Gueret is the capital of the Creuse and the centre of commerce for the region, however with only 15,000 inhabitants it also manages to retain a quaint homely feel. Originally developed from a monastery on the site it was later awarded a Franchise charter in 1406 and the Hotel des Monneyroux was built. This is now the home of the Conseil General.
Access
Gueret is situated in the Creuse department of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. The nearest airport is Limoges, which can be reached in 1h.
History
Traditional houses in the Creuse are built of granite and the area was once famous for its stonemason “artisans” who were sought all over France – they even travelled as far as Paris leaving their families for months at a time to build the beautiful, world renowned buildings that we all know today such as the Cathedral at Notre Dame.
Activities
Market day is every Thursay and Saturday selling fruit and vegetables, cheese, olives,jewellery, clothes and furniture at La Place Bonnyaud, and there is a thriving antique market every third Sunday of the month between October and June. The Courtille Leisure Park is only a short distance and has a 200000m2 lake filled with water sports, a sandy beach, miniature golf, tennis courts and a three star campsite (open from the beginning of June until the end of September it is advisable to book in advance, tel: 05 55 81 92 24). The nearby River Creuse also hosts several watersports.
Just south of Gueret is the Chabrieres forest, home to several packs of grey, black, and white wolves (including the European wolf, the Canadian white wolf and the black wolf of Alberta) in five specially built enclosures. In 1882 a law was passed allowing the mass slaughter of the species and within fifty years canis lupus virtually vanished from the French countryside. This park was created to allow the observation of these beautiful animals without further threat to themselves or to human beings and it has become a natural environment and a sanctuary for those in need of help and care (www.loups-chabrieres.com). This forest also has an observatory with a 450mm telescope ideal for astronomical research; presentations are done daily.
The Musée de la Sénatorerie is good to visit; it holds numerous fine examples of porcelain including Limoges china, a remakable Chinese collection, exquisite tapestries, paintings inspired by the Creuse area, Gallo-Roman statues and beautiful gardens. The Espace Fayolle offers many different classes including dance, theatre, music and pottery.
Food & Drink
Gueret 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
- Coq en Pâte, 2 rue de Pommeil, tel: 05 55 41 43 43, menu 30-60€
- Le Carnot, 16 boulevard Carnod, tel: 05 55 61 91 91, menu 15-30€
- Le Pub Rochefort, 6 place de Rochefort, tel: 05 55 52 61 02, menu 15-30€
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 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 Gueret matching your requirements. Do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about our selection of properties for sale in Gueret.