LIMOGES

city, capital of Haute-Vienne dpartement and of the Limousin region, south central France (formerly in the province of Limousin), south-southwest of Paris, on the right bank of the Vienne River. Capital of the Lemovices, a Gallic tribe, Limoges was an important Roman centre, with its own Senate and currency. Christianity was brought to the town by St. Martial in the 3rd century. Legends of his miracles spread rapidly, and his shrine became a stopping place for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain, one of the most important shrines in Christendom. In the 9th century an abbey was built at the crypt and tomb of St. Martial, very close to Limoges; the settlement that grew around it under the Abbot's control soon rivalled the other city, which was controlled by the Bishop. The two towns were on opposing sides during the Hundred Years' War between England and France (13371453) and remained separate until 1792. Until the 16th century, Limoges was frequently devastated by fire, plague, and famine. It recovered its former prosperity in the 18th century, especially after introduction of porcelain manufacture in the second half of the century. The porcelain factories have been modernized to use natural gas and have developed new production techniques. Uranium is mined in the region. Other industries include the manufacture of leather products, cotton textiles, and machinery. It is a railway junction on the main Paris-Toulouse line and a trade centre for stock farming. The two medieval towns, now merged into and overgrown by the modern city, can still be recognized by their narrow winding streets, which are in contrast to the spacious roads of the newer neighbourhoods. The 13th-century cathedral of Saint-tienne has an elegant, partly octagonal bell tower, typical of the Gothic churches of the region. The church of Saint-Michel-des-Lions (14th15th century) has a tower 198 ft (65 m) high, with a spire surmounted by a big bronze ball; it also has fine 15th-century stained-glass windows. The 18th-century Palais de l'vch now houses the municipal museum, which has a large collection of old enamels. The Muse National de Cramique Adrien-Dubouch has a collection of ceramics and porcelain. Limoges is the seat of the Universit de Limoges (founded 1808; suppressed 1840; reopened 1965) and is a bishopric. Pop. (1982) 137,809.