Lovely village cottage, tucked away in this friendly Limousin village and just a short walk to several village shops, bars / restaurants and a swimming lake with sandy beach. The beach is ideal for guests with children, providing fabulous, free entertainment. Saint Germain les Belles is really easy to get to - you can take a flight to Limoges (look up Ryanair and Flybe) and we are then just a 40 minute drive. We are situated 10 minutes from junction 42 of the A20 motorway, the main route from Paris to the south of France. The Limousin has been called the 'French Lake District' and the tranquil countryside surrounding the village has many lakes, with walking / rambling and cycle tracks through forests and historical villages. Wherever you are in Limousin, you will not be far from a lake. You can swim in most of them in summer and they often have sandy beaches. The Spectacular Lake Vassivière – one of the largest lakes in France, is just 40 minutes away. The “Isle de Vassivière” is the home of the National Centre of Contemporary Art. Follow signs for ‘L’Isle de Vassivière’ and walk across the bridge to the main island of the lake. Apart from the Art Centre, there are some lovely walks in the woodland and great places for a picnic. If you are interested in doing a spot of fishing during your holiday, then the region is full of under-fished lakes and rivers. To see the beautiful, unspoiled Limousin countryside from a different perspective, there are various canoeing centres, from which you can hire canoes and kayaks for a day’s adventure. Limoges – the ‘capital’ of Limousin is 30 minutes to the north and is famous for its porcelain and there are many outlet shops, or smaller boutiques where you can buy pieces to suit all tastes and pockets. You can also enjoy antique markets, the covered food market, medieval churches and our personal favourite – the ancient carousel at Place de la République.