Watercolour exhibition and Tour du Plô in Saint Yrieix la Perche, a medieval town in the Haute-Vienne region
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Aerial view from the Tour du Plô in Saint Yrieix la Perche, one of the 100 Most Beautiful Detours in France in Limousin.
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The Most Beautiful Detours of France in LimousinGlimpses of history, medieval art and architecture
1. Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
One of the Most Beautiful Detours in France, at the gateway to CorrèzeOne of the most beautiful villages around Limoges, Saint-Yrieix la Perche boasts southern charm and well-preserved medieval architecture. From the Place Attane, the majestic collegiate church and Tour du Plô dominate the old town. Climb the hundred steps of this keep to take in the view of this pearl on the Richard the Lionheart Road. 👑
Then stroll through the cobbled streets of the Marché-Poterne district, admire the white stone mansions, then treat yourself to a gourmet break in the Moulinassou gardens: the famous Saint Yrieix madeleine awaits you there! 😋
It was also here in 1768 that kaolin, the white clay that made Limoges porcelain famous the world over, was discovered. 👈
2. Saint-Léonard de Noblat
A medieval village in the Limousin on the road to Santiago de CompostelaNestling between Limoges and Lac de Vassivière, this unspoilt medieval town reveals its treasures to lovers of old stone. The collegiate church of Saint-Léonard de Noblat, a UNESCO-listed Romanesque masterpiece, has been guiding pilgrims to Compostela for centuries. Its century-old vaults house the relics of a saint venerated since the Middle Ages. ⛪
The medieval architecture of Saint-Léonard can be explored like an open book: round and square towers, half-timbered alleyways, secret passages, medieval facades, geminated bays of the consuls’ house, former convent… 🎯
A stroll through the historic centre reveals the soul of a village where craftsmen and gourmet traditions perpetuate age-old know-how. Fall for the marzipan of Saint-Léonard and admire unique creations in paper, leather, Limoges porcelain… Here, time suspends its flight in a gentle Limousin style! 😊
Collegiale De Saint Leonard De Noblat Unesco Medieval City Among The 100 Most Beautiful Detours In France In Limousin
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Visite guidée du cœur historique de Saint Léonard de Noblat : place de la République, avec une vue sur la tour ronde et le clocher de la collégiale
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3. The Michelin Guide to the 100 Most Beautiful Detours in France
Your free travel companionPublished for 27 years with Michelin expertise, this slow tourism bible reveals France’s most beautiful medieval villages and towns to curious travellers. 🧳
Available free of charge in member towns, this 175-page guide is packed with ideas for getaways. The introductory map of France helps you spot the 100 destinations on your itinerary, from Limousin to Alsace, Brittany, the Dordogne… 🧭
Have you spotted a town on the way to your holiday? ➡️ Each one is presented alphabetically with its heritage nuggets and treasures to discover. With practical information too: market day, motorhome park, tourist office… The perfect tool for discovering France in a different way, by taking your time. 🧘
Forget soulless motorway service areas for these authentic stops where heritage, crafts and local produce come together in harmony. 🍃
