Couzeix: Racecourse, Nature and Cultural Heritage

When searching for a hotel in Couzeix, you can first consider which themes you would like to focus on during your stay. The Hippodrome de Texonnieras is associated with flat and harness racing as well as competitions; there is also a route with an approximate duration, nature and birdlife themes, and buildings from different centuries. Several points are relevant when planning your visit: the event schedule, the approximate route duration, and access to a chapel that is not normally open to the public.

Hippodrome de Texonnieras: horse racing and competitions

The Hippodrome de Texonnieras is described as one of the oldest racecourses in France and the only racecourse on the outskirts of Limoges. Its 2,000-metre grass track is intended for flat racing, while the 1,300-metre sand track is used for harness racing. The tracks therefore differ both in their surface and in their use. Covered grandstands dating from the 19th century complete the venue.

The hippodrome hosts numerous activities throughout the year and three competitions annually. If you would like to plan your visit around a competition, check the current schedule before travelling. The Circuit des cavaliers starts at the hippodrome. The 12-kilometre route takes about three hours; its length and starting point may change if the route is revised. Check these details before setting out.

Route and nature: planning your time and points of interest

The approximate duration of the Circuit des cavaliers gives you a time estimate for the route. The Mas de l’Age offers another way to spend time outdoors: the grounds are open to the public and can be used for walks and sporting activities, as well as to discover local wildlife and plant life. Check the local visiting rules before you arrive.

At the Jardin à oiseaux, you can discover an English oak trimmed into the shape of a cloud and an unusual little gnome house. The garden was created in 1999 with the aim of attracting as many birds as possible. To this end, various plantings were added around hedges and trees that bear berries or flowers with seeds. The design therefore combines striking garden features with spaces intended for birds. Check current access arrangements before visiting.

Churches and historic buildings

The Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Couzeix was built in the 11th century in the Romanesque style and altered in the 15th century. The Chapelle Saint-Martin dates from 1789. Its unusual triangular roof extends down to the ground. The chapel is listed as a historic monument, is not normally open to the public, and can be visited on regularly organised tours. Find out about visiting arrangements in advance.

The Château du Mas de l’Age is a former feudal castle with moats and ponds, first documented in written sources in 1407. The year refers to the written record, not the year the castle was built. Together with the construction dates of the church and chapel, this gives a nuanced picture of the historical dates: they reflect different building and documentary histories.

Plan visits by timeframe

Several timing considerations therefore matter when planning your trip: the approximate route duration, the hippodrome’s current event schedule, and the organised visits to the chapel. Choose a hotel in Couzeix based on the focus of your trip, and check in particular the dates that matter for your visiting plans.

Discover more destinations: Lavignac, Arnac-La-Poste, Berneuil, Saint-Priest-Sous-Aixe, Le Palais-Sur-Vienne, Glandon, Panazol, Saint-Just-Le-Martel

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Vienne.