Bellac

Bellac is a commune of the Haute-Vienne département, in France. Bellac, located in the Limousin, is a small town with a little over 5000 inhabitants and overlooks a valley through which the Vincou river flows. It has a number of well preserved buildings dating back centuries, which give Bellac a very unique character. The church of Our Lady sits on the highest point in the town and can be seen from far around. Below it, look out for the town hall, first built in the 16th Century, and the stone bridge from the 13th Century. The region has very little heavy industry, meaning that the air is cleaner and the countryside is largely unspoilt.

Blessed with such wide-open country in its midst, it’s no wonder the locals have taken to outdoor sports with enthusiasm. Tennis and fishing are the most popular if you want to stay dry, but, being a riverside town, you will find a large variety of watersports to keep you occupied. Bellac is also a popular place with theatre-goers. The theatre is most active during July when the annual Bellac festival takes place in honour of its most famous inhabitant, Jean Giraudoux.

The best way of getting to Bellac would be via Limoges. AirFrance flies into Limoges via Paris Orly airport, while RyanAir offers direct flights from London Stansted to Limoges. The TGV train service, after taking the Channel Tunnel is another convenient, albeit slower way of getting into Limoges.