Creuse is distinguished by a total absense of pollution : no noise, no dangerous gas, no violence, no obstruction of private freedom.
One of the last departements where you could profit from Nature and its colours : tender green in Spring, more bright in Summer, dark green in Winter, pale blue or azure, red in Autumn, ochre and yellow.... Shades loved by MONET, GUILLAUMIN, ALLUAUD, MAILLARD, OSTERLING who were established at CROZANT school at the end of the 19th century. In the next century by LABERTHONNIERE and THIERY, then by our present painters in their workshops that can be visited at DESPLANQUES in GUERET, GIRARD in ANZEME, SIGNAMARCHEIX in SAINT SULPICE LE GUERETOIS
Leafy woods, fir-trees, with VTT, motor bicycle, on foot, horses. On the PLATEAU DE MILLE VACHES in the area of ROYERE DE VASSIVIERE, VALLIERE, BANIZE, FELLETIN. Pathways full of treasures, fragrances, chestnuts, mushrooms, blackberries, wild plums.....
Stones for climbing, glancing on the granite blue, grey, pink. Walking along a path through a meadow. There are more famous Natural Granite formations to discover which are in the Department : PIERRES JAUMATRES, PIERRES AUX NEUFS GRADINS, ROCHER DU DIABLE.
Block of stone worked by masons of SARDENT, MASGOT, COMPEIX.
Stones on circuits Gallo-roman like the "petit pont de SENOUEIX" ( little bridge) inscribed on the list of French historic monuments
Stone paths to walk along or stroll that will take 2 or 3 days, crossing by the " TOURBIERES" and one GR of 65km between ROYERE DE VASSIVIERE AND BOURGANEUF. Or on 200 km of paths signposted difficult degrees, (better : done at a minute's notice!!! ) with the Association CREUSE OXYGENE, around GUERET . Or around other Communes like PEYRAT LA NONNIERE allowing green walks with local associations .
Stones on the face of house. Traditional houses built by Creusois Masons, their stories are narrated in " LA MARTINECHE" near PONTARION, land of MARTIN NADAUD, evidence of manual skills in the building of CATHEDRALE NOTRE DAME in PARIS built by us amongst others french monuments.
Stones again and always are here in many castels to visit: VASSIVIERE, LE THERET in LA SAUNIERE, BOUSSAC, CROZANT, SAINTE FEYRE, AHUN, CHENERAILLES, FELLETIN, PEYRAT LA NONIERE, CROCQ, BANIZE.... detours on roads, fountains, bridges, or the viaducts in BUSSEAU SUR CREUSE or GLENIC, bell tower in AUBUSSON, the famous Tapistry capital where you can visit their workshops .
Water, for swimming, boating, sailing, kayching on the river CREUSE near JOUILLAT.
Lakes : VASSIVIERE, LAVAUD GELADE, CHAMBON, ponds: COURTILLE, MASMANGEAS.... all are suitableup for children in Summer.
Water for fishing in the river (class I and II ) : LA RIGOLE DU DIABLE, LE TAURION ( and its otters), LA GARTEMPE, L'ARDOUR, LA MAULDE, LA TARDES, LA VOUEIZE, LA ROZEILLE where there are silver trouts or farios and crayfish for the skillfull fishermen.
Fishing also in the pond at AURIAT, near FAUX LA MONTAGNE : carp, pike, cat fish (?), whales (!!!!!!)
The air quality is good in oxygen, for paragliding, gliding, in SAINT LAURENT or in mountain of MAUPUY, PUY de GAUDY.
Its wild animals : Limousine's cows, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep; forest stags, roe-bucks, birds.
Also the wolves of CHABRIERE, Bisons of BOURGANEUF or more deer, kangaroos ( it's not a joke!)
Pastries: potato tart ( pâté aux pommes de terre), cherry tart (flaugnarde or clafoutis), hazel nut-cake, trépaïs (cake with chestnuts), FONDU CREUSOIS ( frit potatoes with a cheese gravy), goat's or cow's cheese, honey. Limousine Meat is very famous, beef or pig (called CUL NOIR: black buttock), apples, whortleberries, water of life ( it's a fruit alcohol very strong) or chestnut cordial.
You can taste all these typical foods in Restaurants, Gîtes, or directly from Producters, farmers, who are making "bio",natural cultures before long time even before "fashion".
Activities for everyone: way in the air through the trees at VASSIVIERE, walk trhough the green labyrinth, visit the museums, horse riding, stroll together, making pottery or panting, tapestry, picking fruit on farms and cooking....
There's plenty to find on outdoor markets, second hand deals, fains, communal and hamlet festivals.
Welcome's Earth lastly, during the past: Italian people running away from fascism, Children of the REUNION Island and more recently English people, ch'tis (people of Northem FRANCE). All are comming for searching for a better quality of life because here is where to find peace and tranquility between big stones walls in GRANIT which is constitued all bases of architecture for all built : houses, buildings, flats, barns, little farms, manors, castels.....
And who better than a CREUSOIS Child and his team could help you for find your home?
A big thankyou to the tourism's office and also to the association of Pays de GUERET who allowed us to print the pictures you had seen. They have been produced by Creusois people in love with their country :
Mme ANDRE, M. CHATAIGNAUX, J. DAMASE, GADS, Mme MAINE, M. PARRIS, M. VAU, Mme VINCENT, Mme NABLANC and M. VADIC.
And another big THANKYOU to Pat and Roger BOILEAU who take time to translate my french text into English language......
For dainties others Creusoises pictures :
Early in the morning, a little village under mist.
A natural granitc heap
THis little road who smell chessnuts
With half a score we could eat a good omelette