Ussel: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Ussel showcases culture, nature and activity in a variety of forms. The range extends from museums and sacred art to a historic route through the old town, as well as a landscape park, lake, cycling route and several activity options.

Those who choose Ussel as their destination want to rent a holiday apartment for their stay.

Culture and History

The Musée du pays d'Ussel has officially been called Musée de France since 13 November 2002. Under this classification, it presents collections of folk art and folk traditions, tapestries from the Marche, printing equipment and sacred art. The printing section includes machines from two printing works that operated in Ussel. In summer, lithography workshops are held there under the direction of visual artist and lithographer Patrick Sauvat.

The Chapelle des Pénitents bleus in Ussel currently houses a museum of sacred art. Its furnishings include an 18th-century altarpiece by Paul Delimosin. The Église Saint-Martin has a Romanesque choir and a Romanesque apse dating from the 12th century.

The digital museum Micro Folie La Grange displays collections from twelve national cultural institutions. Its offerings include virtual reality, a FabLab, creative workshops, conferences and performances.

A 900 m historic route through Ussel's old town conveys the history of the city while focusing on the Hôtel Bonnot de Bay.

Nature and Water

The Parc arboretum du château de la Diège is open year-round, free of charge and freely accessible. The 19th-century landscape park includes giant sequoias, Douglas firs, small cascades and a conservation garden featuring old apple varieties.

The 18-hectare Lac de Ponty can be circumnavigated on foot in around 35 minutes. Information boards around the lake provide information about the local flora and fauna. Swimming and water sports are prohibited at Lac de Ponty.

Activities

The Grand tour de Ponty is a 6 km cycling route starting at the car park of the Étang de Ponty in Ussel. At the Ponty site, the pump track includes 200 m of waves and bends. It is suitable for bicycles, BMX bikes, skateboards, roller skates, scooters and balance bikes, and is free of charge and freely accessible seven days a week all year round.

The permanent orienteering course at Lac de Ponty is recognised by the French Orienteering Federation. It includes green courses of 2.5 and 3 km, a blue course of 4.5 km and a red course of 5 km.

L'Accro Ponty is a nature-oriented play area with 17 modules for climbing, balancing and walking. Ussel also offers a geocaching activity by Tèrra Aventura, involving a search for the Poï'z Zétoulu.

Getting There

Ussel can be reached via exits 23 and 24 of the A89 motorway and is served by several bus and TER lines.

Local Events

The Journée de l'élevage presents local products and craft skills through ongoing demonstrations as well as cattle and sheep competitions; it is open to everyone.

More local pages: Saint-Mexant, Monceaux-Sur-Dordogne, Chanteix, Rilhac-Xaintrie, Saint-Julien-Aux-Bois, La Chapelle-Saint-Géraud, Gourdon-Murat, Juillac.

To the overarching travel overview: Corrèze.