Guéret (; Occitan: ''Garait'') is a commune and the prefecture of the

Creuse Creuse (; oc, Cruesa or ) is a department in central France named after the river Creuse. After Lozère, it is the second least populated department in France. It is bordered by Indre and Cher to the north, Allier and Puy-de-Dôme to the ea ...

department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

in central France.

Geography

Guéret is a light industrial town, the largest in the department, with a big woodland and some farming not far from the town centre. It is approximately by road northeast of Limoges at the junction of the D942, D940 and the N145 roads.

Population

Sights

*The church of St. Pierre and St. Paul, dating from the thirteenth century. *The Hotel de Moneyroux (incorrectly called "Castle of the Counts of Marche", as no

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New Yor ...

ever lived in Guéret). This building, of Gothic style, was constructed in the fifteenth century by Antoine Allard (1839-1896). It is now the headquarters of the General Council of the Creuse. It can be visited during public holidays. *The Presidial, dating from the seventeenth century. This building houses the town hall. *The Museum of the Sénatorerie. Partly built in eighteenth century, the building served as the residence of senators under Napoleon. Since 1832, the Society of Archaeological and Natural Sciences of the Creuse, one of the oldest learned societies of France has been housed here. It brings together natural history collections and works of art. In 1907, the Hotel de la Sénatorerie museum was surrounded by a park and trees. *The war memorial. *The seventeenth-century chateau of Sainte Feyrer, built on the foundations of a castle from the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, of which there are some remains. The building of the eighteenth century was constructed by the architect Brousseau. It has an elegant staircase and the oratory is classified as an historical monument. * A vast permanent labyrinth is located south of Guéret. *Courtille lake, a recreation area south of Guéret, is an artificial lake along a shaded path. With a circumference of about 3 km, it is used for sports and leisure (running, sailing, walking) or picnicking on the grass *Chabrières forest is large and stretches south of Guéret. It includes: A zoo, where one can see wolves in semi-liberty in large enclosures. Opened in 2001, it is a noted site in the field of protection of this species. There are some huge natural monoliths, such as "la Pierre Grole" linked to local myths and legends and some old granite quarries, once used mainly for cobblestones of the streets of Paris.

Climate

Guéret has an

oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ...

( Köppen ''Cfb'') influenced by its elevation and proximity to the Bay of Biscay's maritime inflow of

Gulf Stream The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension the North Atlantic Drift, is a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows through the Straits of Florida and up the eastern coastline of the Uni ...

air. As a result, the climate is mild for its latitude, wet and also relatively gloomy.

Personalities

* Antoine Varillas, an historian, was born here in 1624. * Marcel Jouhandeau (1888–1979), writer, was born here. * Madeleine Chapelle (1782–1849), the wife and model of painter Dominique Ingres.Biographie de Madeleine Chapelle
/ref> *

Georges Pludermacher Georges Pludermacher (born 26 July 1944) is a French classical pianist. He leads an international solo career and performs in the most prestigious festivals. Biography Born in Guéret, Pludermacher began playing the piano at the age of three. He ...

-1944), classical pianist * Pierre Michon (1945), writer, spent his childhood here.

International relations

Guéret is twinned with: Stein, Bavaria, Germany since 1991 and Puck, Poland

References

External links

Official town website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gueret Communes of Creuse Prefectures in France County of La Marche