Car Rental - Limoges

Get a car rental and explore the French city of Limoges. On the banks of the River Vienne, it’s known worldwide for its contribution to the porcelain industry. There are many production sites around the city, and you can see beautiful examples of its artworks in its museums and galleries. But there’s much more to discover in this fascinating city, from its cathedral to a vast botanical garden.

Limoges is also a great base for exploring France, with road links to cities including Bordeaux and Lyon. Whatever your plans, car rental in Limoges is one of the best ways to get around.

We have a collection desk located within the car rental center at Limoges Airport, close to the terminal building, so you can pick up your vehicle as soon as your flight lands. Our all-inclusive prices mean there are no hidden charges, so you can rest assured you’ll get a great deal on your rental.

Limoges has a long and proud tradition as an artistic center, dating back to the foundation of its Benedictine monastery in the 9^th century. Today, you can learn all about its heritage at the many galleries and museums, as well as exploring some of its impressive buildings.

Renting a car in Limoges gives you the freedom to explore the coast and other notable areas in this scenic part of France.

Culture and Cuisine

Historically, Limoges has been known worldwide for its porcelain and enamels. Hundreds of years ago, a deposit of the mineral kaolinite was discovered in the nearby town of Saint Yrieix-la-Perche. From then on, Limoges prospered from the production of beautiful ceramics. Today, the city is still France’s premier porcelain hub, and you can explore some of its finest works at both the National Porcelain Museum and Fine Art Museum.

Renting a car means you’re free to explore Limoges on your own terms, free from public transport.

Another must-see on any visit to Limoges is Cathédrale Saint-Etienne, a Gothic masterpiece that took centuries to complete. This colossal structure is open to visitors throughout the week, so you can explore its most impressive features, including its Renaissance organ loft and Romanesque crypt.

For a break from sightseeing, visit one of the city’s many cafés or restaurants to sample some of the fine regional delicacies. Limousin is famous for its beef, but many other local dishes are based around pork or lamb. For dessert, try Flaugnarde pudding made with the region’s distinctive pink apples, Pomme du Limousin. The central covered market in Limoges is a great place to pick up delicious local food at reasonable prices.

Green Spaces

Not far from the cathedral, the Evêché gardens overlook the River Vienne. This peaceful space is filled with symmetrical gardens and water fountains, making it the perfect place to relax on your trip to the city. The gardens are open daily to visitors and entry is free. You can also enjoy some excellent views of the city from the surrounding walls.

Head just a short distance outside the center to discover yet another relaxing green space – the Bastide wood. This beautiful area is popular with joggers and cyclists thanks to its meadows, rivers and lovely walking trails.

Coastal Delights

Renting a car for your visit to Limoges gives you a chance to travel west towards some of France’s most beautiful and serene coastline.

Just a couple of hours’ drive away from the city sits the port of La Rochelle, sometimes known as La Ville Blanche (White City) thanks to its distinctive limestone buildings. At the heart of this city is its old harbor, with towers on either side where you can watch the ships enter and depart.

La Rochelle boasts a proud maritime tradition which means it’s a real paradise for seafood lovers, with mountains of fresh local oysters, prawns and mussels for sale at its market every morning. There are also three urban beaches in the city, so you’ll have the chance to relax and soak up some sun.

If you’re arriving at Limoges Airport, it’s just a seven-mile drive with your holiday or business car rental to the heart of the city via route départementale 941 – or RD941. From the airport it’s also possible to drive to other small towns in the Haute-Vienne department of the Limousin region, such as Aixe-sur-Vienne, which lies just south of the airport via the D2000 route.

To reach the famous wine and cheese region of Bordeaux, it’s just over 140 miles to the west along the N141, E603 and E606. The gastronomic hub of Lyon lies around 250 miles to the east of Limoges and is accessible along the A89 highway. Paris is just over 240 miles north via the A20, A71 and A10.

French highways, known as Autoroutes, are shown by the prefix A on a map. These routes are owned by private companies, so many of them have toll booths. You’ll usually need to purchase a ticket as you enter the toll road and pay the charge when you exit. It is possible on most of the routes to pay by cash or major credit cards.

The other major roads in France are known as Routes Nationale, or N roads. These often do not have tolls and are usually dual carriageways. More minor roads in France are known as Departmental roads, classed as D roads on a map.

The French drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit on autoroutes is 80mph (130 km/h), dropping to 70mph (110 km/h) on N roads. Speed limits are often reduced during bad weather, and limits in urban areas are 30mph (50 km/h).

There is on-street parking, metered parking and numerous parking lots in Limoges – the latter are the best bet for long stay and affordability.

Visiting Limoges with family? An SUV holiday car rental is ideal for travelling in groups. In town on business? A sleek sedan is the perfect rental car to get to those important business meetings.