1. The Brive Lighthouse
This lighthouse-like building, constructed in 1834, is in fact a former water tower. The Brive-la-Gaillarde Lighthouse is listed as a historic monument, but it has never guided any ships.
Its striking resemblance to a tower guiding ships is down to the shared passion for history held by the architect and the project manager. The two men thus drew inspiration from the Jurassic period, when the sea partially covered the region.
The original building was used to pump water from the River Doux and then filter it. However, the first floor of the tower, which served as a viewing platform, also functioned as a gallery for dignitaries during events.
Today, the lighthouse is home to the Brive Tourist Office. Do not hesitate to visit this landmark of the city, starting by passing through the 18th-century gateway symbolising the ‘Riant portail du Midi’, then strolling along the paths of the Mediterranean garden.
2. The Halle Georges Brassens and the lively market
The market in Brive-la-Gaillarde ranks amongst the finest markets in France. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning, the Place du 14 Juillet and the Halle Georges Brassens come to life from 7.30 am until 1 pm.
A gourmet event not to be missed, offering the chance to discover local produce and the flavours of the Corrèze region. Don’t visit Brive-la-Gaillarde without strolling through these aisles, where over 200 stallholders and food artisans await you.
Discover famous specialities such as Périgord truffles, fattened poultry, Limousin apples and Voutezac peaches… Take the opportunity to sample traditional flavours such as milhassou and purple mustard.
3. The Denoix Distillery, a Living Heritage Enterprise
Right in the heart of Brive, step into a world untouched by time as you walk through the doors of the Denoix Distillery. Recognised as a ‘Living Heritage Company’ (EPV), this institution has been passing on its ancestral know-how from generation to generation for nearly two centuries.
Since 1839, the art of liqueur-making has been practised in the same way at the Denoix Distillery, which offers self-guided and guided tours, as well as a museum tracing the history of the family business and its production processes.
Unravelling the mysteries of the ‘Suprême de Noix’, the distillery’s iconic liqueur which showcases a flagship product of the Gaillard region: the walnut. Revived by Elie Denoix, discover the subtle, mellow flavours of the violet mustard from the Pays de Brive, a mustard recipe made with grape must.
Straddling tradition and innovation, five generations have succeeded one another at Maison Denoix, which plays an active role in the local economy.
4. The Labenche Museum
Awarded the ‘Musée de France’ label, the Labenche Museum traces the history of Brive-la-Gaillarde and its surroundings through permanent collections dating back to prehistoric times.
The building housing the Museum of Art and History itself dates back to the Renaissance. It was built in the mid-16th century by a nobleman close to the king, whose mansion retained the title ‘de la Labenche’. It was eventually listed as a Historic Monument in 1886 and passed to the town of Brive-la-Gaillarde at the start of the 20th century.
The Labenche Museum comprises 15 exhibition rooms and houses collections that are unique in France, such as tapestries from the 17th-century English Royal Tapestry Workshop.
The museum’s exhibition layout is organised around 11 major thematic sections, showcasing over 5,000 objects that bear witness to the times and to history. Two rooms are dedicated to permanent exhibitions, and the museum also displays exhibits at the Chapelle Saint-Libérale, situated in Brive town centre.
5. The Museum of the Resistance and Deportation
This public institution in the town of Brive-la-Gaillarde is housed in the family home of Edmond Michelet. Born in 1899 in Paris, Edmond Charles Octave Michelet was a member of the Resistance from the very beginning. He was arrested by the German police in 1943, imprisoned and then deported to Dachau. After the Liberation, he turned to politics and became Minister for the Armed Forces in de Gaulle’s government.
The Edmond Michelet Museum is dedicated to the Second World War, the Resistance and deportation in France and in Corrèze. It houses a collection of permanent and temporary exhibitions open to the general public and school groups.
Having pursued an acquisition policy for several years, the documentation and archives centre now boasts a significant collection of propaganda posters, which form a distinctive part of the museum’s heritage.
Image: flickr