Aubusson is a fascinating town famous for its beautiful tapestry and rugs which have been in production since the Middle Ages; the Maison du Tapissier exhibits some fine examples of this. Surrounded by green countryside the town also has wonderful historical architecture including the Vieux Tapissier, a C15th weaver’s house, Sainte Croix, a charming old church, a clock tower and an old bridge going over the River Creuse, which is full of Trout, Trench, Roach, Carp and Pike.
Access
Aubusson is situated in the Creuse department of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. The nearest airport is Limoges which can be reached in 1h50.
History
The production of tapestry quickly set Aubusson’s name in the history books. Weavers from Flanders took refuge in Aubusson around 1580 and from then onwards tapestries were designed and created there, changing style every so often. In the C17th, the Aubusson workshop was given Royal Appoitment status, causing the trade to thrive all the more. The business then slowed down with the invention of wallpaper after the French Revolution, however in the 1930s, artists such as Picasson and Cocteau, were invited to Aubusson to express themselves through tapestry and this sparked a revival of the art that continues today. There are now around 20 workshops around Aubusson, producing beautiful tapestries via traditional skills.
Activities
The Musee Departmental de la Tappisserie, created in 1981, is an excellent place to see Aubusson tapestry. There are examples from the C17th, C18th and C19th as well as regular exhibitions of contemporary pieces and tapestries from around the world. The Maison du Tapissier is an ancient Creusois house with period furniture and a permanent exhibition recounting the history and traditions of tapesty and Vieux Tapissier is a C15th weaver’s house open to the public with live demonstrations.
The oldest and most commercial street is La Grande Rue, created in 1770 is continues to be popular today, full of cafes, hotels and boutiques. And the Quartier de la Terrade is an interesting part of the town featuring architecture from the ancient chateau.
Food & Drink
Aubusson is known for its rustic, simple food such as soup, bread, beef and fruit. Chestnuts and mushrooms feature in a lot of recipes and a popular dish is potato pie, made with smoked ham, herbs and galettes.
Restaurants
- Le Lion d’Or, 11 place du General d’Espagne, tel: 05 55 66 65 71, menu 15-30€ for traditional cuisine
- Le Relais des Forets, 41 route d’Aubusson, tel : 05 55 66 15 10, menu 11-30€ for traditional cuisine
Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you to find a property in Nouvelle Aquitaine. We have a large network of agents in Limousin. All of them are registered French real estate agents and speak both French and English. Whatever kind of property you are looking for: farmhouse, longere, barn, gite, B&B, country house, mill, castle or chateau, we will do our best to find a property in Aubusson matching your requirements. Do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about our selection of properties for sale in Aubusson.