Red, with a silver lion crossed by a blue diagonal stripe, and a blue band below three silver scallop shells

The origin of the name Beyssac is said to come from ‘Bassius’, a Latin name, or perhaps from ‘bes’, ‘birch’ in the Occitan language, in other words ‘the land of birches’.

Birch is lou béchao in the local dialect.

Settlement in this area dates back to the Palæolithic period; the Gauls who lived here were called the Lemovices. Despite its attachment to Aquitaine, Romanisation here was slow. The Visigoths imposed their hard domination here, along with the Normans and the Saracens, causing terrible ravages.

With the election in Avignon of the Corrézien Popes Clement VI and Innocent VI in the 14th century, this area saw a new boom, generating prosperous expansion.

A very rural village, surrounded by significant agricultural activity (upland apples, red berry fruits, Limousin cows, horses) and valuable historical heritage :

• St Eutrope’s Church which also honours St Catherine. Rebuilt in the 14th century by Pope Innocent VI, born Etienne Aubert. Stained-glass windows.

• The La Rivière site, estate of the lords ‘de La Rivière’, then of the Livrons, linked by marriage with the AUBERT family. Currently the mare-&-foal centre for the Pompadour National Stud; there are ruins of a 15th century castle and a Gothic chapel, dedicated to St Catherine, where a procession used to be held on St Catherine’s Day, 25th November.


omaine des Seigneurs "de La Rivière" puis des LIVRON, alliés à la famille . C’est actuellement du Haras National de Pompadour ; on y trouve les ruines d’un château du XVème siècle et une chapelle gothique, dédiée à Ste Catherine, où il y avait une procession le 25 novembre.

• Les Monts : the Stud’s cattle station, on the spot where Etienne AUBERT was born (later Pope Innocent VI). The architecture of the former stables deserves mention.

• Glandier Charterhouse : Aformer 13th century charterhouse [Carthusian monastery], destroyed during the French revolution. Around 1834, Mr LAFARGE set up a forge here. His dramatic death gave rise to a famous trial: the LAFARGE Affair. The Carthusians made Notre Dame de Glandier a place of prayer once again from 1869 to 1901. It is now a used for healthcare.

• The Club Med : Club Med chose Beyssac to build its first ever club based around riding activities.

Tel : +33 (0)5 55 73 33 31 fax : +33 (0)5 55 73 95 85
e-mail : beyssac@correze.net
Website : www.beyssac.correze.net

Opening hours :
Weekdays 8:30am–12:30pm & 2–5pm / Saturdays 9am–noon.
Town Hall secretary : Nadine LACHAUD

Council

Mayor : Mr Lucien RENAUDIE Deputies : Mr René BESSE, Mrs Geneviève MOURIES Councillors : Mr Michel PRADEAU Mr Olivier BOURBOULOU Mr Edouard EYSSARTIER Mr Jean-Pierre DOUSSAUD Mr Alain DUPUY Mr Pascal LAVAUD Mr Yves BRUNIE Mr Max FRACALOSSO Mrs Isabelle BORDES Mr Jean-Baptiste LACHAUD Mrs Madeleine CHATRAS Mr Robert LANGLADE