A Guide 2 Creuse

Description:

Geography and Transport

Creuse makes up the north eastern third of Limousin, bordered by Haute Vienne (west), Corrèze (south), Cher and Indre to the north and Allier and Puy de Dome to the east.  The main route throug the department is the RN145 which links the towns of La Souterraine and Guéret with Montluçon (Allier).  The department has no mainline rail access, but the TER network offers links between Limoges- Guéret- Montluçon though a number of Creuse towns and villages.  Creuse does not have its own airport, and for most parts of the department Limoges-Bellegarde remains the closest option that offers year-round flight options to UK destinations.

Climate

Much of Creuse is semi-mountainous and experiences relatively cold winters with some spring snowfall in the more elevated areas.  Summers are warm but many areas are susceptible to increased rainfall throughout the year, due to the effects of the hilly terrain.  Temperatures and rainfall can vary between places so it is best to check-out individual place guides for a more accurate description of the climate.

Tourism

Creuse is probably best known as the home of tapestries and carpet making, a tradition that dates back to the fourteenth century, and there are a number of museums dedicated to the subject, such as the Musée Départemental de la Tapisserie and the Maison du Tapissier, both situated in the town of Aubusson.  The sparsely populated and hilly countryside is ideal for walking, cycling and horse-riding, and dotted around the many towns and villages are fine examples of medieval architecture in the form of numerous chateaux, churches and abbeys.  The castles of Villemonteix, Boussac, Banizette are some of the more extraordinary.  Les Loups de Chabrières is a wolf reserve just outside of Guéret, offering an educational experience for visitors to see several varieties of wolf in a semi-free environment.  To the east of Creuse is the small town of Evaux-les-Bains, the only thermal spa located in Limousin.  The department is traversed by the Creuse River, and there are numerous lakes and rivers on which to enjoy watersports and fishing.

Economy

Agriculture, and more specifically cattle and sheep farming, is the mainstay of the Creuse economy, with both Celmar and Creuse-Correze-Berry Elevage being two key cooperatives based in the area.  Other key firms are Picoty (Avia fuels), Gaudriot (Geothermal engineering) and Dagard (refrigeration) amongst the other key players. 

Key Stats

As with the whole of the Limousin region, Creuse has a bigger proportion of older people than younger people (18% of the population is under 20 years, and 34% is over 60 years).  There are more women than men here (51% vs 49%), and this does not match the national picture.  18.93% of homes here are classed as second homes (nearly double the national average of 10.1%).