The narrow, cobbled streets of Bergerac that rise steeply from the quay around the Maison des Vins are bursting with history and ambiance of bygone days. Bergerac always used to be an important trading hub and in the 19^th century, the port was at bursting point. I’m a great one for stopping and just trying to imagine scenes; the hustle and bustle when the gabarres came into port to unload or load construction materials, wine, wood for barrel making, heating and stakes. All helped along by my partner’s rather amusing impersonation of a prostitute from the 1800s hanging around a seedy, dimly lit alleyway!

La Maison des Vins sits at the heart of the port in Bergerac. Here you can learn everything you need to know about the wines of Bergerac and Duras. To the back of the building is the entrance to the Cloître des Récollets which has an impressive courtyard oozing with an interesting past that goes back to the middle of the sixteenth century.

Walking up a little further towards the centre of town, the statue of the famed swordsman and French poet, Cyrano de Bergerac stands proud with his famous big nose!

If you would like to read more about the Dordogne, you may be interested in my book, My Dordogne Life, available on Amazon.