Bergerac, a modern town with a rich history

If you are thinking of buying French property in the south west of the country, Bergerac is well worth including in your search. Situated in the heart of the Perigord Pourpre department, it lies on the level plains of the Dordogne.

It can be wonderful to buy and restore a house in the Dordogne, in one of the beautiful rural villages as a quiet retreat or holiday let, but if you want to enjoy the night life, a wider choice of restaurants, bars and shops, and easier access to the airport, French real estate in Bergerac could be more suitable.

Property for sale in Bergerac

There is more property for sale here than in the medieval bastide towns, simply because Bergerac is a much larger connurbation. Bergerac has about 26,000 inhabitants, and is continuing to grow and develop its prosperity thanks to its thriving wine and tobacco industries. However, it would be a mistake to think that there was anything ugly about Bergerac: it is an utterly charming place, and offers an excellent quality of life.

Cottages in Dordogne

Bergerac has some beautiful buildings and is attractively laid out. There is more variety of property for sale within the town, but cottages in the Dordogne do come up for sale in the area just around Bergerac, if you want to live in a traditional rural setting within easy reach of the town amenities.

Bergerac has a very attractive old quarter and old harbour, featuring many fine restaurants and lively bars. French property here is highly sought after. Many of the hotels in the centre of town also have very good restaurants, and prices for lunch or dinner are very reasonable. There are also pavement cafes in the half timbered medieval streets where you can sit outside and soak up the views of the historic buildings, as well as the sunshine.

The town has two market days, Wednesdays and Saturdays, where fresh produce is on sale on stall after stall. The markets have a lively, almost carnival atmosphere, and are a great experience even if you don’t need to buy anything!

Bergerac is in the centre of a busy wine-producing area, with 125 square kilometres of vineyards surrounding the town. The most famous wines made here are the sweet white wines with the Monbazillac label.

When taking the decision to buy property in France, it’s important to think about how easy it will be to travel to your weekend retreat or holiday home. Dordogne properties sited near to Bergerac have the advantage of being within easy reach of the town’s airport, which is just five kilometres from the centre. From here, you can take five flights each day to the UK, and there is an excellent rail link between the airport and town, for easy transfers.