Brive-la-Gaillarde and the surrounding region

As soon as you step foot in Brive-La-Gaillarde, you will find it almost impossible to avoid the infectious " gaillarde " nature of the town. "Gaillarde" means lusty, vigorous, strong, hearty, robust – and you will find these qualities everywhere in the town – when you meet a local resident, at a meal, during a visit... You may well become a true "gaillarde" without even noticing!

Bursting with good humour, greedy for all that is good and excessively friendly, the formula to become a "gaillarde" among "gaillardes" is simple.

Because to take yourself too seriously is not seriously an option, life is too short – so let yourself be tempted by the good things of life and discover a gastronomy full of flavour and intensely local.

Lose yourself in the narrow, winding streets of some of France’s most beautiful villages... Take the time to relax and unwind in the midst of unspoilt countryside... Or come and meet the people of Brive steeped in their own character which makes them so irresistible ... Whatever your choice, you will certainly be won over by the time you leave...

A robust temperament - that's an understatement!
With its bold and gutsy cuisine, the excitement and bustle, both on the rugby field and in the markets (as recounted in a famous French song, the Hécatombe by Georges Brassens), its craftsmen who work with the local slate reputed to be the most resistant in the world, its passionate livestock farmers and its writers such as Michelet, Peyramaure, Signol or Tillinac who have founded a school of literature unique in France ... and who transmit our local traditions way beyond our region!
"Gaillardes", brave, lively, sometimes famous – they all have these qualities !
You only have to look at some of the key names which have figured in the history of France: Turenne, Noailles, Cabanis (doctor to both Mirabeau and Bonaparte), Marshall of the Empire, Brune (one of Napoleon's right hand men)...

"Gaillarde" also means fortified…
The Brivistes broke down their own ramparts to free their town. And at the end of the Second World War, Brive-la-Gaillarde was the first town in France to be liberated after its own citizens negotiated with the Germans.
But briva, the ancient French word for bridge or ford has always referred to the crossing over the River Corrèze. So" Brive" signifies a place where meetings, exchanges, lively fairs and friendliness abound.

Be warned – there is a serious danger that you will become extremely attached to this area and its people!

For more information about Brive-la-Gaillarde and the surrounding region :
Contact Brive Tourist Office: www.brive-tourisme.com