Les Pas de Cyrano à Bergerac

The town was based around its boat port for centuries. Quai Salvette replaced the medieval docks in 1838. Today it stands on the site of the former castle around which the small town grew in the 11th century. Belvedere over the Dordogne, archaeological replicas of barges, indication of the height of most important floods.

Ideally located in the port by the Dordogne, Quai Cyrano is a successful collaboration between Bergerac - Sud Dordogne Tourist Office and the Maison des Vins Bergerac - Duras. Suffice to say that you'll find all the information you need there to fill up your time here: recommendations for places to explore and activities to try, explanations about wine appellations, suggestions too help you discover the best wines in the area... And that's not all! You can of course make a few purchaces in the shop (books, souvenirs, local products), hire a bike and enjoy the wine bar, which has a selection of wines to try every week. All that's left do is pick your ideal spot: the cosy atmosphere of the Maison des Vins, a summer feel with a view over the Dordogne on the terrace or a relaxing atmosphere in the Cloître des Récollets...

The Flourmill exported its produce to Bordeaux and the Antilles colonies in the 18th century. Remains of the ancient mill.

The flour market used to be held in the middle of the original small town. Picturesque wood-timbered houses - statue of Cyrano de Bergerac (by Jean Varoqueau - 1977).

In 1385 Ramond de la Rivière was awarded lands situated in the Chevreuse Valley south-west of Paris by King Charles VI, for his contribution to recapturing Bergerac from the English. This led him to name the whole estate Bergerac. Some 300 years later, it was in these lands that Hercule Savinien de Cyrano spent his childhood. Born in 1619 in Paris, he embarked at a young age on a brief military career as part of the company of Gascon Musketeers (it was at this time that he added “de Bergerac” to his name) ; then, without renouncing his bitter and quarrelsome spirit, he resumed his studies and made a name for himself in the field of poetry and literature with his visionary and libertarian side. His writings constantly move between intellectual and scientific curiosity. He died in an accident in Paris in 1655.

Protestant temple, neo-classical façade (1870), Notre-Dame du Château church. Behind these two large openings is the Cloister of the Recollets. This magnificent building from the 17th century was created by the monks of this Franciscan order. Free tour (river side entrance).

“Les Consuls” houses, medieval houses exemplifying 14th century bourgeois architecture.

Half timbered house 16th century

Don’t worry! The tobacco museum is neither intended to promote smoking nor is only of interest to smokers. Its collections, unique in Europe, tell the story of an exceptional plant with a singular destiny as both a divine and cursed product. Originating in the Americas, where it was first used more than 3,000 years ago, before it onquered first Africa and then the world. In the museum auditorium and the galleries displaying rare items,discover the history of the uses of tobacco and objects related toits consumption.

Built by a wealthy family of fabric merchants in the early 17th century. Called Château Henri IV; legend has it that King Louis XIII stayed in the mansion when he personally came to recapture the city from the Huguenots in 1621. Rue de l’Ancien Pont. Houses from 16th et 17th century. To the left of the rue de l’Ancien Pont, on the place du Feu: Entrance to the Tobacco Museum. Wood-timbered house, with wrought corner posts (16th century).

From the Middle Ages to the end of the Old Regime, Bergerac was the only town in the Dordogne Valley where travellers could find a bridge to cross the great river. The river flooded in 1783 and swept away the original bridge. It was replaced by the current stone and brick bridge between 1822 and 1825.

Culée de l’ancien pont médiéval, belvédère vers la façade fluviale de la ville, site de pique nique et de détente. Depuis le square Marcel Guichard, une rampe permet de descendre au bord de la Dordogne.

La Madeleine Church : neo-classical style, market on Friday morning, the“Fountain of Salmons” : a sculpture by Videaux, celebrating the Dordogne’s wealth of fish; Café Vedry : one of the oldest “café” in France.

Just below place de La Butte, Fonsivade washhouse.

The City Hall, formerly an Hospital (XVII-XIXth century).

During the Wars of Religion in May 1577, plenipotentiaries from the “Bergerac peace” conference preparing the Edict of Nantes (1598) met in the Doublet family home which is next to the fontaine de Mazeaux.

Pilgrimage stop on the Santiago de Compostela route. Statue of Cyrano de Bergerac, polychrome bronze by Mauro Corda :inaugurated in 2005, this bronze celebrates both Savinien Cyrano (1619-1655), the libertine musketeer author of “Voyage dans les États et Empires du Soleil” and the heroic and poignant theatre character that he inspired Edmond Rostand to create in Cyrano de Bergerac, first performed in Paris in 1897.

Built in the 18th century to house a small seminary ; today, its vast vaulted cellars are home to Dordonha and the Costi Museum. Under the remarkable vaults of the cellar of the Small Mission, nearly 60 sculptures made from bronze and plaster are on display, created between 1929 and 1973 by Constantin Papachristopoulos (Athens 1906 - Paris 2004), known as Costi. This student of Bourdelle belonged to the figurative current in sculpture from the first half of the 20th century, artists who claimed their independence both from the Expressionism of Rodin and from the Modernists who revolutionized art at the beginning of the century. These portraits full of sensitivity stand out against the warm stone of the cellars, as works that can be read as a tribute to the female body.

Completed in 1865 and designed by famous Paul Abadie, the building is among the architect’s most exemplary neo-gothic projects. Inside: two major Renaissance paintings: “L’adoration des bergers” by Godenzio Ferrari (1484-1550) and “L’adoration des Mages” by Licinio Regillo a.k.a. Pordenone (ant. 1550).

N°39, birth home of the philosopher Maine de Biran (1766 – 1824); the façade was rebuilt during the Restoration period.

Shaded boulevard, nineteenth and early twentieth’s architecture, at N°16, today Departmental Services Building, formerly Chamber of Commerce, Art Deco architecture (1939).

Major republican meritocracy figure, minister of Public Works 1917-1920. Former Caisse d’Epargne Bank , Art Deco style (Letelier archi. 1932).

Public park founded in 1929 after buying grounds from the Perdoux nursery gardeners; they were the talented Bergerac horticulturalists that acclimatised the Lageströemia Japonica and helped save old French vineyard grape varieties after the great hylloxera crisis of 1870-1880.

Monument honouring Bergerac playwrights Paul Mounet (1847-1922) and Mounet-Sully (1841-1916), headstone in memory of the poet Jacques le Lorrain (1856-1904).

The school was built using the architect Paul Abadie’s designs and opened in 1869. It epitomises the architectural structure that was believed to best suit the needs of education in the 19th century.

Mémorial from 1870 war. Palace of Justice, neo-classical architecture.

This archaeological relic (16th c.) reminds us that Bergerac was among the most powerful fortified town from 1577 to 1621. It was controlled by the Huguenots such as a lot of towns in the south-west of the kingdom.

Shopping area, architecture from 19 and 20th c.

Shopping district, Baltard style Market Hall, outdoor market on wednesday and Friday, maison Daix known as King Charles the Xth house.

Former local electricity plant, exhibition. Rue Saint-James, 14th-18th century manors.