5 locations in the Haute-Vienne where films and series were shot Limousin

©Sous Bois En Briance South Haute Vienne|OT BSHV

5 locations in the Haute-Vienne where films and series were shot

Our cows are real stars, and our small villages have caught the eye of a number of film-makers! With its rural ambience, historic settings and authenticity on every level, the département has been the backdrop for a number of films and TV series. We’ve put together a short list of the films and series shot in Haute-Vienne to help you rediscover the region… cinema version 🎬

At a glance

1. Les Gardiennes - Women, a war, a farm

Montrol-Sénard

In the midst of the First World War, the women must maintain the family farm while the men are at the front. A poignant story of resilience, brought to life by Nathalie Baye and Laura Smet. Directed by Xavier Beauvois, it’s a magnificent tribute to the women who stayed on the farm during the First World War 🐓

And guess what?

It was shot at Montrol-Sénard, an ecomuseum in Haute-Vienne that seems straight out of another century, perfect for recreating the rural atmosphere of 1915. A powerful film, in a setting that doesn’t cheat.

Here’s a fun fact: some of the people in the photo opposite are real inhabitants of the village!

2. Un Village Français - daily life turned upside down by the German occupation

All over Haute-Vienne

During the Occupation, the inhabitants of a fictitious village live between resistance, collaboration and survival. An addictive, ultra-realistic series that tells a different story of the Second World War 📽️

France 3’s flagship series, “Un Village Français”, created by Frédéric Krivine, set its cameras in Haute-Vienne for the beauty of its landscapes, but above all the authenticity of our villages.

Although the story takes place in the Jura, it was in Haute-Vienne that a large part of the series was shot. 227 days of filming in Limousin at some fifteen locations in Haute-Vienne(Eymoutiers and Saint-Léonard de Noblat as well as Limoges, Le Vigen, Coussac-Bonneval…).

3. La Guerre des Boutons - The cutest fight in French cinema

Around Rochechouart

Two rival gangs of kids wage war against each other…with ripped-off buttons ⚔️

A tender, funny and universal film, a remake of Louis Pergaud’s classic.

Yann Samuell’s version is set in the countryside around Rochechouart in the Haute-Vienne region!

The paths, meadows and small villages lend a touch of authenticity and freshness to this family comedy featuring an XXL cast: Alain Chabat, Mathilde Seigner, Fred Testot.

4. Monsieur Léon - When tenderness comes to the station

Limoges station

A little boy is sent to live with his grandfather during the Second World War. At first gruff, the old man gradually opens up. A beautiful lesson in intergenerational love ❤️

One of the film’s key scenes was shot in an emblematic location: the Limoges-Bénédictins train station.

An architectural masterpiece that also seduced… Chanel, for an elegant, Parisian ad… shot in the middle of Limoges!

©Gare De Limoges|@baylesebastien_limoug_oh

5. Victor Sauvage - The hero who saves... animals (and hearts)

Le Reynou

A former zoo vet, Victor Sauvage travels the length and breadth of France to come to the aid of injured or distressed wild animals. With his converted truck, he lives to the rhythm of his missions and encounters, between action, emotion… and animal tenderness 🐘💚

Broadcast on TF1 in 2011, this mini-series features Jean-Luc Reichmann in a touching and unexpected role.

And to bring Victor’s adventures to life, several scenes were shot at Reynou Park/zoo. An incredible setting, as close as possible to the animals.