Surrounding area
Where is Moulin de Chez Joyeux located?
Moulin de Chez Joyeux is located near a small village named Thiat. You'll find this small village about 400 kilometers to the south of Paris in the department of Haute-Vienne. Besides the Creuse and the Corrèze, this is one of the three departments the Limousin has to offer.
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Microclimate
The beautiful nature and the exceptional microclimate in the Haute-Vienne (in the summer the average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius!) is inviting to be active outdoors. And this is not just limited to the summer season, but all year around.
Far away from mass tourism
Central France, and certainly the Limousin, is not exactly the most visited region by foreigners. The department Haute-Vienne is one of the least populated regions of France.
For most people this department is best known for its reddish-brown cattle. Although this region is relatively unknown and far away from mass tourism, it certainly has a lot to offer.
Peace and quietness
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The surroundings of Thiat are quite hilly; here you'll find varied forests, vast fields, many rivers and lakes. There is no industry here and so you can experience the real French countryside, with small farms and several historic villages.
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This is why the Haute-Vienne is certainly appreciated by those who are looking for quietness and nature. It's a region to walk in silence and enjoy nature, or bike along the many beautiful trails and small roads. It is not only a great area for hiking or biking, but also if you are a keen fisherman or if you like to play golf, you really should go and pay a visit to this region.
Art and culture
In the hospitable villages and vibrant cities you'll find a varied cultural offer, and art plays a major role. Remarkable is the special skills which one still has in the Haute-Vienne. This is reflected in, among other things, the production of porcelain and enamel in Limoges and the workmanship of creating leather gloves in Saint-Junien.
Impressive religious art is primarily found along the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella. You'll come across this art particularly between the towns of Crozant and La Souterraine, in Bénévent-l'Abbaye, Solignac and at the Cathedral of Limoges. Also castles belong to the heritage of the Limousin. The route to Santiago de Compostella belongs to the European cultural heritage.
Culinary specialties
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The French writer Antoine Blondin (1922 - 1991) once said: "In the Limousin, there is no caviar, but there are chestnuts." The chestnuts will come to light again in the regional cuisine like "Boudin aux Châtaignes' (= a kind of black pudding with chestnuts). And you'll probably not surprised to hear that the coat of arms of the Limousin is a chestnut leaf. The Limousin is also known for its apples and nuts, red fruit and cep/boletus mushrooms. Famous dishes include clafoutis (often made with cherries) and nut cake.
Delicious meat and poultry
The meat in the Limousin is still derived from animals that walk in free nature (range meat). What can you find on the menu? You can enjoy delicious lamb, various poultry, pork from the Limousin pig and of course beef from the Limousin cow. The cattle graze at on the wooded hills the 'tasty' grass in order to provide the best meat. The Haute-Vienne is certainly an area if you like good food.
Sights
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In the vicinity of Thiat is plenty to see and to do. Below is a brief listing of some sites:
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The cities of Limoges and Poitiers;
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Natural forces at Les Portes d'Enfer (= the gates of hell);
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Various castles such as Château Touffou and ruins;
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Villages like Le Dorat, Bellac, Montmorillon and Chauvigny;
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The "Village des Martyrs' Oradour-sur-Glane;
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Monts de Blond: granite massif and rare forests;
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La Planète des Crocodiles (park with crocodiles and turtles) and La Vallée des singes (= valley of the monkeys).
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We would certainly like to invite you to let yourself be surprised by this region. We personally think this area is worthwhile to visit again and again!
