EXPERT €119,500


Medieval Collonges-la-Rouge built of red sandstone, which gives it its name


the medieval town in the water, it takes your breath away. In Creuse, I have to


mention Aubusson – a name synonymous with beautiful tapestries and carpets. Traditionally, these depicted landscapes, hunting scenes and idealised portraits. In the 20th century, Picasso, Miro and Chagall were actively involved in their art being translated into tapestry. Arguably best known for distinctive patterns and soft colours, Aubusson’s highly enviable carpets and rugs featuring flowers are immediately recognisable.


BRIDGING THE GAP The town itself is charming, too – the vieille ville centres around a 17th-century stone bridge over the Creuse, built to connect workers’ homes and tapestry workshops, with houses clustered above and around the river. Founded by Knights of


St-John in the 12th century, the medieval town of Bourganeuf overlooks the Taurion valley. Its castle has three towers; one was built to accommodate an Ottoman prince called Zizim, captured in some crusade or other. He lived, I gather, very much en prince, as there are tales of harems and fine living. It was then used for crop storage until 1944 when the Nazis imprisoned in it members of the French Resistance, which was particularly active in these rural departments. To some, this gorgeous part


of France might be overlooked, however, the inhabitants of Creuse and Corrèze know better, as they live close to a little piece of paradise! ■


Joanna Leggett is marketing director at Leggett Immobilier – you can view the full portfolio of properties for sale in France at leggettfrance.com


40 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS:March/April 2025 €265,000


YOUR OWN TAPESTRY In St-Michel-de-Veisse, this pretty, country house with three bedrooms is just a quarter of an hour from the world-famous tapestry town of Aubusson, where amenities include a hospital, theatre, shops and schools. Stone-clad in traditional Creusois style, it has a charming living room with doors to the garden, a dining room with pellet stove and a fitted kitchen. Doors open onto a sunny terrace, and there are gardens and two barns; the land extends to 7,000m2 is in a great location.


– and all this


A NAME TO CONJURE WITH Famous for once being home to Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress, today Pompadour is the headquarters of the French National Stud for Anglo-Arabian horses. Five minutes’ walk from the town centre, this bright and expansive home provides plenty of options. A stone staircase leads from the front courtyard to a covered veranda. Generous reception rooms on the ground floor include two of six bedrooms; others upstairs can be accessed internally or via an external staircase leading to the garden. Expansive terraces outside offer lovely views.


€55,000


OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS In the heart of Ayen, a pretty town close to the Dordogne, this character property could be converted into two. Currently a three-storey house, there’s a spacious one-bedroom apartment on the ground floor, formerly a brocante, with its own entrance and cellar. On the first floor are three bedrooms, a kitchen and a living room, and there’s extensive attic space and storage. It requires total renovation, but is on mains drainage and offers great potential.


© SHUTTERSTOCK


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