Limousin

- Total January 1, 2011 - Density

741 072 inhabitants 43.7 inhabitants per km ²

- Total - Share in France:

16,942 km ² 2.7%

The Limousin [ limuzɛ ] ( Occitan Lemosin ) is a region in the center of France and north-western part of the Massif Central. It consists of the departments of Corrèze, Creuse and Haute -Vienne. With an area of ​​16,942 km ² and 741 072 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) is the Limousin one of the most sparsely populated regions in France. Capital city is Limoges.

Geography

The main river is the Vienne, with the participation of Limoges is. The landscape is already part quite hilly. To lie in the southern part of the Monts du Limousin and east then the higher-lying plateau Millevaches belonging to both the Massif Central.

Coat of arms

Description: White six rows interspersed black ermine with red board.

History

In the 7th century, the area came under Frankish rule and disintegrated into several vice- counties, which were for centuries ruled by the House of Anjou - Plantagenet later. In 1607 it fell under the direct control of the French crown. The northern part of the country forms the historical landscape of La Marche.

With the establishment of the Regions in France in 1960, the Limousin region emerged in its current borders. In 1972, the region was granted the status of a Établissements public under the direction of a regional prefect. Due to the decentralization laws of 1982, the regions were given the status of Collectivités territorial ( regional ) as him until then only the municipalities and the department had possessed. In 1986, the regional councils were directly elected for the first time. Since then, the powers of the region against the central government in Paris was gradually extended.

Population

Cities

The most populous cities of the Limousin are:

Language

The historic language of the region is the Occitan dialects with the Languedokisch and Limousinisch. This language was the language of the troubadours around 1100 bis 1300.

Political Structure

The Limousin region is divided into three departments:

Economy

Expressed in comparison with the EU GDP in purchasing power standards reached the region in 2006 an index of 89.5 (EU-27 = 100).

Partnership

The region of Middle Franconia graduated in 1981 as the first region in Bavaria a partnership with the department of Haute- Vienne in France; in the years thereafter followed appropriate agreements with the two neighboring departments Creuse and Corrèze. This culminated in 1995 in a partnership between the (total ) Limousin region and the region of Middle Franconia.