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Courtesy of the Bergerac accommodation directory: Hotels in Bergerac. Alternative to Bergerac hotels. Bergerac Hotel accommodation France.
Bergerac is a market town in the Dordogne departement of France. It is best-known for its top-quality tobacco products and wines. It is a lively, dynamic and fun city.
Bergerac enjoys a flourishing cultural life and a buoyant economy, as well as a wide variety of cultural monuments and attractions.
Two points of interest in the historical district are the old bridge and Notre-Dame church. The old bridge, built in 1838, is a reminder of the town's river trading past. In the 19th century inland waterways played a major role economy-wise.
The city's port welcomed over 15 000 tons of traffic a year. It employed over 200 people and thousands of boats passed through it.
In the mid-1800 Bergerac's wines and wooden materials were exported extensively.
Notre-Dame church has both a symbolic and historical significance. It marks the beginning of the town's northward expansion in the second half of the 19th century. The church was built between 1856 and 1865. It features the neo-Gothic style with a 80-m high belfry, which was designed by Paul Abadje. Its completion marked the beginning of a stage of urban expansion that transformed the cityscape.
Thereafter the town began to expand around the St. Catherine neighborhood. During the Middle Ages this area was at the outskirts of the town. After 1875 the town began to expand toward the railway station.
Weekly Saturday markets take place at the site left of the church. They are among the city's longest-running customs – they were first held in the Middle Ages. In this area you will also see the old Ormiere walkway, dating from 1617. Today it is referred to as Gambetta square. This is a hub of the town' social and commercial life.
Notable museums in Bergerac include the Wine and Inland Waterways Transport Museum and the newest museum in the city, the Costi Museum. The former opened in 1983. Its popularity resurged of late due to the renewed interest in the town's river heritage and wine growing. The collections are comprised of objects, photos, various kinds of archives, and more.
The Costi is dedicated to artist Constantin Papachristopoulos. There is a display of 60 earthenware and bronze sculptures produced between 1926 and 1973. The masterfully crafted art works will leave you breathless.
If you plan to stay in town for more than one day, you should know that a wide variety of walks are possible around Bergerac. These include walks along the banks of the Dordogne river, the Couze Canal at Mauzac, the Tuilieres site, around Eymet and Tremolat and more.
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