Giant black beetle... with a stinger?

Question

Hello, I recently was in Provence, France, and saw 2 of these things... They looked like big black beetles (1 - 2 inches long), but when I started to walk towards one, my friend who I was staying with told me that it stung, and was deadly.

I've been trying to find out what it is I saw, but no luck.

Any help?

Answer 1

Try these -

http://www.zin.ru/animalia/coleoptera/en...

http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&k...

Answer 2

Used to see these in England.