One of Europe's most beautiful Art Deco train stations with private tours and clocks that are always wrong
TIME OUT One of Europe's most beautiful Art Deco train stations with private tours and clocks that are always wrong
THE French city of Limoges has one of the most beautiful train stations in the world - and a rather unique feature.
The Gare de Limoges-Bénédictins was first built in 1929 in a classic Art Deco style with some of the original stained glass windows remaining.
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Gare de Limoges-Bénédictins is a classic Art Deco-style station
Credit: Alamy
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It has vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows
Credit: Alamy
The station is also recognisable because of its 67m-high clock tower, which has four faces.
However, the clock is always two minutes fast. You might think this is strange, but actually, it's completely intentional and so that passengers are on time and don't miss their trains.
The platforms at Limoges station are also built below ground level, so they wouldn't affect the views of the city.
And the underground tunnels were even used during WWII, when it was occupied by German Troops as a shelter between 1942 and 1945.
However, the station was almost destroyed after a fire in 1998, which started in the domed roof.
Luckily, the fire was put out before it could damage any other parts of the site, and a year later, the roof was rebuilt.
Tourists have raved about the beauty of the station, with one saying: "One of the most beautiful gare/ train stations in Europe."
Another said: "The building is absolutely gorgeous, and well worth visiting just for the architecture even if you don't happen to be going anywhere by train."
But for anyone who wants to know and see more of the station, you can take your own tour around it.
These are are organised by the City of Art and History tour guides.
Huge new train station to open in world's most popular city
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The Limoges station clock is always two minutes fast
Credit: Alamy
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The station was built above the platforms and outside is a fountain
Credit: Alamy
The tour tells the story of the station over the course of an hour and costs €6 (£5.18), €4 (£3.45) for children between six and 18, and it's free for children under six.
Limoges is part of the Limousin region, and you can discover it via a steam train as well.
There are lots of different tours to choose from which end at various destinations like Eymoutiers, Brignac and Bugeat.
The longest journey is from Limoges station to Bugeat where passengers board one of the historic steam-powered trains.
The first stop is to Brignac, a small town on the Vienne River where passengers get to take off and go for a hike in-between stops.
The walk heads to a paper mill called Moulin du Got and St-Léonard-de-Noblat.
This trip to Eymoutiers takes around two hours and the website advertises musical entertainment and historical commentary onboard - prices for the tours start from €16 (£13.81).
Here's a full list of holiday destinations you can still fly to for under £15 this month - including Limoges.
And the Sun's Alex West explored Limoges by luxury convertible - here's how to copy his French road trip.
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