BELLAC

Historic Bellac
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 town is also blessed with a wide range of Bars, cafés, Restaurants, DIY stores, clothes shops, florists, petrol stations, in fact just about every type of shop you can imagine!.The town also has the usual hospitals, doctors, dentists ,vets and a bank with dedicated English speaking staff.

An unspoilt location
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. This part of Bellac has seen significant investment over the last few years and the beautiful parks and play area around the river are well worth a visit.
 

Bellac's Cultural and Sporting Attractions
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 water sports 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.

Poetic praise
Giraudoux, the celebrated novelist, poet and playwright who wielded much influence in the literary and even political world, was always fond of his hometown. The surrounding countryside was even incorporated into his work. He describes Bellac as ‘a countryside of streams and hills, a patchwork of fields and chestnut woods for it was a land with a long history in the region of Limousin’.

How to get there
The best way of getting to Bellac would be via Limoges. Air France flies into Limoges via Paris Orly airport, while Ryanair offers direct flights from London Stanstead, Liverpool John Lennon, East Midlands and Southampton to Limoges. The TGV train service, after taking the Channel Tunnel is another convenient, albeit slower way of getting into Limoges.