car hire bergerac
Pick up your car hire at Bergerac airport and head for the cosmopolitan heart of French wine country. Book car hire bergerac now
the 60-second guide to Bergerac
in its own head
"With a gorgeous river, delicious wines and fancy cigarettes, you don't get more French than us!"
but more realistically
Yes, the river and the wine define Bergerac, but it's also a town with an interesting history and a charming old quarter and harbour.
the vibe
A relaxed holidaying vibe, for the most part. There are numerous cafes and high quality boutiques to mooch around in between meals.
the natives
The locals are sophisticated, glamorous and know a lot about wine. Talk of football and beer will draw blank faces.
the weather
During the summer months temperatures regularly push into the 30s and the mild evenings are a true Bergerac pleasure. It gets a bit nippy in winter, mind.
the local speciality
It's the plonk, of course, Bergerac being one of France's key wine-producing regions. Red is their speciality, although the sweet white wine Monbazillac is particularly well regarded.
the celebrity
Though his name suggests otherwise, the famous 17th century dramatist and duelist Cyrano de Bergerac wasn't actually from Bergerac. This didn't stop the town erecting a statue to him - big nose and all.
did you know?
The area isn't just famous for the delicious wines, but also the tobacco. It's one of the most important growing areas in France.
they say
"Since ancient times, wine makers have carved the landscapes of Bergerac. They are men and women impassioned and in love with their traditions." - Tourist Office of Bergerac
5 to see in town...
- 1. Bergerac Tobacco Museum
- 2. St Jacques Church
- 3. Theatre de la Gargouille
- 4. L'Enfance de Lard
- 5. Bergerac Museum of Religious Art
A must for any keen smoker, this fantastic museum charts the history of pipes, tobacco and all those other treats now banned from pubs. Ironically, you can't smoke there.
where to park?
Park you hire car in the Le Port car park in Quai Salvette.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Bergerac Tobacco Museum
- 2. St Jacques Church
- 3. Theatre de la Gargouille
- 4. L'Enfance de Lard
- 5. Bergerac Museum of Religious Art
After all of the excitement of water parks, head somewhere a little more serene and mature, like this church - it's Romanesque and boasts a particularly impressive organ.
where to park?
Use the Quai Salvette car park. Limited free street parking is also available outside the church.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Bergerac Tobacco Museum
- 2. St Jacques Church
- 3. Theatre de la Gargouille
- 4. L'Enfance de Lard
- 5. Bergerac Museum of Religious Art
As everyone knows, it's important to sometimes switch your mouth off and let someone else do the entertaining. You won't be disappointed at this theatre.
where to park?
The theatre has a free on-site car park for your hire car.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Bergerac Tobacco Museum
- 2. St Jacques Church
- 3. Theatre de la Gargouille
- 4. L'Enfance de Lard
- 5. Bergerac Museum of Religious Art
This is one of the area's most celebrated restaurants, beautifully set in a 12th-century house in the old quarter. Try the seafood.
where to park?
Use Le Port car park in Quai Salvette or the Bellegarde Town Centre car park in Rue Saint-Esprit.
5 to see in town...
- 1. Bergerac Tobacco Museum
- 2. St Jacques Church
- 3. Theatre de la Gargouille
- 4. L'Enfance de Lard
- 5. Bergerac Museum of Religious Art
Housed in a 17-century building, this boasts lots of artefacts, sculptures and religious paintings.
where to park?
You can park your hire car in any of the car parks in the town centre, including in the Place de la Republique and the Place Gambetta.
and 4 to drive to...
Not far from Bergerac is this quaint little village - home to a couple of nice chateaus and beautiful old houses. There's also a lake that you can swim in.
how to get there?
Go east on the D660. It should take about 25 minutes to get to Lanquais.
and 4 to drive to...
Nothing keeps youngsters fascinated and agog like a creepy batch of caves, and these ones won't disappoint. The drive there is a scenic one, too.
how to get there?
It takes about 45 minutes to get to Le Buisson-de-Cadouin on the D660, which is the nearest town to the caves (half a mile away).
and 4 to drive to...
Perfect for an entire day out with the children, this place has got picnic spots, adventure playgrounds, mini golf and more.
how to get there?
Head out of Bergerac on the D14/D207. It should take around an hour to get there.
and 4 to drive to...
If the tasty wine isn't enough to tempt you, maybe the stunning landscapes, vineyards, friendly people and pretty town will.
how to get there?
Head north out of Bergerac on the D709 before heading west on the E70/A89. It will take an hour to get to St Emillion.
ask a bergerac cabbie!
Local taxi driver Alexis Lambert on car hire Bergerac: "Although it's not easy to drive into the old area known as Vielle Ville with its traditional streets, we do have newer and more modern parts to Bergerac, with more conventional streets. Finding a car park is relatively easy and most are free at certain times of the day, such as Saturday afternoons."