The tourist office is always a great place to start when you arrive in a new place, but there’s a lot you miss if you haven’t got a local guide to nudge you in the right direction. As such, I’ve put together a list of 11 things that will give you that local experience, here in the beautiful town of Bergerac.
Wander around the old centre
The centre of Bergerac is really beautiful; simply head towards the port and you’ll see some lovely buildings along the way, as well as various iterations of Cyrano de Bergerac.
Rent a bike
The easiest place to rent a bike is from Quai Cyrano, which also houses the Bergerac tourist office. They have normal push bikes, mountain bikes (“VTT” in French) and electric bikes.
This is a great form of transport for wine tasting.
Go wine tasting
Check out my post on wine tasting in Bergerac for more information.
Take a boat trip up the river
Buy your ticket at the little hut in the port; you can get individual or group tickets. Check out their prices and hours.
Buy cheese at Fromagerie Chez Pauline
Fromagerie Blanchard has recently been taken over by Pauline Treillard; watch her debut video here!
Whilst you get a huge variety of cheeses in French supermarkets, compared to English ones, getting cheese from a dedicated cheese shop is the only answer to your cheese desires, as the quality is significantly higher. Make sure to buy some quince to go with any hard cheese that you buy.
Buy pastries at Aux Délices de Christophe boulangerie & patisserie
There are many bakeries in town, but Aux de Christophe is by far my favourite; their almond croissant is to die for and cakes are sensational.
Buy organic vegetables at Le Potager Anglais stall
Joe Pickett created Le Potager Anglais; originally from Devon, as well as being a veg man, Joe also plays rugby for Bergerac. Find out more about his veggie project.
Joe says the French find his surname hilarious because “piquette” in French means “bottle of plonk.”
The market is next to Notre-Dame church and it takes place every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 08:00-13:00.
Swim at Pombonne lake
Pombonne lake is a cycle ride away from the city centre and it’s a great place for a swim. The Guinguette (meaning “open air restaurant/bar/cafe”) sits right beside it, making it a great place for delicious meals post-swim. Make sure to check opening hours (and seasons).
Eat out!
Check out my post on where to eat and drink in Bergerac for more information.
Visit the flea market
Called a “brocante” in French, the Bergerac flea market is where you can find some real gems!
Find it outside Notre-Dame church on the first Sunday of every month.
Hop over to Saint Émilion, Sarlat or Bordeaux
If you plan to visit Bergerac, don’t forget to check out other local gems, including Saint Émilion, Sarlat and Bordeaux. Quick tip: you don’t pronounce the “t” on the end of Sarlat. Read my post on A week in Bordeaux: 17 essential activities.
Bergerac has a lovely local feel to it, which is well-suited to a weekend trip, or longer if you want to take things slowly. I’d love to know if you’ve visited or thought about visiting Bergerac and if there’s anything else you discovered whilst visiting. Comment below!
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