Shaded by 200-year old chestnut trees, this esplanade covers the ruins of Roman amphitheatres and boasts a fine bandstand.

On leaving the Limoges-Bénédictins SNCF train station, you find yourself facing a vast garden adorned with flowers in all seasons; this former military training area was converted into a public garden with a pond and shaded paths during the 19th century. The city gardeners uphold the tradition of garden embroidery here in a most striking manner.

This park boasts an individual charm, over a surface area of 3.5 hectares, with special trees, a collection of 750 perennials and an English river.

The gardens are the successor to the gardens of the Bishops’ palace, and constitute one of the jewels of Limoges, a city graded with "4 flowers" in the national towns and cities in bloom contest. Constructed on a series of terraces, the botanic gardens include:

• a systematic garden where over one thousand plants from five continents, including some extremely rare species, are classified in botanical families,
• a themed garden (nectar plants, tinctorial plants, aromatic plants, medicinal plants…)
• a reproduction of the natural surroundings of Limousin.

The City Quarter

A relic of the medieval city surrounding the Bishop’s residence, it is ideal for a stroll through the winding streets (link to virtual tour) to discover:

• The refectory of the diocesan seminary, founded on the remains of the ancient Abbey of La Règle, which now houses the Cité des Métiers et des Arts and the Maison des Compagnons et Meilleurs Ouvriers de France;
• The chapel of the former Abbey of La Règle which currently houses the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation. The items on display there are reminders of one of the darkest times in local history. They will be transferred to their permanent site in 2011: the ancient Convent of Providence.<
• La Règle Underground City.

"Bois de La Bastide", an area of 75.25 ha, very popular with walkers and joggers mostly belongs to the city of Limoges in 1975. It was part of the vast field of Baron Martin de la Bastide. It is managed by the municipal Green Areas in collaboration with the NFB. A forest management plan has kept the state without renewal wooded rough. The undergrowth is composed mainly of oaks.

Several marked trails allow to run to his physical.