Limoges

This article is about the French commune. For the Canadian city, see Limoges, Ontario.
Limoges

City Hall

Coat of arms
Limoges

Coordinates: 45°50′07″N 1°15′45″E / 45.8353°N 1.2625°E / 45.8353; 1.2625Coordinates: 45°50′07″N 1°15′45″E / 45.8353°N 1.2625°E / 45.8353; 1.2625
Country France
Region Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes
Department Haute-Vienne
Arrondissement Limoges
Canton Chief town of 16 cantons
Intercommunality Limoges Métropole
Government
 • Mayor (2014–) Emile-Roger Lombertie
Area1 77.45 km2 (29.90 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 139,026
 • Density 1,800/km2 (4,600/sq mi)
 • Metro (2011) 282,876
INSEE/Postal code 87085 / 87000
Elevation 209–431 m (686–1,414 ft)
(avg. 294 m or 965 ft)
Website http://www.ville-limoges.fr/

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Limoges (/lɪˈmoʊʒ/;[1] French pronunciation: ​[li.mɔʒ];[1] Occitan: Lemòtges or Limòtges [liˈmɔdʒes]) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin in west-central France.

Limoges is known for its medieval and Renaissance enamels (Limoges enamels) on copper, for its 19th-century porcelain (Limoges porcelain) and for its oak barrels which are used for Cognac and Bordeaux production. Some are even exported to wineries in California.

History

Ancient and medieval history

Scarce remains of pre-urban settlements have been found in the area of Limoges. The capital of the Gaulish people of the Lemovices, who lived in the area, was probably either near Villejoubert, some kilometres south-east of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, or St Gence, just west of Limoges.

The city proper was founded as Augustoritum by the Romans, around 10 BC: "rito-" is Gaulish for "ford". The foundation was part of the reorganization of the province by the emperor Augustus, hence the new name. The Roman city included an amphitheatre measuring 136 x 115 metres, a theatre, a forum, baths and several sanctuaries. According to tradition, a temple consecrated to Venus, Diana, Minerva and Jupiter was 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 the Lemovices) whose chief town it was; "Lemovices" subsequently evolved into "Limoges", and "Lemovicinus" for the area around changed into "Limousin".

Limoges was evangelized by Saint 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 the Abbey of St. Martial (9th century), another settlement grew around the tomb of the saint, while a third area, next to the residence of the viscount (the future Castle of Saint Martial), seems to have been populated from the 10th century.

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 the St. Martial School; its most famous member was the 13th-century troubadour Bertran de Born.

Limoges enamel ciborium with champlevé enamel, and center rim in pseudo-Kufic script, circa 1200.[2]

In the 13th century, at the peak of its splendour, central Limoges consisted of two fortified settlements.

In 1370, Limoges was occupied by Edward, the Black Prince, who massacred some 300 residents, "perhaps a sixth of the normal population", with another 60 members of the garrison of 140 dead as well.[3]

Modern history

The city and castle were united in 1792 to form the single city of Limoges. During the French Revolution several religious edifices, considered symbols of the Ancien Régime, were destroyed by the population: these included the Abbey of St. Martial itself.

Some years later the porcelain industry started to develop, favoured by the presence of kaolinite which was discovered near Limoges in 1768[4] (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 of Limoges Boxes, dinnerware, and other porcelain wares.

Yale Mobile Hospital Unit No. 39 stationed at the Limoges factory, Christmas, 1917

. Because the Limousin region has had a long history of breeding (Baronet sheep and Limousine 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.

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, including that of July–November 1830; April 1848. 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. The first French confederation of workers, Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) (General Confederation of Labour), was created in Limoges in 1895.

During the World War II, many Jews from Alsace were evacuated to and around Limoges.

Sports

The city is known for its basketball team CSP Limoges (Cercle St Pierre). Since 1983, the club has been French champion 5 times (1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990) and three European titles (1982 (Korac Cup), 1988, 1993). It was the first French club team to become European champion in a collective sport.[5][6] The team currently plays in Pro A, the French first basketball professional league.

Climate

Limoges experiences an oceanic 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. On average, the city undergoes 41 days of frost and seven days of snow each winter. In June, July and August, precipitation tends to come only from violent thunderstorms coming from the Bay of Biscay.

Climate data for Limoges-Bellegarde (402 m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.0
(62.6)		 22.0
(71.6)		 24.7
(76.5)		 27.8
(82)		 29.8
(85.6)		 35.7
(96.3)		 37.3
(99.1)		 37.2
(99)		 32.6
(90.7)		 27.3
(81.1)		 22.9
(73.2)		 18.3
(64.9)		 37.3
(99.1)
Average high °C (°F) 6.9
(44.4)		 8.3
(46.9)		 11.5
(52.7)		 14.1
(57.4)		 18.0
(64.4)		 21.4
(70.5)		 23.9
(75)		 23.8
(74.8)		 20.4
(68.7)		 16.1
(61)		 10.4
(50.7)		 7.6
(45.7)		 15.2
(59.4)
Average low °C (°F) 1.5
(34.7)		 1.7
(35.1)		 3.9
(39)		 5.9
(42.6)		 9.5
(49.1)		 12.6
(54.7)		 14.6
(58.3)		 14.5
(58.1)		 11.7
(53.1)		 9.0
(48.2)		 4.5
(40.1)		 2.2
(36)		 7.7
(45.9)
Record low °C (°F) −17.3
(0.9)		 −15.0
(5)		 −9.6
(14.7)		 −4.7
(23.5)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 4.0
(39.2)		 7.2
(45)		 5.4
(41.7)		 2.6
(36.7)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 −7.2
(19)		 −10.6
(12.9)		 −17.3
(0.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 91.9
(3.618)		 79.8
(3.142)		 78.7
(3.098)		 90.8
(3.575)		 95.7
(3.768)		 77.5
(3.051)		 65.6
(2.583)		 75.0
(2.953)		 74.1
(2.917)		 93.4
(3.677)		 101.3
(3.988)		 99.7
(3.925)		 1,023.5
(40.295)
Average precipitation days 13.5 11.0 11.3 12.4 12.6 9.4 8.5 8.5 9.6 12.1 13.2 12.8 134.9
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
Average relative humidity (%) 85 80 76 71 75 73 71 72 75 80 82 84 77
Mean monthly sunshine hours 86.0 104.0 156.8 167.7 204.9 227.4 238.2 231.0 191.5 133.3 81.4 77.6 1,899.8
Source #1: Météo France[7][8]
Source #2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity and snowy days, 1961–1990)[9]

Demographics

Population city: 139,502 (limougeauds), urban area: 281,570. At the 1999 census, the population was 133,968.[10]

Main sights

St Etienne Cathedral, Limoges
Saint Martial Bridge
Gare des Bénédictins

Art and Literature

The murder of Thomas Becket, Limoges enamel, 12th century, Louvre Museum

"Le marché de Limoges" (Limoges market) is the name of a section of Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky.

In 1768,[4] kaolin, a rock rich in fine, white clay which is used for making porcelain, was discovered at Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche, 30 km south of Limoges. Under the impetus of the progressive economist Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune, who had been appointed intendant of this impoverished and isolated region, a new ceramics industry was developed, and Limoges porcelain became famous during the 19th century. However, Limoges porcelain is 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[4]

Limoges is mentioned in T.S. Eliot's poem Gerontion (London 1919), lines 23 to 25:

'...Mr. Silvero/ With caressing hands, at Limoges/ Who walked all night in the next room.'

Eliot's compatriot and mentor Ezra Pound visited Limoges in 1912 when researching the landscape and the work of the 12th-century troubadours. As he states in his essay Troubadours: Theirs Sorts and Conditions: '...a man may walk the hill roads and river roads from Limoges and Charente to Dordogne and Narbonne and learn a little, or more than a little, of what the country meant to the wandering singers...'

There is also a reference to Limoges in Jean-Paul Sartre's novel Nausea, near the middle of the book in the Shrove Tuesday section, when the magistrate says: "I had a similar case at the beginning of my career. It was in 1902. I was deputy magistrate at Limoges..."

Transport

The main railway station of Limoges is the Gare de Limoges-Bénédictins. It offers direct connections with Paris, and Toulouse, and several regional destinations. The motorway A20 connects Limoges with Chateauroux, Vierzon, Orléans and Paris to the north, and Brive-la-Gaillarde, Cahors, Montauban and Toulouse to the south. The nearest airport is Limoges – 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 the Limoges trolleybus system, one of only four such systems currently operating in France.

Notable people

Limoges was the birthplace of

Twin towns

Fountain and Carousel at Place de la République

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Limoges". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Louvre museum notice". Louvre.fr. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Sumption, Jonathan. 2009. The Hundred Years War III: Divided Houses. 82–83
  4. 1 2 3 "Limoges". Facstaff.uindy.edu. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  5. ↑ http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/9066/180/item
  6. ↑ http://www.humanite.fr/node/40345
  7. ↑ "Données climatiques de la station de Limoges" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Climat Limousin" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Normes et records 1961-1990: Limoges-Bellegarde (87) - altitude 402m" (in French). Infoclimat. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  10. ↑ Limoges at INSEE (French)
  11. ↑ "Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Martial". Newadvent.org. 1 October 1910. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  12. ↑ http://www.museebal.fr/en
  13. ↑ Université de Limoges website (English)
  14. ↑ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.

External links

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