(ancient Augustoritum Lemovicum), a town of Central France; formerly capital of the province of Limousin, now of the department of Haute-Vienne, on the right bank of the Vienne River, here crossed by three bridges, 115 miles N.E. of Bordeaux; N. Lat. 45° 49' 52", E. Long. 1° 15' 36". It is situate on an acclivity, which rises from the water side; the older parts of the town occupying the ground near the river, while the new town stretches over the summit of the hill. The streets of the former are narrow and tortuous, with mostly timber-built houses; but the modern portion has been elegantly laid out in regular streets and squares, with public fountains. In place of the old fortifications, boulevards now encircle the town, which is also adorned by many interesting edifices. The chief building, the cathedral of St Etienne, was begun in the thirteenth, and received additions up to the sixteenth century, when it was left still unfinished. It is of granite, and in the Gothic style of architecture, but is much mutilated; and, with the exception of bas-reliefs representing the labours of Hercules, and the tomb of Bishop Langeac, contains nothing worthy of notice. The church of St Michel aux-Lions, erected in the fourteenth century, occupies the highest site in Limoges, and is rendered still more prominent by its spire and tower, which rise far above all the adjacent buildings. Among the other remarkable edifices are the episcopal palace, a handsome structure built of granite; and the church of St Aurelian, with a very elaborately carved cross in front. The town also contains a college, a public library, with 12,000 volumes, a school of medicine, and several hospitals. It is the see of a bishop, and has courts of appeal, tribunals of first instance and commerce, and a council of prud'hommes. The trade of the place is important, and embraces principally the products and requirements of the surrounding country. It has likewise a large trade with the southern departments of France in grain, wine, brandy, liqueurs, and chestnuts; besides salt, iron, tin, and enamel. Kaolin clay, which abounds in the vicinity, is made here into excellent porcelain, and is also sent as raw material in large quantities to Sèvres. Cloth, worsted, woollens, paper, crucibles, and papier-mâché are the other chief articles of manufacture. A large monthly cattle-market is held here, and nine annual fairs.

In ancient times Limoges was the chief city of the Lemovices, and was much enlarged and improved under the Romans; a theatre, a citadel, and temples were erected, of which no remains are now extant. At the fall of the Roman empire, however, it was pillaged by the Vandals and Visigoths, and was afterwards taken in succession by the Franks and Normans. In modern times it has suffered much from sieges. Having revolted from the Plantagenets, it was besieged by Edward the Black Prince in 1370, taken by assault, and its inhabitants delivered over to the English soldiers, who treated them with great barbarity. It was recovered by the French two years after. The town was the birthplace of many great men, of whom the chief are—Pope Clement VI., the Chancellor d'Agneseau, Vergniaud the republican orator, Marshal Jourdan, and Cruveilhier the physician. Pop. (1851) 37,010.