Bergerac Property Insight

Bergerac is the historical county capital of the Périgord Pourpre, located in the southern Dordogne. Generally referred to when speaking of the well-known Cyrano de Bergerac play, this town of the Perigord is also renowned for its fine wines and stunning combination of ancient and modern buildings. A perfect, authentic place to stay when travelling to the south of France, be it in a traditional holiday cottage or a medieval stone house.

Overview

The south of the River Dordogne gathers the charms of the highly regarded South West and of the old Perigord province. As a result, many foreign buyers are seduced by this area, dreaming of running a chambre d’hote or gîte-letting business, buying vineyards or living in a rural stone house.

Whatever you long for, Bergerac gives you the opportunity to be part of a friendly community and take the most of the southern countryside. Let’s imagine spending holidays in a Perigord-style restored farmhouse, in the middle of sweeping hills and wooded meadows...

Bergerac Immobilier & Property Market Trends

A leisurely daily life, beautiful surroundings, delicious wines and a preserved architectural heritage explain the increasing fame of Bergerac. It is not surprising then that property prices have slightly gone up there since March 2008!

Buying a typical timber or stone house in Bergerac’s surroundings is now a quite big investment (about €155,000) whilst the prices for apartments are only slightly soaring (up to €1,260/sq m). In order to protect the medieval architectural legacy, the Dordogne council published some decrees to regulate and control renovations in the area – which may explain why this became limited.

To get updated info about housing prices in the Dordogne, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Bergerac

Bergerac being located in the southernmost tip of the Dordogne department, you will easily notice differences in climate, relief and architecture from the neighbouring “Perigord Noir”, for instance, closer to the Central – mountainous – France.

• Transport links: recent cheap flights to Bergerac were introduced by Flybe (from Southampton, Birmingham, Exeter, Leeds and London Gatwick) and Ryanair (from Nottingham East Midlands, Liverpool and Stansted).

• The old quarter: Bergerac retains the charm of the typical ancient town centres of southern France – as they always were or nearly so – with their alleys and passageways. Especially thanks to the huge 1960s refurbishment, the 15th and 16th century buildings could be hopefully preserved.

• River Dordogne banks: either to have a fine dinner at one of the riverside restaurants or to go for a ride on a “gabare” (typical boat), the river banks are really seductive. 14th July fireworks are definitely a must!

• Between vineyards and beaches: Bergerac nestles between the French Atlantic coast (only 1h20 from Bordeaux and 3h from Biarritz by car), Perigord vineyards and Pyrenees mountains. A perfect location to take the most of South West France!

• Wine-growing area: the local gems, made from the Monbazillac and Pécharmant vineyards, accompany perfectly the Perigord truffles and foie gras amongst other treats.

Property Styles and Architecture in Bergerac

One of Bergerac’s assets is definitely its preserved architecture. As southern France boasts stunning medieval buildings, the 60s restoration policy was hopefully made with proper methods and did not damage the local past heritage.

Brits can’t help being nostalgic when touring Dordogne and more precisely Bergerac. The market town is indeed foremost appreciated by the British people for reminding them the former winding, traffic-free villages of Britain.

• Farmhouses: exposed beamed ceilings, stone walls and wooden floors are the mainstays of the Bergerac property house.

• Historical property houses: featuring many outbuildings, a central courtyard plus a huge piece of land, an unobstructed – outstanding – view, these remote breathtaking properties are perfect for a long-term investment.

• Timber facade houses: given the lush vegetation of the region, the outskirts of Bergerac are littered with lovely timber houses that recall the traditional chalets, the views along the River Dordogne and the kms of fields surrounding the house just make the difference! Another difference actually lies in the roofs: the steep pitches featured in the upper Dordogne valley were replaced by flat tiled roofs, as the houses have generally one storey.

Click here for more info about Architecture in Aquitaine.