Welcome to L'Hirondelle du Lac

Further Afield

Haute Vienne

CHALUS
An important town in the middle ages where you'll find the ruins of the Château-Chabrol where Richard the Lionheart died on 6 April 1299 having been fatally wounded by a bolt from a crossbow.

COUSSAC-BONNEVAL
The castle dating from the 14th century with its drawbridge and devil's tower (Tour du Diable) and perched above the town is one of the most spectacular castles in the area.

Le DORAT
The collegiate church of St Peter is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture to be found in Limousin.

ORADUR-SUR-GLANE
A very poignant and important site for visitors to this area is the martyred village of Oradour-sur-Glâne. The memory of the 642 inhabitants slaughtered by the Nazis on the 10 June 1944 has been preserved since the atrocity.

Creuse
The département of Creuse, which means 'hollow' in French is the least inhabited departement of France - the ideal place to get away from it all. The countryside between the two rivers, the Grand Creuse and Petite Creuse, in the north-east corner of the department has inspired many artists, in particular the so-called École de Crozant and Monet.

AUBUSSON
Aubusson a charming town situated in the valley of the Creuse is famous as a weaving centre and for its exquisite tapestries. The tapestry museum the Centre Culturel Jean Lurçat, named after the artist who revitalised the art of tapestry-making from 1930s onwards, has a permanent exhibition tracing the history of tapestry making in the area from the 15th century to the present day. The town itself still has interesting features dating back to the middle ages. Graham Sutherland's tapestry of Christ the King which hangs in Coventry Cathedral was woven at nearby Fellitin.

BOUSSAC
Situated on the Petite Creuse, the French novelist George Sand once lived in this town and discovered in the château the six 15th century tapestries entitled 'Lady with the Unicorn' – now housed in the national museum of medieval art and culture in the former Hôtel de Cluny in Paris.

GUERET
Just south of the village of Guéret in the forest of Chabrières, now home to several packs of wolves. Wolves were wiped out of France during the first half of the 20th century but have been re-introduced back into this area in a park where visitors are able to observe these animals in a natural environment.

Corrèze
The départment lies on the south-western slopes of the Massif Central and the Vézère and Corrèze flow through the region before joining the Dordognne The area is dotted with beautiful historical towns and villages. Indeed six of the most beautiful villages in France: Collognes-la-Rouge, Curemont, Saint-Robert, Sègur-Le-Chateau, Treignac, Turenne – are all within easy reach of L'Hirondelle du Lac.

ARGENTAT
Another beautiful village on the upper stretches of the Dordogne.

ARNAC POMPADUR
Formely two towns but nowadays a single commune,the château and title were given by Louis XV to his mistress. The town is important nowadays as one of the National Stud Farms.

BEAULIEU-SUR DORDOGNE
Famous for its fine Romanesque chuch formely part of a Benedictine Abbey.

MEYMAC
Situated at the edge of the Millevaches plateau this is one of the prettiest villages in the Corrèze. Near by are the gallo-roman ruins of Les Cars.

UZERCHE
This medieval town perched on a promontary above the Vézère has beautiful historic houses and fine examples of the Romanesque style of architecture.