from his hostile brother
in 1482. The tower is open to the public in July and August.
Bourganeuf also has a museum devoted to the history of electricity, after all Bourganeuf was granted the first electricity supply contract in France. Bourganeuf is renowned for it's highly desirable carpets, one of which covers the foyer in the Empire State Building.
Boussac
Boussac
is a town of 1600 inhabitants and is situated on a fortified
rock much fought over since the times of the original
Gallo-Roman site. The town itself is very quaint with
many old buildings with spiral staircases and balconies.
George Sand once lived here and set her first country
novel "Jeanne" in the 12th Century castle, now privately owned, where the famous medieval tapestries 'La Dame et la Licorne' were discovered. Today Boussac has
everything you need from supermarkets, banks, bakers,
restaurants and cafes, to the churches and schools.
On a Thursday there is a thriving outdoor market in
the square.
Evaux le Bains
Famous for its thermal springs, discovered by the Romans, Evaux le Bains is situated almost on the boundary of the departement with Allier and the volcanic Puy-de-Dôme. This is a town where you can relax and recharge your batteries, see the remnants of the Roman baths, join the other hopefuls panning for gold in the river or visit the only casino in the Limousin.
Guerét
Guerét the capital city of the Creuse is bordered by farmland and grew up around a monastary founded in the 7th Century. The city offers many cultural delights including the Musée de la Sénatorerie which holds numerous fine examples of porcelain, including Limoges china and a remarkable Chinese collection, as well as paintings inspired by the Creuse area, exquisite tapestries, Gallo-Roman statues and beautiful gardens.
The Espace Fayolle offers many different classes including dance, theatrical expression, music and pottery and also runs a game library and bridge tournaments.
Close to Guerét is a huge maze where you can find your way with or without the available clues and the Chabrières forest where wolves run in semi freedom. Also in the Chabrières is the Observatoire Planétarium des Monts de Guéret, the observatory has a 450mm diameter telescope and the planetarium shows a presentation daily at 4.30pm.
Lac de Vassivière
Lake Vassivière covering approximately 1100 acres is one of the largest lakes in France and a very popular tourist spot. This huge lake has windsurfing, canoeing, waterskiing, sailing, boat trips, fishing, six supervised beaches, two marinas, paths for rambling, riding or cycling and horse and cycle hire on the spot. There is a sculpture park, where you can combine a stroll through the woods with a cultural experience and an island in the middle of the lake, home to a chateau and the International Centre for Art and the Landscape.
La Souterraine
La Souterraine literally translates to "The Underground", named in reference to the town's 13th Century crypt. It is a pretty town in North-Eastern Creuse with a population of just over 5,000 and is surrounded by rolling hills. The town and local area have plenty of outdoor activities available, a wealth of history, two fairs a month and a market every Thursday and Saturday.
Lupersat (pronounced Lupersa)
Lupersat,
a small village in the south east of the Creuse, has
a post office, bakers, cafe and a very pretty church.
Mortroux
A small village with post office, bar, restaurant and
a super wine cave. Take your own container and have
it filled with your choice of wine, having had a taste
beforehand!
Not only does it taste good but it's very very cheap!
Moutier Malcard
Another small village with a small store, post office, and bar. In the summer it plays host to an exciting 12 hour solex race around the village and offers many other fetes and barbecues during the summer months.
Nouzerines
Situated almost on the border of Creuse and Indre (area 36) Nouzerines is a very small village with a church, bakers and a very good hotel and restaurant, La Bonne Auberge.
Pontarion
A large village near Bourganeuf with all amenities and a pretty river. A landscaped parkland is situated just outside the village and is ideal for walking or fishing.
Sannat
The village of Sannat, situated between Auzances and Evaux Les Bains, is surrounded by woods and rolling countryside.
It is a farming community, mainly herds of Limousin cattle for beef stock.
The population of four hundred enjoy good amenities; there is a Boulangerie/Alimentation where freshly baked bread is available every day except Monday, a post office, open Monday to Saturday, a Primary School, Doctors Surgery and an Agricultural Engineering Centre with the facility to buy diesel and petrol.
In the centre of the village, the church dominates, it’s distinctive steeple can be seen many kilometres away and it acted as a marker for the pilgrims of St Jacques de Compostelle.
