Bellac, Haute-Vienne, Limousin

Description:

Geography and Transport Links

A small town (commune area of 24.42km²) situated in the North West of the Haute Vienne Department, Bellac is situated at the mid-way point between the Regional Capital of Limoges, and Poitiers [Vienne].  The town is serviced by the RN147 [Route de Poitiers], and the RN 145, which runs between the east and west, from La Rochelle to northern Auvergne, and which constitutes part of a link route between Paris and Spain.  The Autoroute A20 lies some 30 mins away, and this links the town with Paris in around 3 hours.  Bellac sits at an average altitude of 245m [the lowest part of the Limousin Region], but to the south and west is the Monts de Blond, at 500m.  The town has access to the TER rail network, on a stretch of line that links Limoges with Poitiers.  The nearest airport is Limoges Bellegarde, and this offers year-round services to a number of UK destinations.

Climate

Despite being inland, Bellac benefits from the warming effects of the Atlantic Ocean, with cool [but not excessively cold], short winters, and warm [occasionally very hot summers].  To the south and west of Bellac, the temperatures become cooler due to the increased elevation of the land, with increased rainfall.  Traditionally, the wettest months are May, October, November and December, and the driest being March, June, July and August.  Average summer high temperatures range between 21-24C and lows between 12-15C.  In winter, average Highs are between 7-8C and lows between 2-3C.  Bellac is part of a zone which receives between 1750 and 2000 hours of sunshine per year.

Tourism

Known as the City of the Lambs [Cite d'Agneau], Bellac has an agricultural heritage, and is surrounded by sheep and cattle farmland.  There are a number of festivals that take place during the summer months, such as a Lamb Festival in June, and a Bison Festival during August, but there is a significant cultural event as well, in the form of the the Festival de Bellac.  This event normally takes place towards the end of June/beginning of July, and consists of a series of concerts, theatre and dance at the Theatre de Cloitre.  To visit there is the impressive twelfth century  Notre Dame Church, the Leather Tanning Museum dedicated to the trade for which Bellac is famed, as well as the Museum of Jean Giraudoux, dedicated to the famous French novelist, essayist, diplomat and playwright born in the town, who is considered among the most important French dramatists of the period between World War I and World War II. 

Economy

In Bellac itself, the number of people employed in agriculture seems low at 0.9%, however in the wider employment zone, Bellac has twice the Regional average [16.1% vs 8.2%].  86% of people living within this employment zone live rurally.  The employment zone takes in places such as Saint-Sornin-Leulac, Bessines-Sur-Gartempe, Nantiat, Le Dorat and Chamboret.  The biggest employer is Meillor based at Nantiat [part of the German Freudenberg Group] who produce automobile parts, such as Cylinder Head joints.  Bellac is part of the economic zone of the same name, which has an unemployment rate of 6.1%, compared against the regional rate of 7.2% and the national rate of 9.1% (INSEE 2006).

Facilities

The town has plenty of small shops and cafe/restaurants towards the centre, and a good range of supermarkets, with a newly developed commercial area within walking distance of the old-town.  Stade Leo Lagrange hosts both the local Football Club C.S.Bellac [Centre-Ouest Ligue], and the amateur Rugby Club C.S.Bellachon [2e Serie], as well as a Tennis Club.  Other activities available in the area include Cycling, Gymnastics, Walking, Fishing/Hunting, Roller-Skating, Baseball, Martial Arts and a Cinema.  There is an outdoor swimming pool that opens between May and September.  There is no indoor swimming facility in Bellac.

Education

There are two state nurseries  and two state Primary Schools, one Secondary School (College) and two Colleges (Lycee).  There is a Private (Catholic) School that covers Nursery, Primary and Secondary School [Sainte Marie].  There is one Agricultural College, and one Professional College that specialises in architecture, building works and associated trades [Martin Nadaud].

Key Stats

Of the properties in Bellac 84.6% are classed as primary residences, with 5.3% being classed as second homes.  There are more females than males resident here (52.5% vs 47.5%), and there are slightly more people aged 60 or over than the national average (23.5% vs 21.3%). The number of retired people is higher (29.3% vs 18.2%).  The percentage of people below the age of 19 is lower than the national average (18.8% vs 24.6%)

Key Facilities and Services: