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- Places to visit in France

 Aubusson    Article posted by Lynn Hunter

The lovely medieval town of Aubusson is famous all over the world for tapestry and this is one of the reasons that people visit but then they stay for all the other things it has to offer.  The Museum of Tapestry charts the history of tapestry making in the region from the 14th century to the present day.  The Maison de Tapisserie has fabulous examples of tapestry, from its origins and the arrival of the weavers from Flanders who took refuge in Aubusson in 1850.  Tapestry is still being made and you can watch the contemporary designs of today being made by the weavers.  The river Creuse, which winds though the town, was an integral part of both the tapestry industry and the town.

But to think that Aubusson is just tapestry is to miss out on all the other delights it has to offer.  The town has a wealth of different architectural styles from the medieval to the magnificent art deco “Hotel de Ville” situated on the Grande Rue.  The masons of Creuse, who learned their skills building Aubusson and the other towns of the area, used to spend nine months of the year building the magnificent city of Paris, only returning in the summer months to help with the harvests.  Every corner you turn allows a glimpse of a different architectural period, but be warned - you could end up with a crick in your neck! And that’s where the numerous bars and restaurant come in.  Wander down the Grande Rue taking in the fabulous buildings then enjoy a coffee, sit in the sun, relax and watch the world pass by.  Spirits revived, the old town is just over the cobbled bridge with its narrow streets, weavers’ cottages and town houses, many currently in the process of being restored.  As you wander through, you can imagine what life was like before the car.

Shopping is a joy with a wide variety of shops selling local produce and crafts and there is a large market every Saturday morning.  There are three regional markets held in Aubusson each year with the next one being the Christmas market on 23rd December.  This Christmas market is something special with all the smells, sights and sounds that make this time of year so unique, everything from mulled wine to Père Noel.

And on top of all this Aubusson is the perfect place to base yourself for visiting the delights that the rest of Creuse has to offer.