Limoges, capital of the French department of Haute-Vienne, and of the former province of Limousin, is picturesque situated on the Vienne, by rail 248 miles S. by W. of Paris and 218 N. of Toulouse. Its most imposing building is the Gothic cathedral, begun in the 13th century and completed in 1851. The staple industry is the manufacture of porcelain, which employs more than 5000 people. One-half of this product is exported annually to America. The enamel-work, for which Limoges was formerly celebrated, is now no longer carried on. There is a fine ceramic museum (1867). The manufacture of flannel, cotton, paper, &c. are the chief secondary industries. Pop. (1826) 48,862; (1891) 67,817. Limoges was the birthplace of D'Aguessseau, Vergnaud, and Marshals Jourdan and Bugeaud. It was an important town under the Romans, and in spite of plagues, fires, and sieges (the worst that by the Black Prince in 1370), from all of which it has suffered severely, it is still a place of note. It had its own mint from the 4th century down to 1837.
See an article in Harper's Monthly for October 1888; the article ENAMEL; and Rupin's L'Œuvre de Limoges (1890).