car hire bergerac

guide to bergerac

history
Bergerac is a town in the Dordogne département, located in southwestern France. Bergerac stood as the principal commercial centre in the Dordogne region in its early history, particularly for the wine trade, but a period of religious strife beginning in the 16th century led a major part of the population (mainly Protestants) to seek more hospitable environs, and the town fell into a phase of inactivity. The town began a comeback in the 1800s, and by the end of the century Bergerac had reestablished itself as an important producer of wine, as well as tobacco. Today the area draws a good amount of travellers on holiday, thanks to the reputation of its wines.

things to see
Visitors picking up their car hire at Bergerac’s airport would do well to tour the town’s plentiful vineyards. Among the renowned wines bottled here are Bergerac Rosé, Côtes-de-Bergerac, and Monbazillac. The region is also often called the “Gateway to the Périgord,” an area also known for its wine, and for its cuisine. Delicacies made from duck and geese are the region’s signature dishes, such as foie gras. Périgord is also considered France’s most famous truffle area.

Bergerac has a few museums of note, such as the Musée du Tabac, housed in the beautiful 17th-century Maison Peyrarède. This museum is dedicated to the history of tobacco, the crop on which many residents of Bergerac have made their livelihood. (No smoking allowed on the premises!) In the heart of the oldest part of town, you can visit Musée Régional de la Batellerie, which has exhibits on viticulture and wine barrel-making. The museum also chronicles the town’s history as a bustling river port.

The famous caves of Lascaux, near the village of Montignac, are also a short drive from Bergerac. The cave paintings inside, from the Upper Paleolithic era, are thought to be some of the earliest examples of art on the planet, and were not discovered until 1940, when a group of teenagers stumbled upon them.