Car Rental in Limoges

Why rent a car in Limoges?

Limoges is a great place to visit. A quiet and calm city, it nonetheless has plenty to enjoy when it comes to beautiful architecture, parks, gardens, and historic sites. Thanks to its central location, the historical capital of Limousin is only a few hours' drive from such famous French cities as Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Lyon.

Top ways to enter Limoges

• Limoges Airport: Also known as Limoges-Bellegarde, this small airport handles about 300,000 travelers every year. As of September 2019, it is served by four airlines: British Airways, Chalair Aviation, Flybe, and Ryanair. Located 10km (6 miles) northwest of the city center, the airport can be reached in about 15 minutes.
• Brive–Souillac Airport: Serving the commune of Brive-la-Gaillarde and its surrounding region, Brive Airport is only served by two airlines, HOP! and Ryanair. In addition to domestic connections, it also hosts flights to and from Portugal and the United Kingdom. The airport is 107km (66 miles) south of Limoges and can be reached in about one hour.
• Bergerac Airport: Also known as Dordogne Périgord and Bergerac-Roumanière, it is another small international airport in Southern France. As of September 2019, the airport is served by six different airlines, although some of the flights are only active during the summer months. Located 204km (129 miles) southwest of Limoges, the airport can be reached in about two hours.
• Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport. Named after the famous city it serves and also known as Auvergne Airport, this tiny, but cozy air hub provides connections with French destinations such as Paris, Nice, and Corsica, as well as a flight to and from Porto and a seasonal connection with Fez in Morocco. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to get to Limoges from it.
• Bordeaux Airport: With 6.7 million travelers served in 2018, Bordeaux Airport is the eighth-busiest in France. The airport is a large hub for low-cost carriers Volotea, Ryanair, and easyJet and is also served by more than 20 other airlines. Located 230km (143 miles) west of Limoges, the airport can be reached in about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• By rail: If you arrive in Limoges by train, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at the Limoges-Bénédictins Railway Station.

City facts

• Located not too far from the Bay of Biscay, Limoges has an oceanic climate with hot, but tolerable summers and short, mild winters. The average high temperature is 24°C  (75°F) in July, the hottest month (with many individual days in July and August hotter than 30°C  (86°F)) and 7°C  (44°F) in January, the coldest month. Precipitation is relatively high and steady throughout the year. Limoges has, on average, seven snowy days per year.
• Limoges was founded by the Romans around 10 BC, under Augustus, as part of the reorganization of the Gallic cities and provinces of the Roman Empire. The Romans established the town at the first place where it was possible to cross the Vienne River by ford, hence its name Augustoritom (meaning the ford of August). The ancient Roman city had an amphitheater, a forum, and several temples dedicated to different Roman gods, although little more than ruins remain of them to this day. In the Middle Ages, the town developed around two urban centers: the "Episcopal City" around the cathedral and, on the opposite slope, the castle district where the shops are concentrated. Today, the city is known worldwide for its porcelain, enamel and shoe factories, which contributed to the city's industrial development in the past.

Top sights and activities

• Limoges Cathedral. Limoges Cathedral is one of the most remarkable buildings in the city. It is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in France. It was built over six centuries (1273-1888). Consequently, different architectural influences can be observed - the building is a blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Romanesque styles.  It is not only impressive from the outside, but also from the inside due to the impressive religious artworks it houses. The cathedral contains one of the few surviving rood screens in France, as well as the magnificent tomb of Jean de Langeac, considered to be the most graceful mausoleum in the Renaissance style.
• The Botanical Garden of the Bishopric. Located right next to the cathedral, this botanical garden is one of the nicest green areas in Limoges. The garden is a place for long, relaxing walks and its terraces offer great views of the River Vienne below. After visiting this one, drive to visit the Daniella Garden , another botanical garden that specializes in unique alpine plants.
• The crypt of the former Saint-Martial Abbey. For nearly 1,000 years, the Abbey of Saint Martial was a Christian monastery in Limoges. However, the memory of it faded soon after its dissolution in 1791, and the site was only found again, by accident, in 1960. The excavations that followed discovered the tomb of Saint Martial, the first bishop of Limoges, as well as impressive mosaics and ruins of ancient chapels. Today, the historic crypt is open for visitors. 
• The Basilica of Saint-Michel-des-Lions. The gothic church is one of the main churches in Limoges. It was built between the 14th and 16th centuries and is named after the four lion statues that are found there.
• The Cour du Temple. Dating from the 17th century, the passage between the rue du Consulat and the rue du Temple is lined with mansions with half-timbered facades linked by open Italian-style galleries and Renaissance-style staircases.
  The Benedictine station. Inaugurated in 1929, Limoges station is one of the most beautiful in France and the city's symbol. This eclectic masterpiece of regionalist architecture borrows from late Art Nouveau, Art Deco and neoclassicism.
• Museums of Limoges. Limoges is home to several museums, the three main ones being the Adrien-Dubouché national museum (which houses several collections of porcelain, earthenware, stoneware, glass and pottery), the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Limoges - Palais de l'Évêché (which houses one of the most important collections of enamel in the world) and the Musée de la Résistance (which recounts the historical events of the Second World War, with the Resistance, the Occupation and the Deportation in Haute-Vienne as the central theme).

Traffic and parking

• The speed limit in cities is 50km/h, although in certain areas the speed limit may be reduced to 30km/h. Unlike with inter-city roads, the urban speed limit is unaffected by weather.
• Outside cities, as of July 2018 the speed limit depends on the type of the road. Highways are limited to 130km/h, 4-lane expressways to 110km/h, and 2- or 3- lane roads to 90km/h. During the rain, the limits are respectively lowered to 110km/h, 100km/h, and 80km/h. The general speed limit is lowered to 50km/h during heavy fog or other cases of bad visibility.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• As of 2018, hands-free mobile phone use is banned in France and the fines are hefty.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers.
• The emergency number is 112.

Toll roads

Most of the main highways in France (autoroute in French) are toll roads. Their names start with the letter A and you can recognize them by a red number sign.The toll for these roads depends on the specific route, the distance traveled, as well as the type of vehicle - cars with trailers and caravans have to pay more than regular cars. You can pay by credit card or with cash. You’ll be given a ticket that you have to keep while on the toll road.

Some rental cars are equipped with toll road transponders and can use the automatic toll road payment booths (Télépéage). Ask your rental car provider to find out if they offer cars with toll road transporters.

See the official French toll road website for more information. Use the website's toll road calculator to find out exactly how much you’ll have to pay for using the toll roads on your planned route.

Ideas for day trips

• Solignac. Located 12 km south of Limoges, the small historic town of Solignac is home to the Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul abbey. Dating from the 11th century, it is one of Limousin's masterpieces of Romanesque architecture.
  Oradour-sur-Glane. The martyred village (25 km northwest of Limoges) is known worldwide for bearing the traces of the massacre of its population by a Waffen SS unit on 10 June 1944. The old village, preserved in ruins, bears witness to the suffering inflicted on the inhabitants and visitors of this small Limousin town.
  
• Regional Natural Park Périgord Limousin. A vast protected area, Périgord Limousin is made up of meadows, little brooks, blue lakes, and unique rock formations. Go on a long walk and try to spot an otter, a red deer, a black kite, or one of the other animal species that live there. Located just 53km (33 miles) south of Lyon, the park can be reached in about 50 minutes.
• Angoulême. A middle-sized and picturesque town west of Limoges, Angoulême has its fair share of things to see and do. The city attracts visitors with its Romanesque churches, Art and History Museum, Paper Making Museum, and the beautiful Angoulême Theater. If you’re visiting in January, make sure to check out the Angoulême International Comics Festival, the largest such event in Europe. Regardless of the season, trying the city’s famous chocolate is simply a must. Located 108km (67 miles) from Limoges, Angoulême can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Poitiers. A small and pleasant city about a two-hour drive northwest of Limoges, Poitiers is known for its well-preserved classical architecture and landmarks. The city’s history includes some dramatic pages of the early medieval period when its area was a site of several decisive battles between Christians and Moors. Poitiers can be visited on your way to the Atlantic Ocean which is about 120 km (75 miles) further west.
• Clermont-Ferrand. The capital of Auvergne is famous for its lofty Gothic cathedral, the vibrant square of Place de Jaude, its large and interesting historic center with plenty of restaurants, galleries, and event venues. Other attractions include the statue of Vercingetorix, a heroic commander who fought against the Romans in the Gallic Wars, and Vulcania, a volcano-based theme park that visitors of every age will enjoy. With a rental car, you can afterward drive to the nearby Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park which is home to a number of extinct volcanoes. Located 230km (143 miles) east of Limoges, Clermont-Ferrand can be reached in about 2 hours and 20 minutes.
• Millevaches Limousin Regional Nature Park. Part of the forested plateau that surrounds Limoges, this one is another lovely nearby nature area. Characterized by several rivers and lakes (some of which boast the best inland beaches in all of France), the area is also known for the scenic views that reveal themselves from the Mont Bessou viewing tower. It only takes about 80 minutes to drive from the city to the park.
• The Limousin region has some of the most beautiful villages in France: Angles-sur-l’Anglin, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Collonges-la-Rouge, Curemonte, Mortemart, Saint-Robert, Ségur-le-Château, Turenne. These localities are the goal of beautiful excursions by car from Limoges.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Limoges is the Citroen C3, followed by the Ford Focus and the Peugeot 208. The most popular rental car types are economy, compact, and standard.

Further destinations

• Lyon. Large and impressive, Lyon is known for its amazing cultural heritage - according to some, its churches, basilicas, and old chapels are even more beautiful than those of Paris. Lyon is also a food metropolis and has an endless amount of delicious local specialties and high-quality restaurants. Located 411km (255 miles) east of Limoges, the city can be reached in about 3 hours and 40 minutes.
• Bordeaux. As famous for its quays along the River Garonne as it is for its red wine, Bordeaux is a beautiful city in Western France. Marvel at the Church of the Holy Cross, go on a vineyard tour through the surrounding villages (and even sample the local produce if you’re traveling with a friend who can drive), or visit the nearby coast of the Bay of Biscay. Located 220km (137 miles) west of Limoges, Bordeaux can be reached in about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Toulouse. Nicknamed the "Pink City" because of its distinctive red bricks, Toulouse is a must-see tourist city in southwest France. Situated on the banks of the Garonne River, it has a rich historical and cultural heritage, from the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne to the Basilica of Saint-Sernin and the famous Canal du Midi. Visitors can stroll through the lively Capitole district with its shops, restaurants and cafes, or explore the city's magnificent botanical garden, the Jardin des Plantes. Toulouse is also known for its gastronomy, famous cassoulet, and lively nightlife. With its warm atmosphere and typical southwestern way of life, Toulouse is a must-see tourist destination in France, 290 km (a three-hour drive) from Limoges. 
• The region of Languedoc is a must-see destination for those who love the sun and the good life. The region, bathed by the Mediterranean, offers many landscapes, sites and towns to discover. Visitors can find a rich and varied history between fine sandy beaches, green hills, picturesque villages, and magnificent landscapes. These include Nîmes, Aigues-Mortes, Béziers, Narbonne, Carcassonne and Perpignan. The largest city, Montpellier, has many monuments, museums to explore, and a rich architectural heritage. Montpellier is 425 km from Limoges (about a 5 hours drive).
• Périgord. The Dordogne département (or Périgord) is a region rich in history and culture located in southwest France. It is a land of wonders, dotted with medieval towns, picturesque villages, splendid castles, and beautiful landscapes. The region is known for its gastronomic products, historical sites and monuments, including the majestic Lascaux cave, the medieval castle of Beynac and the hanging gardens of Marqueyssac. Sarlat-la-Canédat, the capital of the Black Périgord, is 140 km from Limoges.
• Côte d'Azur. Also known as the French Riviera, this beautiful Mediterranean coastal stretch is all about enjoying life. Get a tan in Cannes, try surfing near St. Tropez, or visit the best seafood restaurants in Nice - the region truly has something for everyone. Toulon, the nearest city, is 750km (466 miles) south of Limoges and takes about seven hours to reach, but the long trip is worth it. You can explore the rest of the region from there.
• Pyrenees National Park. Forming a natural frontier between France and Spain, the mighty Pyrenees is one of the most scenic mountain ranges in all of Europe. The drive from Limoges to Pyrenees National Park takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes, and several other regions of the range, such as its northwestern portion along the Bay of Biscay, are about the same distance away. 

Car rental prices in Limoges

• Small cars - from €26 per day
• Medium cars - from €31 per day
• Large cars - from €34 per day
• Vans - from €55 per day
• SUVs - from €41 per day
• Station wagons - from €42 per day

Money-saving and other tips

There are things you can do to improve your chances of getting a great rental car:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Limoges is the cheapest in January when renting a car is about 28% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 43% cheaper than renting a car in November or December.