Hi!
I am a 15 year old highschool student and this summer i will be staying with a family in Limoges France. I speak french fine, butthats not my question. I was wondering if any of you have ever been to Limoges before. I hear it's nice, but i need to know more. how long of a ride is it to the Mediterranean sea, atlantic ocean, Paris??? Any information you could give me would be awesome. Thanks Alot

WOW I guess nobody knows anything about Limoges. That could be really good or really bad hahah!!

There is a French verb that may tell you something about Limoges: limoger. It means to dimiss for incompetence, because In W.W.I, incompetent higher ranked officers were simply sent to Limoges where they could do no harm, and presumably have no fun. Limoges has a reputation as a dead provincial town, although there are serious attempts to change its core into something that would attract people. It has an excellent procelain museum, and I am hoping to visit its enamel collection this year. It is a couple of hours from the Atlantique, about three hours by train from Paris and more than that from the Mediterranean. I hope that the family has children your age, so that they can guide you to things that might interest you. I cannot assume to be able to.

I have been to Limoges a few times. As a student going to live with a French family for the first time, I'm sure you'll be delighted with Limoges, but it's not a popular French destination for most people unless they are looking to purchase porceleine.
It has a rather small, nice, old quarter with the requisite church, a few pretty parks, an excellent ceramics/porceleine museum - and that's about it.
As the Limousin was a great center of resistance during WWII, there are some interesting historical sites nearby, most notably Oradour-sur-Glane, where the SS massacred 600+ citizens one day. The town has been left exactly as it was when the massacre was over, and a museum has been erected. It's a very moving place to visit. There is also some lovely countryside nearby Limoges.

The Atlantic is about a 2.5-hour drive; the Mediterranean is a loooong way away (pretty much a full day's trip), and Paris is three hours by train.

If you can coerce your French family members into doing so, have them take you into the Dordogne, or to the wine region around Bordeaux. There are lots of interesting things to see and do there.

Well thanks. it's about time someone wrote in. haha HAS ANYONE HEARD ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT THAT AREA. I REALLLLLLLY DONT WANT TO BE BOORED WHEN I GO THERE

I only stopped in Limoges briefly to get some porcelain. The city wasn't memorable in either a positive or negative way. As St. Cirq said, it is not too far from the Dordogne region (which is fantastic -- cave drawings, castles, beautiful countryside, medieval villages). Oradour-sur-glane is a "must see" (check out this website for more info: http://www.oradour.btinternet.co.uk/). Also, the Loire Valley is not that much farther afield (2.5 hours to Amboise).

But, the real value, memories and experience will come from just being able to live overseas and seeing what the daily existence (which makes up most of our time on this planet) is like. Not to lecture, but you need to be a bit more mature about this as you go into it. As someone who has been lucky enough to live in many countries -- including France -- I suggest that you go in with your eyes open to a very positive experience, whether or not you get to the more touristed destinations, and it will be magnificent, I'm sure. I have no doubt that there are many people on this board who would relish the experience you are getting and would trade their two-week-long vacations in a minute for the opportunity to live daily life in Limoges, France, for a more extended stay.

Have a great trip, and let us know what you see and learn.

John H.

Jh6000: Thanks for all the information. I really appretiate it. I also appretiate your honesty. However, i think you got the wrong message. I AM EXTREMILY THRILLED about going to France. I would be happy going anywhere. I am sure Limoges will be great. I just thought I would write in and ask to see if their was anything that was espically cool in that town. But thanks.

You are very welcome. Hope I didn't sound too harsh -- I was mainly reacting to the "I REALLLLLLLY DONT WANT TO BE BOORED WHEN I GO THERE". LOL

Have fun and enjoy it -- and do let us know how you make out] and do find us the hidden treasures of Limoges].

John H.

well i will let everyone know how it is. I'm sure i will find some things there that will be worth sharing with the rest of you.

Hi . . . if you go to the www.frommers.com site and look up 'Destinations', there should be information about Limoges.
Also, you can peruse www.virtualtourist.com after searching for 'Limoges' and you will find some journals there.
Try this: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Limousin.html
These tips should help you gain some insight into your destination - have fun!

great sites thanks

topping

topping again!

Come on....you guys have to know something else??

dear yes, if you are in the USA, you will love limoges, all of France is very different and tho it's not the prettiest it is alot bwetter looking than most of our cities, you must remember Europe is older so there is alot of interesting things to be seen. When I was your age, like the famous photographer, Diane Arbus said, her favorite place was anywhere she hasn't been. You can go to the Med. in three four hours by car but you could take the TGV to Paris in less time.

thanks, that actually helps alot

anyone else have any information on Limoges?

Hi,

Maybe you can write (email?) the family questions that include some of your interests and see what they do there. Also, you might want to check on-line to see if there are any parks or other areas of natural beauty. If you are going in summer, which I am assuming you are - they may have a pool/club for young people. I am sure there are going to many 15 year old boys who will be interested in showing the American girl around the town, etc.

Have a great time. I wish I had the opportunity to do something like this when I was 15. I think even if there are boring moments, it will probably be no more boring than it is sometimes at home...and you will come home with lots of interesting stories!

well, actually i'm a guy. And the person i am living with is a guy too!

Oops, I mean lots of 15 year old GIRLS will want to show you around!