The Haute-Vienne is renowned for its many lakes & forests. It is peaceful & quiet, perfect for relaxing walks. Composed of a variety of landscapes, ranging from the ponds and hedged farmland of Basse-Marche to the mounts Blond and Ambazac, through to the Vienne valley.
The Haute-Vienne is a great destination for relaxation and nature-based tourism. A considerable architectural and artistic heritage is also offered through its Romanesque religious buildings, its fortified castles, its medieval cities and its famous porcelain tradition.
Lakes with safe sandy beaches, horse-riding and watersports can all be found nearby. Lac de Saint- Pardoux (opposite) & Lac Vassiviere are the largest in the region and are home to several sailing schools, with regular competition and boat hire.
Haute Vienne is an angler’s dream with both running and still waters plentiful in rivers, lakes and ponds. There are nearly 7,000 km of waterways, of which 300 km are 2nd class and 6,700 km are 1st class.
Limoges and Poitiers are both worth visiting. There are cobbled walkways with fascinating architecture and shopping opportunities in both towns.
Limoges is situated about 43km to the south east, it is the capital of the Haute-Vienne department in the Limousin region. An energetic and charming city, Limoges provides all of the shopping, restaurants and historical & cultural attractions that you would expect of an historic regional capital, which is famous for its porcelains with many outlets throughout the area.
Situated about 78km to the north west, Poitiers is the capital of the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region. It is steeped in history that has resulted in a city with a lovely medieval heart containing numerous sites of interest. It is also a university town (the second oldest in France after Paris and the town with one of the biggest student populations) which means it has a vibrant nightlife and lots of cultural activities.