Limoges

Limoges (Lemòtges / Limòtges in Occitan) is a city and commune in France, the préfecture of the Haute-Vienne département, and the administrative capital of the Limousin région. Population city: 137,502 (limougeauds), urban area: 247,944. more...

Home
Cultures, Ethnicities
Decorative Collectibles
All God's Children
Andrea by Sadek
ANRI
Armani
Avon
Bing & Grondahl Coll Plates
Blue Sky Clayworks
Boyds
Bradford Exchange
Byers Choice
Cat's Meow Village
Charming Tails
Christopher Radko
Danbury Mint
David Winter
Dept 56
Dreamsicles
Duncan Royale
Enesco
Faberge
Fitz & Floyd
Flambro
Franklin Mint
Halcyon Days
Hallmark
Hamilton Collector Plates
Harbour Lights
Harmony Kingdom
HOMCO
Hummel, Goebel
Josef
Knowles Collector Plates
Lefton Figurines
Lenox
Liberty Falls
Lilliput Lane
Limoges
Collector Plates
Other Limoges Collectibles
Trinket Boxes
Lladro
Longaberger
Madame Alexander
Margaret Furlong
Mary Engelbreit
Midwest of Cannon Falls
Norman Rockwell
Old World
Other Brands
PartyLite
Patricia Breen
Pendelfin
Polonaise
Precious Moments
Rein Poortvliet
Roman
Royal Copenhagen Coll Plates
Royal Doulton
San Francisco Music Box
Sarah's Attic
Schmid
Sebastian Miniatures
Shelia's
Slavic Treasures
Swarovski
Thomas Kinkade
Tom Clark
Unbranded
Wade Figurines
Wedgwood
Willitts
Willow Tree
Holiday, Seasonal
Religions, Spirituality

Limoges is known worldwide for its medieval enamels ('Limoges enamels') on copper, for its 19th century porcelain ('Limoges porcelain') and for its oak barrels (Limousin oak), which are used for Cognac production.

History

For the ecclesiastical history, see Bishopric of Limoges

Ancient and medieval history

Very scarce remains of pre-urban settlements have been found in the area of Limoges. The capital of the Gaul people of the Lemovices, who lived in the area, was probably situated some kilometers south-east of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat.

The city proper was founded as Augustoritum by the Romans, around the year 10 BC. The foundation was part of the reorganization of the province by the emperor Augustus, whence the new name. The Roman city included an amphitheater measuring 136 x 115 meters, a theater, a forum, baths and several sanctuaries. According to the tradition, a temple conscreated 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.

Limoges was evangelized by Saint Martial, who came in the city around 250 with two companions, Alpinianus and Austriclinienus. However, in the late 3rd century it was incresingly abandoned, due to the unsafe conditions created by the German invasions. The population concentrated instead on 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 settlementd 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 also was the home to an important school of medieval music composition, which is usually called the St. Martial Schooll; its most famous member was the 13th century troubadour Bertran de Born.

In the 13th century, at the peak of its splendour, central Limoges was consistuted by two different fortified settlements.

The town proper, with a new line of walls encompassing the Vienne river, inhabited mainly by clerks and the connected workers. It has a bridge entitled to Saint-Étienne, built by the bishops, and a developed port. Sacked in 1370, it never recovered entirely.; The castle, with 12 m-high walls, including the abbey and controlled by the abbot, sometimes in contrast with the bishop-ruled town. Traces of the walls can still be seen in the city's centre.;

Read more at Wikipedia.org