Car Hire Bergerac
Mini guide to Bergerac
Bergerac is a modern attractive town, nestled on a riverbank in the stunning Dordogne region. With its interesting reminders of its past as a once flourishing trading port, and easy access to the surrounding countryside and many famous wine producers, Bergerac has something for everyone.
Bergerac is renowned for its fine museums depicting the area’s long history. The Museum of Tobacco exhibits a unique collection of tobacco items and paraphernalia and the similarly popular Wine and Shipping Museum presents all the traditions of ‘river trading’, uncovering Bergerac as one of the countries first ‘ports gabariers'.
Wandering through town is similarly rewarding. The well-restored and working old centre is decorated with 15th century fixtures and its quaint lanes are furnished by many half-timbered houses and examples of ‘bricou'. Near the centrally located Wine Museum is the statue of Cyrano, which depicts one of the town’s most well-known characters and is a good point of orientation. The town’s commercial area surrounds the old centre.
Bergerac offers a wide range of modern restaurants and a host of quaint traditional cafes for the visitor to choose from. There are plenty of bars to while away the evenings and enjoy the region’s many fine wines.
At the heart of a wine producing area, there are over 120 producers to visit in the surrounding region. The infamous Bordeaux region is located due east and the famous Monbazillac wine region is located just south. Wine trailing maps are available from local tourist offices. Also worth seeking out is Sainte Alvère, with its famous truffle (the black pearl of Perigord) market and surrounding plantations.
Bergerac’s Roumanières Airport receives daily flights from London (2.5 hours), Southampton and Paris (1.5 hours). If you are coming from Paris, there are regular buses and trains plying the route to Bergerac. Traveling by car, follow the A71 (Paris-Vierzon), then A20 (Vierzon-Limoges) and connect to RN21 to arrive in Bergerac.
