AroundLimoges

At the foot of the cathedral, the Arts and Crafts Centre houses the exhibition gallery of master-pieces by “Compagnons et Meilleurs Ouvriers de France” (distinguished craftsmen and art workers). The visitor is invited to discover the history of “Compagnonnage” and the richness of its customs. On the site of the former medieval “Abbaye de la Règle” (Abbey of the Rule), the Arts and Crafts Centre is today a unique tribute to the different trades and to those who had to pass down the tradition for generations.

The Adrien Dubouché National Porcelain Museum is rich of about 15,000 objects. Four distinct families of ceramics can be distinguished : pottery, earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. A room of the museum introduces the different steps in the manufacturing process of ceramics.

Located in the former convent of the Sisters-of-Providence, completely renovated, this new complex of 1,300 square metres offers a permanent exhibition of ten sequences from the declaration of war till after the Liberation (1939-45). The collections have been enriched with new objects and documents, such as newsreels, and now bring back, thanks to new technologies, History and the citizens' everyday life during this period

Former bishop’s palace, this large 18th-century-style building contains some real treasures : collection of enamels which are unique in the world (medieval champlevé enamel on copper, painted enamels from the Renaissance, as well as Art Deco and contemporary works), Impressionist paintings (particularly by Renoir, who was born in Limoges), and objects steeped in history (from Gallo-Roman Limoges and ancient Egypt).

Less than 500 metres upstream from Saint-Etienne bridge, the Casseaux Former Porcelain Kiln is one of the last witnesses of the “red” city’s 130 kilns and the only one available for visits. Built in 1904 for the Alluaud manufacture, the Casseaux kiln was running on wood then on coal until 1950. The building is a remarkable adaptation of the aesthetic to the functional. It is built in steel-ringed bricks. It remains the symbol of the uncertain mastery of fire in the art of porcelain.