Bergerac, Sarlat-la-Canéda and more picture-postcard Dordogne gems

Bergerac

With a population of nearly 27,000, Bergerac is the second largest town in Dordogne although it is just as beautiful as Périgueux. The atmosphere is subtly different, however, with architecture harking back to a wealthy Protestant past when winemakers from all over the region exported their goods from Bergerac's ports to northern Europe.

This is why the tourist office is housed in a riverside building called the Quai Cyrano. It is well worth visiting; the building itself is lovely, and also houses a fabulous wine bar. You can relax in the shady courtyard, on the sunny waterside terrace or lounge in the armchairs inside. There are 150 local wines on offer and you can also taste nine different ones each week. 

On the top floor, the immersive 'Cyrano Experience' explains the plot of the play which is most frequently performed in France. 

There is also a collection of sculpture in the basement and a room is turned over to La Micro-Folie de la CAB (Communauté d'Agglomération Bergeracoise), which is a free-entrance video exhibition of all the works in France's major museums. As well as all this, Quai Cyrano also offers special events all year round, including wine tastings, acoustic music, and social events.

The free museum Dordonha is also worth a visit. The videos and photos trace the history of the town, giving a comprehensive overview. If you still want more background, the nearby Musée du Tabac gives an interesting explanation of the history of tobacco farming in Dordogne.

For cyclists, the Vélo-route Voie Verte V91 offers nearly 38kms of cycle paths beside the River Dordogne, from Prigonrieux via Bergerac and Lalinde to Calès. There are lots of places renting out bicycles, along with accessories such as trailers for babies/toddlers, carriers, cycle helmets, etc.

Sarlat-la-Canéda

The fourth largest town in Dordogne with a population of around 9,000, Sarlat's beautifully-maintained medieval centre is often described as a gem. 

The winding lanes, cute boutiques and cosy restaurants draw big crowds, especially for the Saturday morning market.

Sarlat's Fest'Oie (Goose Fair) on March 7-8, 2026, will be incredibly popular, even if the weather is inclement. 

There will be calligraphy using a goose feather quill, goose carcass soup, face painting, goose training for children (mainly tottering after them), stalls selling china and linen decorated with geese, bands, demonstrations of how to cut up a goose, cooking workshops, food stalls, a farmers' market, massive public meals, wine hot and cold and, of course, mountains of foie gras in all its forms.

Other Dordogne gems

Everyone has their favourite corner of Dordogne. 

Brantôme gets described as the 'Venice of Périgord' because it is constructed within a loop of the Dronne river. 

It certainly is chocolate-box pretty, and a great base for messing about on the water. You can take a short ride in an electric boat, go on a full-day river excursion or, just outside the town, hire canoes and paddle yourself up and down the river.

The Sunday morning market of Issigeac sprawls all over the medieval village centre during the summer months, but shrinks during the winter. 

It attracts crowds all year round however, and is something of a magnet for Anglophone expats. There is even a shop selling English Little Green paint and wallpaper. 

Other notable Plus Beaux Villages de France include Domme, perched on a hilltop overlooking the Dordogne Valley, Beynac-et-Cazenac huddled around the Château de Beynac, Monpazier buzzing with life, and Limeuil with its river beach at the junction of the Dordogne and Vézère rivers.