Quite literally Beaulieu is a beautiful place on the Dordogne River with fine renaissance houses and its 
magnificent Romanesque abbey church. It is, unsurprisingly, one the local ‘Plus Beaux Villages’
During pre-revolutionary times the town was dominated by the ancient Benedictine abbey of St-Pierre although these days only the abbey church remains. Nevertheless, the church is a magnificent Romanesque structure which together with the many other fine edifices in the town such as a 16C tower and the 12C Chapelle des Pénitents, also Romanesque, make Beaulieu a fascinating place to visit.
Today though Beaulieu is more famous for its strawberries and every year on the second Sunday of May people come from far and wide to visit the festival dedicated to this delicious fruit. The event lasts the whole day – local artisans set up their stalls and music can be heard everywhere with everyone entering into the spirit of the occasion. Visitors can attend workshops where chefs pass on tips about preparing strawberry goodies and they can also buy a variety of strawberry related produce from the many stalls.
The highlight of the day however, is the production of an 8 metre strawberry tart made with 800 kg of fruit and claimed to be the biggest in the world. During the afternoon it is cut into slices and distributed to the assembled throng. An event not to be missed indeed!
This year the Strawberry Festival will be held on May 10th.
Beaulieu is situated in the Corrèze about 25 miles/40km south east of Brive-la-Gaillarde.
© Paul Shawcross. Adapted from Paul’s app for smart phone and tablets ‘Dordogne Explorations’ Also available on Google Play