Bourganeuf is a beautiful medieval town dating from the 12th Century and was one of the first towns in France to have electricity and offer light in public places and households. There is a population of 3500 inhabitants and with plenty of hotels, gites and camping areas it is a very popular area for tourists all year round. Market day is every Wednesday.
Access
Bourganeuf is situated in the east of the Creuse department in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, not far from the Creuse’s border with Haute-Vienne. The nearest airport is Limoges, which can be reached in 70mins.
Activities
Places to visit include the church of Saint-Jean dating from the 12th century, the Musée de l’électrification which displays a social and economic insight into the history of producing electricity, the church of Soubrebost and the Tower of Zizim, which is said to have been built in 1484 as a place of refuge for a Turkish prince; Price Djem, who was trying to escape the murderous intentions of his brother, the Sultan. It has magnificent views Every July 14th there are celebrations and the first weekend of every August involves a medieval spectacular. There are many cycling and walking circuits, which can be found at the information office in the town, as well a new 9-hole gold course which opened in 2004 (on route de Gueret).
Vassiviere, one of the largest lakes in France is also nearby. With six sandy beaches, supervised swimming in the summer, organised children’s games and a multitude of water sports for all the family it is an ideal place for fun ang fames. This 1000 hectare, man made lake, also has 300 kms of woodland trails, ideal for cycling, walking and riding and there are plenty of hotels, gites and caravans to stay in. There are also a number of classical concerts held in the local churches throughout the year and several open-air rock festivals in the summer months. The island in the middle of the lake meanwhile, is home to a chateau and an ambitious Contemporary Art Museum designed by the late Aldo Rossi. Access to the island is by tourist train or boat. Guided tours are available around the lake and the island between July and August on Tuesdays and Thursdays (www.Vassiviere.com).
Food & Drink
People in Limousin believe in good farming methods and are proud of their fresh beef, pork and lamb. There are also excellent river fish to be caught, and traditional desserts are Clafoutis, a creamy cherry tart and Treipaïs, a chocolate and chestnut cake with a biscuity base. Meanwhile, the liqueurs made from pears, prunes, chestnuts and walnuts are very popular drinks.
Restaurants
- Chez Nous, les Gouttes, tel: 05 55 64 24 49, menu 15-30€
- La Strada, 1 rue des Fossés du Billadour, tel: 05 55 64 24 49, menu 20-40€
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 near Bourganeuf. All of them are registered French 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 Guret matching your requirements. Do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about our selection of properties for sale in Bourganeuf.