A few words on Corrèze Department

Geography

The Corrèze department belongs to the Limousin region. It corresponds to the western border of the Central Massif. The Hercynian granitic base appears in the North, in two thirds of the territory. The detrital rocks in the South are sandstone formed during the Permian-Triassic era by erosion of the massif (sand accumulated in estuaries). Limestone plateaus of the Lot department extend northward to the southern edge of Corrèze. The relief is higher in the northern part, with the massif of Monédières and the plateau of Millevaches, the later having an average height of about 800 m (the highest summit, Mont Bessou, reaches 977 m). The central part of Corrèze is a large plateau which does not exceed 600 m height. It is dug by rivers (Vézère, Corrèze, Luzège) which flow southward towards the Garonne river. The southwest part, i.e. the depression of Brive, is an alluvial plain (height between 100 and 200 m). The Dordogne river, present in the southeast corner of the department, demarcates the Xaintrie country in the East. The general climate of Corrèze is sub-oceanic. The climate is more oceanic in the valleys of Auvézère and Vézère. In the South - basin of Brive, Dordogne downstream - it is merged with southern influences, as the Autan wind becomes dominating in summer. From a climatic viewpoint, this area fits with the northern edge of the Aquitaine Basin. Clouds coming from the West hit the first highlands of the Central Massif in the northeastern part, so that rainfall is high there. Monédières and Millevaches plateau have a very wet and cold oceanic climate. In winter, a large amount of snow can fall. The most oriental part is dryer, because of the Foehn effect, and it has a climate more continental. As far as vegetation is concerned, subatlantic plants are dominant, especially acidophilous species, except for the most southern part in which grow submediterranean species (notably with orchids on calcicolous grasslands). So, moors with Heather, Scotch heath, Common Gorse or Dwarf Furze are frequent on the highlands. On hydromorphous soils, Purple Moorgrass is dominant. This plant forms tussocks around peat bogs. In the naturally well-drained places, acid soil leaching can lead to podzolisation, that is a phenomenon in which humic acids migrate downward and leave a mineral amorphous layer in surface. Formerly, on such poor soils covered with moors, nothing other than subsistence agriculture was possible (rye and buckwheat cultivation on fire cleared land). On the central hilly area, cattle breeding is the first activity on drained meadows. The valleys, particularly the basin of Brive, have soils and climate much more favourable to cultivation of fruits and market garden products.

 

History

The department presents quite a few prehistoric vestiges: hewn flint axes found in caves near Brive, some Neolithic polished axes, and some megaliths represented essentially by dolmens (much less than in the bordering department of Lot). At the time of the Roman conquest, the Gallic tribe which occupied the current Limousin and beyond up to the Atlantic Ocean, was the Lemovicii. One of their main cities, Lemonum, became afterward Limoge. The same etymology can be found in the word Limousin... A troop of 10000 Lemovicii warriors attended to help Vercingetorix besieged in Alesia, but they failed. During the Gallo-Roman time, the territory of the current Corrèze was a part of the province of Aquitania. The same name, Aquitaine, was also used to designate the kingdom bequeathed by frank king Dagobert to his nephew. Afterward, this territory was named Guyenne, and it fell into the hands of England's kingdom, under Henry Plantagenet. Having been taken back by France under Philippe Auguste, the Corrèze and other territories of this region were restored to England by Saint Louis (Louis IX), in 1259. Before the One Hundred Years War, Corrèze and the other territories of Limousin, once again, were being returned to France. However, after the French crushing defeats at the beginning of the war, the Treaty of Bretigny (1360) restored this region to England. As it was situated in the edge of Guyenne, Limousin passed alternatively in the hands of England or France, according to the events of the war. The totality of Guyenne fell definitively to the Crown of France under Charles VII (Battle of Castillon, 1453). In the same time as Black Prince warred in the Southwest, a series of Correzian bishops became popes in Avignon (1342 - 1378). Finally, the last one reinstalled the throne of Saint Peter in Rome. Even if very few people in Corrèze became Calvinists, this land underwent a violent confrontation between Huguenots and Catholics after the Battle of Roche-l'Abeille (1569, Haute-Vienne department), and later, when the Calvinist Viscount of Turenne made war against the Lord of Pompadour, who belonged to the Catholic League. Royal armies, members of the Catholic League, and Huguenots killed each other during more than twenty years, plundering villages and starving people. In 1593, peasants rose up in a rebellion known as " the revolt of the Croquants". During the Second World War, French Resistance was intense in Corrèze. In August 44, as the German troops withdrew from Egletons to Clermont-Ferrand, they underwent several attacks by Resistance fighters swollen by a unit of Free French parachutists.

 

Hiking characteristics

Corrèze is a rural department which has natural resources for developing outdoor activities. The relief is generally hilly, quite rarely slopy in some valleys, or also rather flat, as on the plateau of Millevaches. Because of this geography, as a general rule, walking is rather easy in Corrèze. Besides, ski touring can be practiced on the plateau of Millevaches. On this plateau, Gentioux-Pigerolles is the only ski touring base in all Limousin. The South of the department, particularly the basin of Brive, is more urbanized, with a more intensive agriculture. In this region, the climate tempered by Mediterranean influences favors earlier springs. In this season, meadows in bloom become tinged with beautiful colours. At the East of the Dordogne river and extending to Cantal, the Xaintrie country presents houses and landscapes, which remind those of northwestern Lot department and also the Truyère valley in Aveyron. It is a country of schists and granites cut by gorges on which chestnut trees supplied food for people and pigs. Houses with the roof covered with slatestones are simple and beautiful. In the North, the Regional Nature Reserve of "Millevaches en Limousin" extends over three departments: Corrèze, Haute-Vienne and Creuse (with about half of the surface in Corrèze). Nature lovers will appreciate this place that benefits from a protected environment. The importance of the river system allows aquatic leisure activities, even if many dams are obstacles to long canoeing excursions. Corrèze has also the largest equestrian center in Limousin: this is the national stud farms of Pompadour.

 

French Internet sites for outdoor activities

Hiking with donkeys : Amitié Nature Equidés
Pure race Quarter Horse breeding in Limousin : Theil Farm
Canoe and kayak club with a paddling school, outdoor activities : Sport Nature Vezere