Rue de la Boucherie

The Rue de la Boucherie, in Limoges

The Rue de la Boucherie is one of the most picturesque of old Limoges, former stronghold of the butchers from the twelfth to the twentieth century, lined with half-timbered houses. The Limoges audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this medieval street with a preserved charm, one of the high places of the heritage of the town.

The street of the butchers and its half-timbered houses

We arrive in the Rue de la Boucherie, one of the oldest and most picturesque of Limoges. As its name indicates, this street was, for centuries, the domain of the butchers of the town. From the twelfth until the twentieth century, the families of the powerful corporation of the butchers lived there and exercised their trade, forming a true close-knit community, transmitting the trade from father to son and watching jealously over their privileges. This concentration of a same body of trade in a single street was common in the medieval towns, where each profession often had its district. The street has kept its appearance of yesteryear, with its fine half-timbered houses, some of which sheltered at once the stall on the ground floor and the dwelling on the upper floor. While strolling, you imagine the animation and the smells of this district with such a particular past. The butchers of Limoges were also very attached to their faith: they had their own chapel, dedicated to Saint Aurélien, their patron, that is still in the street. Today, restored and pedestrian, the Rue de la Boucherie is one of the jewels of old Limoges, living testimony of the medieval town and of its traditions. A medieval street and a stronghold of the butchers, the Rue de la Boucherie is a fine stop of the discovery of Limoges.

What to see

Here you discover one of the oldest streets of Limoges, stronghold of the powerful corporation of the butchers from the twelfth to the twentieth century, that has kept its appearance of yesteryear with its fine half-timbered houses where stall and dwelling stood side by side; restored and pedestrian, it still shelters the Chapel of Saint-Aurélien, dedicated to the patron of the butchers, and testifies to medieval Limoges. The Rue de la Boucherie is a jewel of old Limoges. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Rue de la Boucherie lies in the heart of old Limoges, reachable on foot. It is a pedestrian street freely accessible, lined with old houses, shops and places of memory like the Chapel of Saint-Aurélien. You discover it during a walk in the historic centre.

Why is the Rue de la Boucherie in Limoges named so?

Because it was, from the twelfth to the twentieth century, the stronghold of the powerful corporation of the butchers of the town, who lived there and exercised their trade from father to son; the street has kept its fine half-timbered houses and still shelters the Chapel of Saint-Aurélien, dedicated to Saint Aurélien, the patron of the butchers.

Where is the Rue de la Boucherie in Limoges?

In the heart of old Limoges, in France.