Ussel, Corrèze
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (January 2009) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Ussel | |
|---|---|
 Chateau of La Borde | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
Location of Ussel  | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Department | Corrèze |
| Arrondissement | Ussel |
| Canton | Ussel-Est |
| Intercommunality | Ussel–Meymac–Haute-Corrèze |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Martine Leclerc |
| Area 1 | 50.37 km2 (19.45 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | 10,362 |
| • Density | 210/km2 (530/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 19275 /19200 |
| Elevation | 588–781 m (1,929–2,562 ft) (avg. 630 m or 2,070 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Ussel is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France. Its inhabitants are named Ussellois. The town is best known for its charming old streetscapes and for its pastoral and natural landscapes offering a perfect setting for green alternative vacations.
Geography
Location
The community of Ussel is located in the Massif central on the foothills of the plateau de Millevaches. The city itself sits on a hilltop in between the valley of the river Diège and the valley of the river Sarsonne.
Hydrography
Three main watercourses are flowing through the community, the river Diège (The town sometimes is called Ussel-sur-Diège), the river Sarsonne and the stream of Etang roux.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1793 | 3,007 | — |
| 1800 | 3,036 | +1.0% |
| 1806 | 2,930 | −3.5% |
| 1821 | 3,472 | +18.5% |
| 1831 | 3,963 | +14.1% |
| 1836 | 4,135 | +4.3% |
| 1841 | 4,168 | +0.8% |
| 1846 | 4,263 | +2.3% |
| 1851 | 4,306 | +1.0% |
| 1856 | 4,022 | −6.6% |
| 1861 | 3,874 | −3.7% |
| 1866 | 4,029 | +4.0% |
| 1872 | 3,830 | −4.9% |
| 1876 | 4,231 | +10.5% |
| 1881 | 4,534 | +7.2% |
| 1886 | 5,252 | +15.8% |
| 1891 | 4,832 | −8.0% |
| 1896 | 4,843 | +0.2% |
| 1901 | 4,693 | −3.1% |
| 1906 | 4,748 | +1.2% |
| 1911 | 4,979 | +4.9% |
| 1921 | 5,520 | +10.9% |
| 1926 | 6,120 | +10.9% |
| 1931 | 6,235 | +1.9% |
| 1936 | 6,275 | +0.6% |
| 1946 | 7,050 | +12.4% |
| 1954 | 7,088 | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 7,655 | +8.0% |
| 1968 | 8,218 | +7.4% |
| 1975 | 10,664 | +29.8% |
| 1982 | 11,765 | +10.3% |
| 1990 | 11,448 | −2.7% |
| 1999 | 10,749 | −6.1% |
| 2008 | 10,362 | −3.6% |
Transportation
The highway A89 provides an easy access to the towns. Two main exits feeds the city. Exit 23 | Ussel-Ouest South-West of town and Exit 24 | Ussel-Centre North East of town. The construction of the highway has highly improved the security but also the comfort inside the town. In fact it is now possible for trucks or fast vehicles to bypasses the town. This highway is a component of the European road 70.
Ussel is also crossed by the RN 89. This road which was retrofitted to a regional road links Bordeaux to Lyon via Clermont-Ferrand.
The train station of Ussel lies on a main railtrack linking Lyon to Bordeaux.
The closest airports are Limoges,[1] Clermont-Ferrand.[2]
The Thalamy airfield is a leisure and tourist oriented place. Its located a few kilometers away from town.
Heritage and Culture
MOUS - Museum of Ussel
The museum of Ussel Musée d'Ussel is dedicated to history, arts and tradition of the region of Ussel. It features some objects and pictural representations.
Transcorrezien Railway Line
Ussel was the Northern terminus of the Metre Gauge Transcorrezien railway line linking Tulle to Ussel via Marcillac-La-Croisille, Lapleau, le Viaduc des Rochers Noirs, Soursac, Liginiac. This line was part of the narrow gauge network of railways in the Correze region. Details can be found at http://www.lacorreze.com/transports/tramway1.htm
While the line has disappeared, many architectural and track elements still remain and can be visited by the public. Many of the stations are preserved and have been restored and a Tourist Route created which enables visitors to follow the track from its terminus at Languenne on the outskirts of Tulle to Ussel. The road signs are rectangular with "Transcorrezien" shown on them on a white background
Of particular note is the Roche Noir Viaduct, an impressive suspension bridge crossing the deep gorge of the Luzège river between Lapleau and Soursac. It is possible to visit both ends of the bridge but, while it remains in good condition, it's closed even to pedestrians.
The Soursac end of the bridge leads straight into a 150 m-long curved tunnel. Visitors can park at the Soursac end, walk through the tunnel (which is well lit) and emerge by the bridge. The views from both ends are spectacular. Well worth a visit.
See also
References
 | This Corrèze geographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |