LIMOUSIN - Geography and history
The Limousin comprises three départements of France: Corrèze, Creuse and Haute-Vienne. With an area of 17 000 km2 it is one of France's smallest regions, covering only 3% of the country and ranking it in 16th place on the national scale.
Located in the centre west of France, 200 km from the Atlantic coast, it lies at the border of two great geographical features: the Massif Central and the Basin of Aquitaine.
The relief of the region rises gradually from west to east, with its highest point at Mont Bessou, 978 m. The western slopes face the Atlantic; those on the east merge into the foothills of the Massif Central.
Climatically the region is virtually oceanic, tending towards a mountain climate, with mean temperatures between 8° and 12°C and fairly heavy rainfall. Accidents in the relief nevertheless result in the existence of microclimates.
The land is frequently granitic or slaty, cut through by deep valleys which alternately broaden and narrow.
Water in the region originates from a multitude of springs and surface water, rising mainly on the plateau de Miltevaches. The water itself is of excellent quality.
Forest cover is fairly dense (34% of total land area), consisting mainly of deciduous natural forest (oak and chestnut), with some conifer plantations.
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