Rouge Cottage at Nouvelle-Aquitaine

The Neighborhood

Haute-Vienne is a department in the Limousin region of France. Named after the Vienne River, it borders the departments of Creuse and Corrèze (also in Limousin), Dordogne to the south in Aquitaine, Charente and Vienne to the west in Poitou-Charentes, and Indre to the north in the Centre department. The Parc Naturel Regional Perigord-Limousin is an 1800km2 park that straddles the Dordogne-Limousin border, and takes in parts of Haute-Vienne and Dordogne. There is a wealth of nature, culture, food and activities to explore. Below are just a few possibilities! Whether you are into the history of Richard the Lion Heart and are keen to follow his route and visit some Chateau or just enjoy the local produce markets and amazing local French food and wine on offer. There is something for everyone from walking and cycling to fishing or swimming and soaking up the local French culture. There are numerous walking paths right from the door at Rouge Cottage through the glorious Limousin countryside, which is beautiful right throughout the year. There are great cycling routes to suit all abilities, particularly the more casual cyclist and families. The roads in the Haute Vienne are smooth and well-maintained, perfect for clocking up some training miles. Each year big name teams arrive for the Tour du Limousin that takes over the region, with spectators lining the route to catch a glimpse of riders. There is also much to offer mountain bikers, with plenty of great dirt tracks and byways. The marked paths around Courbefy are fantastic to explore with steady technical descents. They are a great introduction to mountain biking for novices and would-be off-roaders, but still challenging enough to give the more experienced rider a blast of adrenaline.   Family cycling – Haute-Vienne has some superb places for families to go cycling. The quiet, well maintained roads offer a wonderful way for families to explore the local area. Whether it is heading off for a picnic or cycling to a Chateaux, there are numerous destinations to get to within easy cycling distance from the cottage. From Chalus to Orador–sur-Vayres there is a 13 km ride on the old railway line, which is perfect for all members of the family. Bikes can be hired in Chalus ask at the tourist office.