From around the 5th century onwards, the original city began to develop around a church dedicated to Saint-Martin-l'Espagnol.

During World War II, Brive-la-Gaillarde was a regional capital of the Resistance, acting as a seat of several clandestine information networks and several of the principal resistance movements, including the Armée secrète (or "Secret Army") and the Mouvements Unis de la Résistance (or "United Movements of the Resistance").

The medieval centre is mainly a commercial district with retail shops and various cafés.

It is also the location of the city hall, the main police station, and the Labenche museum.

One notable landmark outside the inner city is the Pont Cardinal, a bridge which used to be a crossing point for travelers from Paris to Toulouse.