Free walking tours in Bergerac and what to see

Must-sees

Bergerac stands on the banks of the Dordogne, in Purple Périgord, and is the capital of a wine region with several appellations of its own. The old town, near the river, keeps streets of half-timbered houses and small squares such as Place Pélissière, overlooked by the church of Saint-Jacques. All over the centre you will see Cyrano, immortalised in statues, although the famous swordsman had little to do with the town.

On Quai Cyrano, next to the tourist office, is the Récollets cloister, home to the Maison des Vins de Bergerac et Duras, where they explain the local wines and you can taste them. The 17th-century Maison Peyrarède houses the Tobacco Museum, a traditional crop in the valley. Gabarre trips leave from the old port aboard the flat-bottomed boats that once carried goods along the river. To the south, among vineyards, stands the Château de Monbazillac, famous for its sweet wine.

Free tours and guided visits

Bergerac has no regular free walking tours. What Civitatis offers is a private guided tour of the town, to explore the old town at your own pace. The tourist office also runs guided visits and has a leaflet for following Cyrano’s footsteps on your own. Outside town there are winery visits and gabarre trips on the Dordogne.

How long to spend

One day is enough for the old town, the Maison des Vins and the Tobacco Museum. If you want to add a gabarre trip and a visit to a winery or the Château de Monbazillac, allow two. With more time, Bergerac makes a good base for the bastide towns of Périgord and the Dordogne Valley towards Sarlat.

Where to stay

The most convenient area is the old town and its surroundings by the river, with small hotels, guesthouses and apartments close to everything. On the south bank and among the vineyards there are plenty of country cottages and rooms on wine estates. The airport is a few minutes from the centre, which is handy for short breaks.