The Tourist Sites in the Périgord Pourpre

Are you coming on holiday to Dordogne and wondering what are the best things to visit in Périgord Pourpre? Consult our pages which inform you about the best tourist sites , the unmissable ones, the castles and cultural visits when you are on vacation around Bergerac! A bit of culture, sport, leisure, gastronomy, for a busy holiday in the Dordogne.

The House of Bergerac Duras wines: Le Quai Cyrano

To know everything about the wines of the region, about wine tourism visits, about the castles and the Bergerac Duras Wine Route: This is the place to be. Located on the quays, at the entrance to the city (opposite the Gabarres) you cannot miss it and the premises of the Tourist Office are in the same place. It is possible to buy bottles, to do tastings , in short it is a small city of wine!

The Gabarres of Bergerac and Creysse

It's not really a visit, but rather an unmissable experience to live : A ride in a Gabarre on the Dordogne is an institution! And in Bergerac, it is also accompanied by a tasting of Bergerac Duras wine on the waves. Here, no castle, we will walk on the Dordogne in a very natural and preserved portion, to discover the fauna, the flora and with a friendly and smiling team. From Creysse , departures take place in the summer, see the information sheet for more information.

Montreal Castle at Issac (12th and 16th centuries)

This half-feudal, half-Renaissance building , surrounded by beautiful outbuildings, stands at the top of a hill overlooking the Crempse.

According to tradition, the city built on the St. Lawrence owes its name to the Sire of Montreal, Claude de Pontbriand, companion of Jacques Cartier during his second trip to Canada.

MONBAZILLAC CASTLE (16th CENTURY)

All the charm of Périgord at the gates of Bergerac . Built on the hill, the Château de Monbazillac watches over the prestigious vineyards of Monbazillac. Its elegant silhouette emerges from an ocean of vines. The cooperative cellar of Monbazillac, which restored it, owns it.

Castle of Saint Michel de Montaigne (Pays de Montaigne 12th and 15th centuries)

The castle of Michel Eyquem , Lord of Montaigne (1533-1592) is located in Périgord , at the gates of Bergerac and Saint Émilion, in the heart of a majestic park.

On these places, since the 14th century, stands a castle which has been reworked several times, and partially rebuilt following the fire which ravaged it in 1885.

Inhabited private property, it cannot be visited. Only the Tower, spared by the flames, can be visited. Montaigne made it his refuge. On the ground floor, the chapel dedicated to Saint Michael. On the 1st floor, the room where he breathed his last. On the top floor, the Library where he forever fixed his Humanist thought through 57 Greek and Latin sentences painted on the ceiling beams, and where he wrote his Essays between 1571 and 1592.

The guided tour of the Tower is an invitation to follow in the footsteps of the famous philosopher, through a complete evocation of his life, his time, his work and his thought.

• Consult the information sheet before visiting the castle.
  

Château de Biron (12th-18th centuries)

Perched at the top of a "puy", the castle of Biron draws up the enormous mass of its towers and its defensive terraces on the edge of Périgord and Agenais.

Biron was the seat of one of the four baronies of Périgord.

Château de Lanquais 15 km from Bergerac (The unfinished Louvre of Périgord)

Towers, walkways and machicolations bear witness to the power of the fortified castle that Lanquais was during the Hundred Years War. A symbol of power and grandeur in Périgord , a prestigious Renaissance palace attached was built by the builders of the Louvre , Palace of the Kings of France.

During the visit you will experience the daily life of the inhabitants of Lanquais from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

Discover their apartments furnished and decorated with sumptuous carved stone fireplaces, the old kitchens or the arms room . A return to a past still present in Lanquais.

Bannes Castle

We fell in love with this magnificent perfectly restored feudal fortress standing on its rocky outcrop between Couze and Beaumont. Built for the Bishop of Sarlat in the 14th century, it is today a private property which unfortunately can no longer be visited but is, on the other hand, perfectly maintained! The castle is accessible by a drawbridge. Inside, one of the most beautiful and monumental French fireplaces.

Bridoire Castle

Located 12km south of Bergerac (Dordogne), in the commune of

Ribagnac - canton of Sigoulès - in green countryside with picturesque and hilly landscapes, away from the main roads, but close to the famous vineyards of Monbazillac , the Bridoire castle is built on a rocky outcrop flush with the southern hillside of the Gardonnette valley.

The domain of the castle covers 40 ha. Its beautiful architecture, restored and rebuilt in the 19th century, dates from the 16th and 16th centuries. The retaining walls of the north facade are from the 14th century. Their power testifies to the defensive vocation of this castle.

The archives attest to the occupation of the site since the 12th century. This castle was inhabited from 1806 to 1938 by the Foucaulds, a family famous for having given modern times one of its most illustrious monks: Father Charles de Foucauld. This one celebrated the service in the chapel of the castle built, with a platform for the squire, in the 19th century. After tumultuous years, the castle is experiencing a superb renaissance under the impetus of its new owners.

Self- guided tours, Games available to the public, Shop... Nights at Bridoire in July and August!

Chateau Michel de Montaigne

It is the ideal place to spend a nice day of sightseeing, to discover the historic tower and the 19th century castle. You can do tastings of this excellent wine produced on the estate, as well as a walk in a pretty wooded park with picnic tables. You will appreciate the view at the end of the visit and the qualitative tasting that will be offered to you.
Consult the schedules and prices on their information sheet.

Castle of Gageac

Reinforced in the 14th century to become a stronghold, the Château de Gageac was originally a 12th century guard tower dependent on Duras. During the 100 years war, Du Guesclin besieged it for 5 days. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was transformed into a residence and endowed with a remarkable bell tower . The castle is located in the heart of the Saussignac vineyard, it can be visited in July and August, except Tuesdays.

We wish you a very good holiday in Périgord Pourpre. There are obviously many other sites, this list cannot be exhaustive. We invite you to consult the Guide du Périgord blog to find other activities to do with the family, experiences, discoveries, Périgord is endless!