Haute Vienne is traditionally a farming region and up until recently it was only the more adventurous holiday makers who knew this area, having become frustrated with the increasing commercialism of the Loire and the Dordogne, and began to visit this unspoilt area in an attempt to find the ‘real’ France.

Laborie is a hamlet of just 10 houses, in an area which is predominately used for cattle and sheep farming. Although well out of ear shot of all main roads, it is only 15 minutes from the A20 which is the main North/South route through France, making it an ideal base with easy access for touring further afield should you wish to do so.

The Local People are an absolute delight and will welcome you with open arms, suggesting places to visit, where to find the best food (although in this part of France it is virtually impossible to eat a less than excellent meal), and of course share their enthusiasm in discussing local restaurants and good wines to look out for.

Places to Visit

The Nearest small town of Chateauponsac (7 mins) offers all the main services - supermarket, pharmacy, petrol station and a couple of restaurants. A little further away is Bellac (15 mins) where you will find a typical town supplying all requirements. It is a good place to visit, if only to have lunch in the little restaurant next to the town hall where we always enjoy a fantastic 3 course table de hote meal for about £6.

The Delightful town of Le Dorat 20 mins away, is a beautiful medieval town and with only a little stretch of the imagination you can almost expect to turn a corner and see everyone in 15th century dress going about their day selling chickens and perhaps watching the odd public hanging!

Montrol-Senard (30mins) is a delightful historical village where a number of the buildings have been retained as they were originally were. You can see the school house exactly as it was with the childrens clogs at the back of the room and their work books still out on the desks. The blacksmiths, Wandering around here is lovely and its well worth spending a few hours here if you can.

Further Away but in the same direction is Poitiers and of course home to Futuroscope which we are told is well worth a visit, although we have not yet had the time to explore this far.

About 15 Mins to the south of the house is Lac de Saint-Pardoux, a vast lake which has been brilliantly laid out to provide you with a day by the sea. They even have beaches with real sand and different areas offer water sports, swimming and fishing so everyone can do their particular sport without getting in the way of the others. This is extremely busy in July and August however outside of this time you have it pretty much to yourself.

Another must see is Limoges (40 mins), the capital city of Limousin and of course famous for its extremely fine porcelain. Set up quite high, all the little streets climb up to the market square where you will find the purpose built food market which is a real treat. Even if you are not planning on cooking your own meals, (and why should you - this area supplies food to most of the rest of France and the restaurants are some of the best - and cheapest - you will find!) you will be amazed at the range and displays of vegetables, meats, cheeses, fish and of course exquisite pastries.

To The East of the A20 is La Souterraine (30mins) which is another delightful little town and we always make a point of visiting the Saturday market. Further north from here is La Chatre (1 hour). The writer Georges Sand and partner of Chopin lived on the outskirts. Their house is open to the public and is worth visiting if you have an interest in music.

If Your Ideal Holiday is amusement parks, burger bars, multiplex cinemas and non stop entertainment this is not the place for you. If however you enjoy the peace and quite of the country, visiting delightful little towns, cycling through country lanes, taking 2 hour lunches and sitting in the garden with a good book then you have found . . . . . . .Paradise!