Bergerac France: Gateway to the Périgord
In And Around Bergerac France
Bergerac is the capital of the Purple Perigord – a region known for its full bodied reds and sweet white wines.
Bergerac is easy to get to. You can catch direct Bergerac flights from the UK; Bergerac airport is about 15 minutes taxi ride away from the centre of town.
The train trip from Paris takes about 4 hours (you need to change at Libourne); driving takes around 6 hours. There are plenty of car hire outlets around Bergerac, near the station and airport.
Bergerac provides a good entry point for exploring the Perigord.
View of the countryside around Bergerac France
Wine in Bergerac
Bergerac has been producing wines since the 12th century. The most famous is Monbazillac, a sweet white wine made from mostly semillon grapes, with a bit of muscadelle and sauvignon as well. It has a lovely golden colour, with intense floral and melony flavours. Delicious with foie gras.
The Château de Monbazillac is about a 20 minute drive from Bergerac.
The vineyards around the château were originally planted by monks in the middle ages.
Monbazillac – near Bergerac France
The château itself has hardly changed since it was built in the 16th century. You can walk through the grounds and lower floors of the castle… and you can also try a glass of one of their wines (in the visitor centre).Interested in Bergerac Wine?
You can pick up the leaflet “Route des Vins” at the Bergerac tourist office (97 Rue Neuve-d’Argenson), which provides a list of the producers in the area which are open for visiting.
Beyond Bergerac
There are plenty of fantastic places to visit that are within easy driving distance of Bergerac…such as:
Monpazier, about an hours drive away, is one of the most beautifully preserved bastides (medieval fortified towns) in the area.
Monpazier (near Bergerac France)
Monpazier was founded in the late 1200s – and still has its medieval gates and perfect market square, place des Cornières. You can stock up on foie gras and gifts in the little shops, wander and admire the ancient stone houses, or soak up the sun in one of the outdoor cafés. If you can, go to the Le Privilège du Périgord restaurant for dinner – fantastic food (try the duck…).
Monpazier is also near a wonderful castle, probably one of the largest and impressive in the whole of Perigord – the Château de Biron.
On the way to Monpazier from Bergerac, you could stop off in Issigeac, another picturesque town, with quaint medieval half-timbered buildings.
What Else?
There are lots of other things you could see and do in the area, such as:
- exploring the lovely region of Perigord;
- visiting castles and fortresses;
- marvelling at prehistoric cave paintings;
- and the beautiful landscapes of the Lot Valley.
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You can also book your Bergerac Flights directly through this excellent travel search engine: