correze-gites.com - holiday accommodation in quality gites and hotel standard bed and breakfast in Treignac, Correze, Limousin, France. Les Prats is ideal for self catering holidays or house hunting in the Limousin area.
Things to see in the Correze area
Treignac Area
Whilst you are staying at Les Prats, your first visit must be, of course, Treignac. A lively small town with fascinating buildings, pretty old streets and pavement cafes, until recently listed as one of the "Plus beaux Villages de France". Feast your eyes on the delights of the Borzeix-Besse chocolate shop, where you can arrange to have a tour of the museum and workshop. In the centre of Treignac there is a tourist office where you can arrange guided tours, or set off on your own on the "Circuit du Patrimoine", a tour through Treignac's history.
Treignac also boasts its own lake and sandy beach, a magnet for holidaymakers in the summer. The lake is fed by a series of lakes starting high up in the Monedieres. Its worth a drive up to "Suc au May" 908m to see the 360 degrees panoramic view of the green and lush landscape of the Monedieres and Plateau Millevaches. On the way up, stop at the little thatched church in Lestards where the acoustics transform even the worst singers into angels! There are many attractive sleepy villages on route, and stunning views around every corner.
Plus beaux villages de France
The Limousin boasts seven "Plus beaux villages de France", six of which are in the Correze.
Collonges la Rouge
Dating from the 8th Century, Collonges la Rouge is a lovely place to explore, as each winding pathway & alley leads to another red sandstone house and pepper-pot tower, or attractive courtyard for alfresco eating and several interesting and inexpensive shops.
Curemonte
An enchanting village where you can meander through the medieval streets and see the three chateaux. The keen tourist may wish to tackle the steep road winding up to the summit!
Saint Robert
This village is arranged around a Benedictine monastery built by the followers of St Robert, and was the scene of violent religious clashes. Despite this, the 12th Century Romanesque church remains intact.
Turenne
A pretty village dating back to the 13th Century perched on the edges of a hill overlooking the Limousin countryside. Once again, the climb to the top is not for the faint hearted!
Segur le Chateau
Nestles in the valley of the Auvezere river that sweeps in a wide curve through the village. Its narrow streets are lined with half timbered houses and turrets. Rich mansions remain from the glorious days of the Royal Court of Justice for Limousin.
Other places of interest
Arnac-Pompadour
Arnac-Pompadour is a town dominated by its grey, turreted chateau presented to Madame Pompadour in 1745 by Louis XV. It is the home of the national stud (haras), and the magnificent track in front of the chateau has frequent race meetings, events and open days. Many of these events are free of charge.
Brive
Brive is the capital of the Correze, a bustling town with boutiques, pavement cafes and narrow winding streets as well as the commercial centre for the area. Every Saturday it hosts a large market for vegetables, fruit, plants, poultry (alive & dead) fish, clothes, furniture and mouth watering platters of local delicacies. We will even tell you where to find a cake shop to die for!!
Gouffre de Padirac
A spectacular cave formation of stalagmites and stalactites leading to an underground lake. The entrance is down an enormous limestone sinkhole (lifts or steps) and is the only way of capturing the scale and beauty of this natural phenomenon.
Argentat
A popular town on the side of the Dordogne, once a port for traders selling wood to the Bordeaux wine growers. The wood was transported in "Gabares" crudely built , flat bottomed boats which were thrown away at the end of the journey! Argentat is renowned for its gastronomy and has several riverside restaurants.
Lake Vassiviere
Lake Vassiviere, one of Limousin's major holiday venues, considered the largest area of inland water in France. The lake and surrounding area is an ideal location for walkers, cyclists and horse riders wishing to explore the 300 km of footpaths and bridleways. There are boat trips around the lake, one in particular has an on board restaurant for a leisurely lunch.
Mont Dore
Our local ski area, just one hour from Les Prats. Beautiful summer and winter with the nearby spa town of La Bourboule.
Oradour sur Glane
On the 10th of June 1944 the village of Oradour sur Glane lost most of its inhabitants in a terrible massacre. The village has been preserved in a ruined state as a testament to the barbarity of war. It is a very interesting and moving place to visit. Like everywhere in the Limousin, the anti German resistance was very active in Treignac during the 2nd World War. The village was awarded the War Cross.