Bergerac and its essentials: the Top 8!

Bergerac, do you know? This is the epicenter of the Périgord Pourpre! We go for a walk there first for its affiliation to Cyrano de Bergerac, then we stay there for its sweetness of life, its wines and its medieval-style alleys, full of small gourmet restaurants... Bergerac is a city that can be discovered with curiosity, come and walk there, we present our top 8 Bergerac, to browse it without missing a beat.

Photos of the Guide to Périgord article; Opening photo: milosk50/AdobeStock

Bergerac and its history

Before leaving, a bit of history and context… Bergerac is located in the Périgord Pourpre, not far from Lot-et-Garonne and it is the second most populated town in the Dordogne (after Périgueux). It is located on the banks of the Dordogne river and this has its importance, because it is a city intimately linked to river navigation! Here the gabarres stopped over and left to export to Bordeaux and the Atlantic, the wines of Bergerac Duras. There are no less than 7 appellations and its sunny hillsides make the wine region famous. City of Art and History, Bergerac appeals to lovers of beautiful architecture. Admire its narrow streets with half-timbered houses, its gilded freestones, finely worked and elegant doors, its fountains, squares and statues...

1 -) The Bergerac cycle path

To come and visit the town of Bergerac, we recommend cycling! If you like to pedal, park at the Tuilières dam, in the village of Creysse and take the cycle path that leads to Bergerac, crossing pretty little places by the river, the Plaine des Sports de Picquecailloux, before reaching the quays of Bergerac. Park the bike and go for a walk, because the center is small and easily walkable. If you have brought a picnic, the banks of the Dordogne are very pleasant for resting in peace and in the shade of the weeping willows before going for an ice cream while taking a walk!

2 -) Go around the barge

The Gabarres de Bergerac await you for a while on the waters of the beautiful Dordogne. The Espérance River is classified as a Biosphere Reserve and on this navigable portion, you will discover the fauna, flora, geology and history of the river. 50 minutes on a gabarre, these flat-bottomed boats, which criss-crossed the Dordogne, with courageous gabarriers on board who braved bad weather and high water, at a time when nothing came to stop the tumultuous river! A beautiful memory punctuated by a tasting of Bergerac Duras wines… An ideal family moment to refresh yourself and appreciate Bergerac from another angle.

3 -) Visit the Tobacco Museum

Visit a unique and atypical museum, made up of superb collectibles, objects and works of art! Tobacco is not just a taboo product that we want to part with with great difficulty... Tobacco is a reflection of part of the history of our society and for nearly 200 years, the plant of American origin was cultivated in the region. Warm welcome and low price!

4 -) The statues of Cyrano de Bergerac

Cyrano de Bergerac is the eponymous character of a play dating from the end of the 19th century. It was Edmond Rostand who wrote it and his character (inspired by a 17th century poet, Hercule Savinien de Cyrano) has traveled the world for his courtesy, his sagacity, his romanticism and... his big nose. ! You will surely be disappointed to learn that, in reality, there is no link between Cyrano and our Bergerac Périgordin (well yes, but a little choppy)! To find out more, visit the Pays de Bergerac Tourist Office website!

Be that as it may, Cyrano has become the cherished emblem of the City of Bergerac and it is not to displease us! You will be able to see two very beautiful statues representing this proud Gascon with the big nose, the first Place de la Myrpe and the second, in color, Place Pélissière. They are made by the sculptor Mauro Corda.

5 -) Discover the wines of Bergerac Duras at Quai Cyrano

Recently renovated, the Quai Cyrano is a museum space of 150m2, discovery and a shop to meet the wines of Bergerac Duras. You know of course Monbazillac… But did you know that the region has less than 7 wine appellations? Montravel, Pécharmant, Saussignac, La Rosette… More than 150 wine references are presented in the tasting area, experts are on hand to guide you. The Quai Cyrano is also the headquarters of the Tourist Office of the Pays de Bergerac region. You can prepare your wine tourism visits or quite simply the pretty surrounding villages, natural and heritage sites!

6 -) Bergerac and Santiago de Compostela, hiking

Bergerac is a stage town, that is to say that it is on one of the roads to Santiago de Compostela. It has a rich heritage in this respect: the Rue Saint-Jacques, the Notre-Dame church (admire its stained glass windows and its imposing nave). Right next to the Statue of Cyrano, is the Church of Saint-Jacques, in the heart of the historic center. Walkers stop there, before continuing on the Bergerac/Rocamadour path, which crosses Quercy and Périgord. We then continue towards the slopes of the Agenais and Gascony in the direction of Gers. It is a "forgotten" route which is not well known and has some nice surprises in store. It is perfectly signposted and practicable in all seasons.

7 -) A walk in a pretty park and a miniature boat ride!

The Miniature Port of Bergerac is a unique place in the region! The children love it and the playing parents also have a lot of fun there… Embark on board miniature and electric replicas of a trawler, fireboat, police boat, ferry, ocean liner! On a small pond you will make circles in the water, laughter guaranteed with all the family and friends. The Port Miniature is also a very pleasant place to stop for a drink, eat an ice cream, you can also play a game of mini-golf-football. Bring a ball to play in the grass in the large Picquecailloux playground!

8 -) Visit the surrounding tourist sites

The Bergerac region has several tourist sites of interest, don't miss them after spending a day strolling through the town's alleyways! Here are some non-exhaustive ideas.

If you like old games, go to the Château de Bridoire (near Monbazillac in Ribagnac), it's a magical place for a day out in nature with the children. In this castle with an incredible history, you will play dozens of outdoor games, in the park and courtyard of the castle and inside, visit from room to room playing old wooden board games. You can visit the outbuildings and understand the history of this magical place. You can eat there and continue with a mad dash through the plant maze...

We continue the games, in the Château de Tiregand (in Creysse), which is a giant Escape game! You will go through more than 30 rooms in this sumptuous set under renovation. The Château de Tiregand (which is also an excellent wine!) is open during school and summer holidays only and the fun visits are themed according to the period! An incredible place, as fun as it is beautiful, with a panoramic view of the region.

Do you want to do a leisure and sports activity at the same time? Go see Nicolas and the Randos de Nico, who will take you and his team on an electric scooter ride through the vineyards. You can also ride a quad and go in a guided group, on wine paths, small sandarous (paths in patois). All this in joy and good humor. Ideal with teenagers and groups of friends.

We wish you a very pleasant stay in the town of Bergerac and its region!

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