Office de tourisme de Bergerac Pourpre

Among the many architectural relics bequeathed to it, the Bergerac Countryside can legitimately pride itself in housing truly authentic treasures, in particular, fortified towns (‘bastides’), fortresses, churches and abbeys that have defied time, since the Middle Ages. White, gray or disguised in yellow ochre, always magnificiently well-built, our “old” stones invite you to an amazing and enthralling journey in the discovery of a truly exceptional heritage.

bastide de monpazier

Between 1141 and 1350, 400 ‘bastides’ were built in the South-west of France. The period 1250-1320 was the most favorable to this extraordinary change, that occurred simultaneously at all levels whether urban, economic, political or social, and which gave rise to the foundation of towns that were later to be named as the “new towns” of the Middle Ages. These ‘bastides’ were created by the wish of the Kings of England and France in order to increase their influence over an important area where the Dordogne and Dropt rivers played the part of natural borders between Périgord and Agenais. Beauregard-et-Bassac, Villefranche-de- Lonchat, Molières, Lalinde, Labastide-Monestier, Puyguilhem, Fonroque, Beaumont-du-Périgord, Monpazier... All are of English origin. The sole “French exception” in the area was Eymet, built by Alphonse of Poitiers, brother of Saint Louis. The common denominator to these towns, built in just a few years: a plan in the shape of a draughtboard where streets and lanes (the ‘carreyrous’) revolve around the main square, its covered market and its houses under arcades. This square is a place of activity, administration and trade from where the church is excluded: almost always, it is built slightly to one side, as if to show the reality of the separation of the Church and the State. As for the rules of everyday living, these are set by the “charter of customs”, in a surprisingly democratic way. The ‘bastides’ thus provide us with the obvious proof that the Middle Ages were not just a black and backward period in history...

The Bergerac Countryside preserves a great number of churches, chapels and abbeys born of the strong influence which the religion exerted at the time... Romanesque and Gothic architecture, the perfect harmony of volume and playing with shades for one, flamboyance, exuberance of light for the other.

eglise de ste sabine

A skillful mix of two styles are to be found at Vélines, a delicate ‘saintongeaise’ print at Montpeyroux... An imposing fortified building at Beaumont, an admirable accuracy of proportions at Liorac... A charming modesty at Monbos, with proud dimensions at Paunat... A sense of beauty, with an infinite variety of shapes.

Life in a castle

If one admits that Périgord is indeed “the country of a thousand and one castles”, one can then admit, without any boasting, that it is to a great extent thanks to Bergerac Countryside! The castle of Biron consists of an extraordinary assembly where medieval sobriety competes with the elegance of Renaissance styles. Bridoire demonstrates the same characteristics, so doesLanquais, historically a magnificient palace, extremely interesting because it is fully furnished.

chateau de montreal Issac

Not far from Villamblard, Montréal was a country castle and place of pilgrimage; from the original construction (12th century) remains the double defensive enclosure dominating the pretty valley of Crempse. Partly destroyed by a fire in 1885, the castle of Montaigne witnessed the birth and the death of the great writer from the Perigord. The “Bookshop tower”, the library where Michel de Montaigne wrote his Essais was very fortunately preserved.

chateau de monbazillac

A Renaissance architecture that appeared to have not yet definitively cast aside the influence of the Middle Ages, a silhouette from a fairy tale... Encircled by the famous vineyard of the same name, the castle of Monbazillac houses a vineyard museum, and tells the story of Protestantism in our region and... offers an admirable panoramic view overlooking Bergerac and the Dordogne.

‘Bastides’, churches and abbeys, fortresses, castles, manor houses... Is not happiness connected to the visiting, in the Bergerac Countryside, of one of these marvellous relics from the past?