The Purple Périgord

Map of Purple Perigord

The Bergeracois

It is by traveling through the Dordogne valley that you will discover the Bergeracois, Pays de Bergerac, its fortified towns and vineyards.

Along the water, by canoe or barge, let yourself be seduced by the richness of the landscapes which extend on both sides of the Dordogne river and by its remarkable historical, natural and cultural heritage.

A former communication route, the Dordogne has allowed the territory to develop economically and demographically. The boating heritage and paper mills bear witness to the past economic life along the river and its tributaries. The paper mills, recreational fishing and water hiking are still today the sign of its attractiveness.

Long coveted, the Bergeracois reveals many fortified towns. Nine are of English origin like Monpazier and Beaumont and only one of French origin: Eymet. We also discover many castles: Monbazillac, Bridoire, Lanquais, Montréal... in typical villages. Religious monuments of prime importance are not to be missed including the abbeys of Cadouin and Saint-Avit-Sénieur, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

Marked by a mild and temperate climate, the Bergerac region is a land conducive to the development of vines. From Montravel wines to Monbazillac wines, there are 13 quality AOCs that will perfectly accompany the gastronomic products of our region (foie gras, truffles, confit, etc.).

Finally, the Bergerac region has high-quality natural spaces. Numerous hiking opportunities will allow you to discover our forests of Landais and Béssède still preserved. By canoe, do not miss the fabulous cingles of Trémolat and Limeuil.

ZOOM on Bridoire Castle

Are you coming with your family to the Périgord Pourpre ? Take the children to discover the Château de Bridoire, also called the Château des Jeux, which will please the whole family! 900 years of incredible stories have taken place in this large building and its park.

Do you like games ? Board games, puzzle games, old wooden games or physical outdoor games? Come and stroll in a natural space of great beauty where games are scattered in the form of workshops outside in the park and board games, thinking games or skill games in the castle. A plus for the visit that will allow children to take an interest in this essential part of the Bergeracois heritage in a fun way.

Located in Ribagnac, the Château de Bridoire also offers, In the summer, a labyrinth of several hectares to explore to solve puzzles. Will you get out of this maze?

Bergerac

In the heart of the Dordogne Valley, in the center of prestigious vineyards such as Monbazillac or Pécharmant, Bergerac seduces you with its charm and the mildness of its climate. It is the capital of the Périgord Pourpre.

The town was truly born in the 11th century with the castle located on the banks of the river. It was there, all around the castle, that the first residential nucleus was formed. It was flanked by two ports: the port of Parditte and the port of Cadouin. It was here that, later, the barges brought the products of the high country, in particular wood, and from where the wines of Bergerac were shipped to England and Holland. In the Middle Ages, the town was prosperous and dynamic, drawing its resources from a flourishing trade.

As the centuries passed, the castle was destroyed. Brick and stone buildings gradually replaced the fragile wooden houses. As the city expanded beyond its ramparts, the centre of activity moved. Little by little, river trade declined, as did the entire port district, populated mainly by craftsmen, fishermen and workers.

Today, "Old Bergerac" is the pride of the Bergeracois and the favorite place for tourists who invade its squares, streets and museums by the thousands. They love to admire its restored half-timbered and exposed stone buildings.

Beaumont of Perigord

English bastide founded in 1272 by Lucas de Thaney, seneschal of Guyenne, in the name of the King of England Edward I.

Built on the site of an older settlement, Beaumont has only retained a few vestiges of its fortifications but still has many houses with arcades.

The 12th century church is remarkably delimited by four powerful towers which, in the event of a siege, constituted the last defensive stronghold of the city for the English.

It is outside the city that one can admire the remains of the ramparts, notably the fortified gate of Luzier from the 13th century.

Eymet

A modest village must have existed from the 7th and 8th centuries (burials) and a priory dependent on Moissac was created there from the end of the 11th century. The whole was already protected by a Castelnaud.

It was Alphonse de Poitiers, brother of Louis IX, who granted the new town of Hayminete its founding charter on June 28, 1270. It was under English rule that the fortified town was built in approximately its current form and fortified.

The roofs of the main square were only added during the 14th and 15th centuries. The Battle of Eymet on 1 September 1377 was an important event in the reconquest of Guyenne by Du Guesclin. After the period of the so-called Hundred Years' War, it was the establishment of the Reformed religion, which led, at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, to a mass exodus of the region's vital forces.

If one sacrifices only modestly to the new cult of the Revolution which was marked above all by the presence of Lakanal and new exoduses, life there remained quite peaceful until the last two wars.

Issigeac

Located to the south-east of the Monbazillac vineyard, Issigeac is a small town that has retained the originality of its narrow streets. A 16th century church built by Armand de Gontaut-Biron, with a rare Gothic style in Périgord.

Also interesting is the bishops' castle built in the middle of the 17th century.

Monpazier

Monpazier is undoubtedly the best preserved bastide in Périgord. It was founded in 1284 by Edward I, in collaboration with Pierre de Gontaud, Lord of Biron, who provided the land.

It was built to complete the lines of defense already established with the foundation of the bastides of Lalinde, Beaumont, Molières and Roquépine. Its purpose: to protect the road from Agenais to the banks of the Dordogne.

Discover 3 of the 6 fortified gates of yesteryear and the typical houses. Stroll through this quadrilateral-shaped city whose old streets stretch from one end to the other parallel to the long sides, crossed in their center, thus forming perfectly rectangular blocks.

Visit in particular the Place des Cornières, the St Dominique church or the “chapter” house.

LIME

Classified among the " most beautiful villages in France", Limeuil admirably completes the beautiful valley of the "Vézère", one of the hundred points selected by UNESCO for the heritage of humanity.

At the confluence of the Vézère and the Dordogne, a privileged location, it has always attracted men. A prehistoric site, its rocky terraces overlooking the rivers constituted a place of defense. A medieval city, the city experienced the French and English struggles for influence during the Hundred Years' War. For centuries, the inland waterway was active and the heavy barges had Limeuil as their port and "Anchor of Salvation".

Limeuil offers you:

• “Balladin” trips on the rivers, canoeing, kayaking;
• Fishing, swimming;
• Walking and mountain biking trails;
• Camping, rural lodgings;
• Arts and crafts: blown glass and forging.

VILLAMBLARD

Located in the heart of Périgord, halfway between Périgueux and Bergerac, Villamblard is discovered as if you were leafing through a book of 2000 years of history. Here, human occupation dates back to prehistoric times. Remains of Roman tiles and pottery bear witness to Gallo-Roman habitation.

Until the end of the 18th century, Villamblard was an important town between Périgueux and Bergerac. Today, it invites you to take a stroll through the past, tinged with melancholy and sweetness. You will freely visit the important remains of the Château Barrière (12th to 17th century) at the western entrance to the town. Villamblard is a town surrounded by magnificent nature, a hilly landscape made of chestnut forests, and dotted with a few manors or castles which, like everywhere in Périgord, make the magic of the place!