Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne

Beaulieu -sur -Dordogne ( Occitan: Bél Luéc or Bellec ) is a municipality with 1223 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the department of Corrèze, in the Limousin region of France. The standing in the center former abbey church of St -Pierre is one of the most important examples of Romanesque architecture in the southwest of France.

Location

Beaulieu is situated on the western banks of the river Dordogne at the western edge of the Xaintrie Blanche. Beaulieu is called in German: Nice place. Its idyllic, climatically favored location in the valley, between forest and meadows on the banks of the river, the place takes its name.

The nearest large towns are something Brive- la -Gaillarde in the northwest, reachable in about 30 km distance on highway, and Aurillac, about 40 km on highway in the east. 21 km upriver lies to the north, the picturesque former fishing village Argentat seven miles downstream, near the confluence of the Dordogne Cère in, the place Biars -sur -Cère. The prefecture of the department of Tulle is located approximately 35 kilometers north.

Demographics

History

855 visited the Archbishop of Bourges the place. It was from its location so much that he called him bellus locus ( beautiful place ) and at this point founded a Benedictine abbey. The Counts of Turenne and Castelnau fought in the following centuries bloody battles for control of the monastery. In this conflict, it succeeded in the monastery and the citizens of the slowly developing settlement yet to reach wealth and almost complete independence and to secure a Privilege one after another. In the 12th century, the monastery of the sovereignty of the monastery of Cluny was assumed. Shortly before this time also began the construction of the preserved monastery church St- Pierre.

Culture and sights

Abbey Church of St. Pierre

Büßerkapelle

The Büßerkapelle ( Chapelle des Penitents Noirs ) with its distinctive bell tower from the 12th century is picturesquely situated on the banks of the Dordogne and now serves as a museum of local history.

Old town

In the picturesque streets of the old town quite a number of old buildings have been preserved dating back to the Renaissance period, including the so-called Maison d' Adam et Eve, in the outer wall of several sculptures are embedded.

Tourism, Recreation and Sports

Tourism is the main industry on the spot. Apart from cultural tourists the place also attracts nature lovers, canoeists and canoeists. In addition to many restaurants, hotels and guesthouses, the village offers a youth hostel, located right on the river opposite the Chapelle des Penitents.

Twinning

Beaulieu -sur -Dordogne is twinned with the town of Scheinfeld in the district of Neustadt a d Aisch -Bad Windsheim in Bavaria.