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Wine town · Périgord Pourpre

Bergerac

A river town on the Dordogne at the centre of its own wine country, with a half-timbered old quarter.

Bergerac old town and church spire across the Dordogne in late afternoon light
Photo: Benjamin Smith / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Bergerac is the main town of the Périgord Pourpre, the wine country of the western Dordogne. It sits on the north bank of the Dordogne river, with a restored old town of timber-framed houses and small squares running down to the old port.

For most visitors it is three things at once: a handsome market town, the centre of a large wine area with some 13 appellations, and the home of a famous literary name, even though Cyrano de Bergerac had little to do with the town. It also has the department's main airport, so many holidays begin and end here.

Where to stay
Area
Périgord Pourpre
Best known for
Wine, riverside old town, Cyrano de Bergerac
Market days
Wednesday and Saturday mornings (check seasonal changes)
Time to allow
Half a day for the town, longer with a vineyard visit
Getting there
Bergerac Dordogne Périgord airport is just outside the town
Combine with
Monbazillac, Issigeac, Monpazier

Book direct

Where to stay near Bergerac

The old town

The historic centre lies between the river and the modern town. Its streets were cleaned up and restored from the 1970s onwards, and it is now mostly pedestrian, with half-timbered houses, small squares and cafés.

The heart of it is around Place Pélissière and Place de la Myrpe, close to the old port where barges called gabares once loaded wine and timber for Bordeaux and beyond. The quays are a good place to start and finish a walk.

What to see

The old town is small enough to see on foot in a couple of hours, without rushing.

Place Pélissière
The main square of the old town, with a statue of Cyrano and the church of Saint-Jacques nearby.
Statues of Cyrano
Two statues of the character made famous by Edmond Rostand's play, one at Place de la Myrpe.
Tobacco museum
A museum on the history of tobacco, once an important crop in the valley. Check that it is open before you go.
The old port and quays
The riverside where wine was shipped downstream, with views back to the old town.
Church of Notre-Dame
The large 19th-century church at the edge of the old town, with a tall spire seen across the town.
Cloître des Récollets
A former convent cloister, home to the wine trade body, in the old town.

Wine around Bergerac

The vineyards around the town produce reds, dry whites, rosés and the sweet white wines for which the area is best known. Monbazillac, across the river to the south, is the most famous of these sweet wines, and its château stands among the vines with a view back over Bergerac.

Many estates welcome visitors for tastings, some by appointment. The tourist office and the wine trade body in the Cloître des Récollets can point you to estates that are open.

The old town has a good choice of restaurants and cafés, many with terraces. Local produce includes duck, walnuts, strawberries and, of course, the local wine.

Markets

Bergerac has markets in the old town, traditionally on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, around the church of Notre-Dame and the covered market hall. Check the current calendar before you plan around them.

Getting to Bergerac

Bergerac is the main way into the Dordogne by air. The airport sits just outside the town, and Bordeaux, Brive and Toulouse give you alternatives when the dates or routes do not suit.

Airports

  • Bergerac Dordogne Périgord

    EGC

    Closest gateway

    A small regional airport on the edge of town. Direct flights from the UK are mainly seasonal and run by low-cost airlines. Routes change each year, so check the airport's current list before you book.

  • Bordeaux-Mérignac

    BOD

    Year-round hub

    A much larger airport west of the region with more routes all year. You can drive, or take the train from Bordeaux Saint-Jean station to Bergerac.

  • Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne

    BVE

    For the eastern valley

    Better placed for Sarlat and the Périgord Noir than for Bergerac. Fewer routes and mostly seasonal.

  • Toulouse-Blagnac

    TLS

    Southern alternative

    A large airport with year-round routes, but a long drive to the Dordogne.

From the airport by road

Bergerac old town
about 5 km
Monbazillac
To be confirmed
Monpazier
To be confirmed
Sarlat-la-Canéda
over an hour by road

Onward options

Car hire
Car hire desks operate at the airport. Book early for July and August, when cars run short. A car is the practical way to explore the department.
Taxi
Taxis serve the airport but are best booked ahead, particularly for late arrivals.
Train
Bergerac station is on the line between Bordeaux and Sarlat, so you can reach the town by train from Bordeaux Saint-Jean. Check current timetables with SNCF.
Bus
Public transport from the airport is limited. Check before you rely on it.

Routes, timetables and journey times change. Check with the airline, airport or SNCF before you book.

Planning your visit

Bergerac is a working town with modern outskirts, so give yourself time to reach the old town and park. There are car parks around the centre and near the river. Check current arrangements before you travel, particularly on market days.

If you are flying in or out, the town makes a good first or last stop before or after a stay further up the valley.

What to combine with Bergerac

The Château de Monbazillac is just south of the town. Further south, Issigeac is a small medieval village with a well-known Sunday market, and the bastides of Eymet and Monpazier are within reach for a longer day.

Upstream, the river leads east towards Lalinde and Trémolat, with the Cingle de Trémolat, a wide loop of the Dordogne seen from the hill above.

Questions about Bergerac

Is Bergerac worth visiting?

Yes, for its restored old town, the river and the vineyards around it. It feels more like a lived-in market town than the villages of the Périgord Noir.

Was Cyrano de Bergerac from Bergerac?

Not really. The real Cyrano was a Parisian writer. The town adopted him after Edmond Rostand's play made the name famous.

What wine is Bergerac known for?

Reds and dry whites under the Bergerac name and sweet whites, of which Monbazillac is the best known.

What day is the market in Bergerac?

Markets are traditionally held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Check the current calendar before you travel.

What is the nearest airport to Bergerac?

Bergerac Dordogne Périgord airport (EGC), just outside the town. Bordeaux-Mérignac is the nearest large airport with routes all year.

Can you fly direct from the UK to Bergerac?

Yes, mostly in the spring and summer season. Routes and airlines change each year, so check the airport's current list.

Can you hire a car at Bergerac airport?

Yes, car hire desks operate at the airport. Book well ahead for the summer months.

How do you get from Bordeaux airport to Bergerac?

Drive, or travel into Bordeaux Saint-Jean station and take the train to Bergerac. Check current timetables before you travel.

How far is Bergerac from Sarlat?

It is a drive of over an hour, following the Dordogne valley east. The two towns are also on the same railway line.

Opening times, prices and parking change. Check before you travel: Bergerac tourist office, Dordogne Périgord tourism.