The old town

Start at the Quai Salvette on the Dordogne and walk up into the Vieux Bergerac: half-timbered houses, the Place Pélissière with its fountain and café terraces, the Place de la Mirpe and the Cloître des Récollets, a former monastery that now houses the Maison des Vins. Two statues of Cyrano de Bergerac keep the connection with Rostand’s play alive, even if the real Cyrano never lived here. The whole quarter takes an hour to wander and is full of small shops, wine bars and restaurants.

Markets

Saturday is market day. Stalls fill the streets around the covered hall with strawberries from Vergt, walnuts, foie gras, goat’s cheese, Monbazillac wine and the best rotisserie chicken for your Saturday lunch by the pool. Wednesday has a smaller market. In July and August there are evening markets with food stalls and music in several villages nearby; ask us for this year’s dates.

On the river

The gabares are replicas of the flat-bottomed boats that once carried wine and timber down the Dordogne. A one-hour trip from the quay explains the river’s history and gives you the best view of the old town. Canoe hire and river beaches are covered in our river and canoeing guide.

Wine

Bergerac is a wine region in its own right, with thirteen appellations around the town. The Maison des Vins in the old town offers tastings and advice on which estates to visit. Our favourites are on the markets and wine page, including Monbazillac castle and the Pécharmant hills just north of town.

Practical

Park at the free car parks along the river (Quai Salvette or Place de la République on non-market days). Supermarkets, a hospital, DIY stores and the airport are all on the edge of town, so Bergerac is also where to go for anything you forgot to pack.