Limoges(/lɪˈmoʊʒ/lih-MOHZH,[4][5]USalso/liːˈ-/lee-,[4][6]French:[limɔʒ];[4]Occitan:Lemòtges,locallyLimòtges[liˈmɔdzes]) is a city andcommune,and the prefecture of theHaute-Viennedepartmentin west-centralFrance.[7]It was the administrative capital of the formerLimousinregion. Situated on the first western foothills of theMassif Central,Limoges is crossed by the riverVienne,of which it was originally the first ford crossing point.
Limoges
Limòtges(Occitan) | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Limoges  | |
  Limoges  Limoges | |
| Coordinates:45°50′07″N1°15′45″E/ 45.8353°N 1.2625°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Department | Haute-Vienne |
| Arrondissement | Limoges |
| Canton | Limoges-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8and9 |
| Intercommunality | CU Limoges Métropole |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–2026) | Emile-Roger Lombertie[1] |
| Area 1 | 77.45 km2(29.90 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 270.9 km2(104.6 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,407 km2(1,315 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 129,760 |
| • Density | 1,700/km2(4,300/sq mi) |
| •Urban (2018[3]) | 186,799 |
| • Urban density | 690/km2(1,800/sq mi) |
| •Metro (2018[3]) | 323,789 |
| • Metro density | 95/km2(250/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00(CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 87085/87000 |
| Elevation | 209–431 m (686–1,414 ft) (avg. 294 m or 965 ft) |
| Website | www.ville-limoges.fr |
| 1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
The second most populated town in theNew Aquitaineregion afterBordeaux,auniversity town,an administrative centre and intermediate services with all the facilities of a regional metropolis, it has an urban area of 323,789 inhabitants in 2018.[3]The inhabitants of the city are called the Limougeauds.
Founded around 10 BC under the name of Augustoritum, it became an importantGallo-Romancity. During theMiddle AgesLimoges became a large city, strongly marked by the cultural influence of theAbbey of Saint-Martial,where theDukes of Aquitainewere invested and crowned. From the 12th century onwards, itsenamelswere exported throughout the Christian world. In 1765, during the industrial revolution, the discovery of a deposit ofkaolinin theSaint-Yrieix-la-Percheregion enabled the development of theLimoges porcelainindustry. It is sometimes nicknamed "the red city" or "the Rome of socialism" because of its tradition ofvoting on the leftand the workers' events it experienced from the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century.
Since the 1990s, the city has had a basketball club,Limoges CSP,which has won severalFrench championshipsand theEuropean championshipin 1993. Because of its heritage policy, it has held the label "City of Art and History" since 2008. Economic activities includebutchering,electrical equipmentfor thebuilding industry,and luxury goods. It is home to porcelain houses and art workshops working withenamelorstained glass.This craft expertise led it to join theUNESCO Creative Cities Networkin 2017 in the thematic category "Crafts and Popular Arts".
History
edit
Ancient and medieval history
editScarce remains of pre-urban settlements have been found in the area of Limoges. The capital of theGaulishpeople of theLemovices,who lived in the area, was probably either nearVillejoubert,some kilometres south-east ofSaint-Léonard-de-Noblat,or St Gence, just west of Limoges.
The city proper was founded asAugustoritumby theRomans,around 10 BC: "rito-" isGaulishfor "ford".The foundation was part of the reorganization of the province by the emperorAugustus,hence the new name. The Roman city included anamphitheatremeasuring 136 x 115 metres, a theatre, aforum,baths and several sanctuaries. According to tradition, a temple consecrated toVenus,Diana,MinervaandJupiterwas located near the modern cathedral. The city was on the typical Roman square plan, with two main streets crossing in the centre. It had a Senate and a currency of its own, a sign of its importance in the imperial age. Later, like many towns and cities in Gaul, it was renamed after the tribe (here theLemovices) whose chief town it was; "Lemovices" subsequently evolved into "Limoges", and "Lemovicinus" for the area around changed into "Limousin".[citation needed]
Limoges was evangelized bySaint Martial,who came to the city around 250 with two companions, Alpinianus and Austriclinienus. However, in the late 3rd century it was increasingly abandoned, due to unsafe conditions created by the invasions of various Germanic tribes. The population was concentrated instead in a more easily fortifiable site, the modern Puy Saint-Étienne, which is the centre of the modern Limoges. Starting from the construction of theAbbey of St. Martial(9th century), another settlement grew around the tomb of the saint, while a third area, next to the residence of theviscount(the future Castle of Saint Martial), seems to have been populated from the 10th century.[citation needed]
Starting from the 11th century, thanks to the presence of the Abbey of St. Martial and its large library, Limoges became a flourishing artistic centre. It was home to an important school of medieval music composition, which is usually called theSt. Martial School;its most famous member was the 13th-centurytroubadourBertran de Born.[citation needed]
In the 13th century, at the peak of its splendour, central Limoges consisted of two fortified settlements.
- The town proper, with a new line of walls encompassing theVienne River,inhabited mainly by clerks and workers. It has a bridge on the Vienne river named after Saint-Étienne, built by the bishops, and a developed port. Sacked in 1370, it never recovered entirely.
- The castle, with 12 meter-high walls, including the abbey and controlled by the abbot, sometimes in contrast with the bishop-ruled town ( "la Cité" ). Traces of the walls can still be seen in the city centre. Outside the lines of walls were the popular quarters.
In 1370, Limoges was occupied byEdward, the Black Prince,whomassacredsome 300 residents, "perhaps a sixth of the normal population", with another 60 members of the garrison of 140 dead as well.[9]
Modern history
edit
The porcelain industry started to develop, favoured by the presence ofkaolinitewhich was discovered near Limoges in 1768[10](near St Yrieix, south-west of Limoges). Many of the inhabitants became employed in the new sector or in connected activities (including the lumbering of wood needed for firing the porcelain) in manufacture and exporting needed for European distribution ofLimoges Boxes,dinnerware, and other porcelain wares. Because the Limousin region has had a long history of breeding (Baronet sheep andLimousine cows), the leather industry also settled in and around Limoges along the banks of the Vienne–the river providing the necessary water and power. Factories in Limoges and St Junien still produce luxury leather shoes, gloves, and bags.
The city and castle were united in 1792 to form the single city of Limoges. During theFrench Revolutionseveral religious edifices, considered symbols of theAncien Régime,were destroyed by the population: these included the Abbey of St. Martial itself.[citation needed]
In the 19th century Limoges saw strong construction activity, which included the destruction and rebuilding of much of the city centre. The unsafe conditions of the poorer population is highlighted by the outbreak of several riots, includingthat of July–November 1830and April 1848. The first French confederation of workers, Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) (General Confederation of Labour), was created in Limoges in 1895.[citation needed]
In early 1905, strikes began in another local industry, shoe factories soon followed in the porcelain factories. Barricades were built, the army intervened. There would be two casualties: a horse and a young porcelain worker, Camille Vardelle.[citation needed]
DuringWorld War II,manyJews from Alsacewere evacuated to and around Limoges.
Climate
editLimoges experiences anoceanic climate(Köppen climate classification:Cfb) common to much of Western France. Most precipitation occurs between October and February. On 27 December 1999, winds reached 148 km/h (92 mph). On average, the city experiences 41 days of frost and 18 days of snow each winter. In June, July and August, precipitation tends to come only from violent thunderstorms coming from theBay of Biscay.
| Climate data for Limoges (LIG), elevation: 402 m (1,319 ft), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1973–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
27.8 (82.0) |
29.8 (85.6) |
36.3 (97.3) |
38.2 (100.8) |
37.2 (99.0) |
34.5 (94.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
22.9 (73.2) |
18.3 (64.9) |
38.2 (100.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) |
8.4 (47.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
14.8 (58.6) |
18.5 (65.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
24.2 (75.6) |
24.4 (75.9) |
20.6 (69.1) |
16.2 (61.2) |
10.7 (51.3) |
7.9 (46.2) |
15.6 (60.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.6 (40.3) |
5.1 (41.2) |
8.2 (46.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
14.1 (57.4) |
17.5 (63.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.6 (67.3) |
16.2 (61.2) |
12.7 (54.9) |
7.8 (46.0) |
5.3 (41.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.9 (35.4) |
1.7 (35.1) |
4.3 (39.7) |
6.4 (43.5) |
9.8 (49.6) |
13.0 (55.4) |
14.7 (58.5) |
14.8 (58.6) |
11.9 (53.4) |
9.2 (48.6) |
5.0 (41.0) |
2.6 (36.7) |
7.9 (46.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.2 (−2.6) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−9.6 (14.7) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
4.0 (39.2) |
7.2 (45.0) |
5.4 (41.7) |
2.6 (36.7) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−10.6 (12.9) |
−19.2 (−2.6) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 90.6 (3.57) |
75.0 (2.95) |
77.8 (3.06) |
87.7 (3.45) |
92.6 (3.65) |
80.0 (3.15) |
62.5 (2.46) |
71.6 (2.82) |
74.9 (2.95) |
94.2 (3.71) |
106.1 (4.18) |
105.0 (4.13) |
1,018 (40.08) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 13.2 | 11.2 | 11.2 | 12.0 | 11.2 | 9.5 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 9.7 | 12.1 | 13.9 | 13.3 | 133.7 |
| Average snowy days | 4.6 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 18.1 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 85 | 80 | 76 | 71 | 75 | 73 | 71 | 72 | 75 | 80 | 82 | 84 | 77 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 79.6 | 104.1 | 157.6 | 173.0 | 205.6 | 224.4 | 243.5 | 236.8 | 198.0 | 135.0 | 85.6 | 78.9 | 1,922 |
| Source 1:Meteo France(snow days 1981-2010)[11][12] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (relative humidity 1961–1990)[13] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
editIn 2018, the population of the commune proper was 131,479, and of the Limoges functional urban area 323,789.[3]Inhabitants of Limoges are calledlimougeaudsin French.[14]The population data in the table and graph below refer to the commune of Limoges proper, in its geography at the given years. The commune of Limoges absorbed the former commune of Beaune-les-Mines in 1962.[15]
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| Source: EHESS[15]and INSEE (1968-2017)[16] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Main sights
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- TheCrypt of Saint Martial,10th century, including the tomb of the bishop who evangelized the city.[17]It was discovered in the 1960s while building an underground parking lot (place de la république).
- Remains of the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre, one of the largest in ancient Gaul.[citation needed]
- TheGothicLimoges Cathedral(Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Limoges), begun in 1273 and only finished in 1888. It is noted for a fine loft built in 1534 and for the partly octagonal bell tower. The main artistic works are a Renaissancerood screenand the tomb of the bishop Jean de Langeac, with sculpted scenes of the Apocalypse.
- TheChapelle Saint-Aurélien(14th–17th centuries). It includes the relics ofSt. Aurelian,the second bishop ofLimoges,and has medieval statues and Baroque works of art.
- Thechurch ofSt-Pierre-du-Queyroix,begun in the 12th century
- Church ofSt-Michel-des-Lions,begun in 1364. It houses the relics of St. Martial and has stained-glass windows from the 15th–16th century. The most striking feature is the 65 m-high tower, with a spire surmounted by a big bronze ball.
- The bridges of Saint Martial (dating from the Roman era) and of St-Etienne (13th century).
- TheLimoges Fine Arts Museum(Musée des Beaux-Arts), housed in the 18th-century bishops' palace ('Palais de l'Évêché').[18]
- The railway station,Gare de Limoges Bénédictins,inaugurated in 1929.
- TheChâteau de La Borie(17th century), at 4 km (2.5 mi) from the city. It is home to the Centre Culturel de Rencontre de La Borie et l'Ensemble Baroque de Limoges.
- The remains of the 12th-century Castle of Chalucet, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of the city. During theHundred Years' Warit was a base of the bands of pillagers which ravaged the country.
- The city'sbotanical gardensinclude theJardin botanique de l'Evêchénext to the cathedral.
- TheUniversity of Limogeswas founded in 1968.[19]
Art and literature
edit
"Le marché de Limoges" (Limoges market) is the name of a section ofPictures at an ExhibitionbyModest Mussorgsky.
In 1768,[10]kaolin,a rock rich in fine, white clay which is used for makingporcelain,was discovered atSaint-Yrieix-la-Perche,30 km south of Limoges. Under the impetus of the progressive economistAnne Robert Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune,who had been appointedintendantof this impoverished and isolated region, a newceramicsindustry was developed, andLimoges porcelainbecame famous during the 19th century. However,Limoges porcelainis a generic term for porcelain produced in Limoges rather than at a specific factory (there are still several porcelain factories in and around Limoges). More than 50% of all porcelain made in France comes from Limoges.[10]
Education
editLimoges hosts the nationalceramicsschoolÉcole d'ingénieurs ENSIL-ENSCI,created in 1893,[20]and also theUniversity of Limoges.
Sports
editThe city is one of France's basketball capitals. ThePalais des Sports de Beaublanc,has been host for international basketball events such as theEuroBasket 1983and serves as home court for the professional teamCSP Limoges(Cercle St Pierre). Since 1983, the club has been French champion 11 times (1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2014, 2015) and 5 European titles (1982, 1983, 2000 (Korac Cup), 1988 (FIBA Saporta Cup), 1993 (Euroleague)). It was the first French club team to becomeEuropeanchampion in a collective sport.[21][22] The team currently plays inPro A,the French first basketball professional league.
Limoges Hand 87is a French handball team based in Limoges, France, which is currently playing in the Division 2 of Ligue Nationale de Handball.
Limoges FCwas the major cityassociation footballteam before the club folded in 2020 during theCOVID-19 pandemic.Their home games were played at Stade St. Lazare.
USA Limogesis an amateur rugby union club, based in Limoges. Currently competing in Fédérale 1, the top level of the French amateur rugby pyramid and one level below the professional leagues.
Transport
editThe main railway station of Limoges is theLimoges-Bénédictins station.It offers direct connections withParis,and Toulouse, and several regional destinations. Limoges was the last major urban centre of Metropolitan France to be connected to the national motorway system; since the early 1990s, the motorwayA20connects Limoges withChâteauroux,Vierzon,Orléansand Paris to the north, andBrive-la-Gaillarde,Cahors,MontaubanandToulouseto the south. The nearest airport isLimoges – Bellegarde Airport.
Urban transport in Limoges and its metropolitan area is operated by Société de transports en commun de Limoges Métropole (STCL). The Limoges urban bus network includes theLimoges trolleybus system,one of only four such systems currently operating in France.
Notable people
edit- Bernard Gui(1261–1331), Inquisitor of Toulouse, Bishop ofLodève,buried in Limoges.
- Pierre de CasaPrior General of the Order of Carmelitesthen Became Bishop of theDiocese of Vaison(1341–1348) andLatin Patriarch of Jerusalem(1342–1348)
- Jean Daurat(or Dorat) (1508–1588), poet and scholar, member of thePléiade
- Henri François d'Aguesseau(1668–1751),chancellor of France
- Jean-Baptiste Jourdan(1762–1833),marshal of France
- Stephen Grellet(1773–1855),Quakermissionary
- Thomas Robert Bugeaud de la Piconnerie,Duke of Duchy of Isly (1784–1849),marshal of France
- Jean Cruveilhier(1791–1874), anatomist and pathologist, born in Limoges
- Michel Chevalier(1806–1879),engineer,economist,and statesman
- Élie Berthet(1815–1891), writer
- Jean-Baptiste Joseph Émile Montégut(1825–1895), critic
- Marie François Sadi Carnot(1837–1894),President of France
- Pierre-Auguste Renoir(1841–1919), painter
- André Antoine(1858–1943), theater pioneer, actor, director, filmmaker
- René Navarre(1877–1968), actor
- Marcel Vardelle(1883–1969), politician
- Roger Gonthier(1884–1978), architect
- Raoul Hausmann(1886–1971), artist
- Maryse Bastié(1898–1952), aviator
- Fred Sirieix(born 1972), maître d'hôtel famous for appearing onFirst Dates.
- Franck Pulcini,20th-century French trumpeter.
- Fabienne Delsol,a singer active since 1996
- Stéphane Delautrette(born 1972), politician
- Guillaume Moreau(born 1983), racing driver
- Marie-Ange Magne(born 1987), politician
- Matthieu Vaxivière(born 1994), racing driver
Twin towns - sister cities
edit
Limoges is twinned with:[23]
See also
edit- Roman Catholic Diocese of Limoges,the Bishopric of Limoges
- Communes of the Haute-Vienne department
- Chapel of St. Aurelianus, Limoges
References
edit- ^"Répertoire national des élus: les maires"(in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^"Populations légales 2021"(in French).The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.28 December 2023.
- ^abcdComparateur de territoire: Aire d'attraction des villes 2020 de Limoges (041), Commune de Limoges (87085),INSEE
- ^abc"Limoges".Collins English Dictionary.HarperCollins.Retrieved24 September2014.
- ^"Limoges".Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.Merriam-Webster.Retrieved1 July2019.
- ^"Limoges".The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language(5th ed.). HarperCollins.Retrieved1 July2019.
- ^INSEE commune file
- ^"Louvre museum notice".Louvre.fr. Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2011.Retrieved14 March2011.
- ^Sumption, Jonathan. 2009.The Hundred Years War III: Divided Houses.82–83
- ^abc"Limoges".Facstaff.uindy.edu. Archived fromthe originalon 18 July 2011.Retrieved14 March2011.
- ^"Climatological Information for Limoges, France".Meteo France. 6 August 2019.
- ^ "LIMOGES–BELLEGARDE (87)"(PDF).Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1991–2020 et records(in French). Meteo France.Retrieved6 August2019.
- ^"Normes et records 1961–1990: Limoges-Bellegarde (87) – altitude 402m"(in French). Infoclimat. Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.Retrieved14 February2019.
- ^Haute-Vienne,habitants.fr
- ^abDes villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui:Commune data sheet Limoges,EHESS(in French).
- ^Population en historique depuis 1968,INSEE
- ^"Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Martial".Newadvent.org. 1 October 1910.Retrieved14 March2011.
- ^"Découvrez le musée des Beaux-Arts de Limoges - Musée des Beaux-Arts de Limoges".www.museebal.fr.
- ^Université de Limoges websiteArchived21 July 2011 at theWayback Machine(in English)
- ^L'ecole Nationale Supérieure De Céramique Industrielle à Limoges
- ^"F4 History: 1993, A surprise from France".
- ^"Une liste de 200 personnalités" à abattre "a été découverte lors de perquisitions chez des".26 September 1992.
- ^"Les villes jumelles: une autre façon d'aborder les relations internationales".limoges.fr(in French). Limoges.Retrieved14 November2019.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Diocese of Limoges".Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Bibliography
editExternal links
edit
- City council website
- Adrien Dubouché Museum– ceramics, glassware, porcelain from Limoges
- History and Geographyat Academy of Limoges