Bergerac Museums

There are a few small museums scattered around Bergerac, each interesting in their own way. The most important are:

The Maison des Vins, in the 16th century cloisters of the recollets where you can learn more about the local wines (appelations) in attractive surroundings (the location is also used for occasional exhibitions and concerts)

Note: there are also several 'caves' (wine cellars) that can be visited in Bergerac itself.

The Bergerac Museum ((Musee de la Batellerie) explains the development of Bergerac, mostly in terms of the Dordogne and rivers, and the wine trade.

The Costi Museum: Place de la Petit Mansion. This museum, opened in 2003, features the sculptures of Greek sculptor Constantin Papachristopoulos (1906-2004). Better known as 'Costi'. he kindly bequeathed a great deal of work to the town, with the proviso that it be put on permanent exhibition. The work, primarily sculptures of people, is a fascinating collection established in an attractive environment in the old cellars of the presbytery.

The Tobacco Museum on Rue St Claire tells the history of the tobacco industry in and around Bergerac. For a very long time tobacco was a very substantial industry hereabouts, and you will still see tobacco growing in the region - look for plants with no stem, and large brightish green leaves (think of a lettuce gone to seed and growing bigger leaves...)

Museum of the Resistance on Rue Henri Sicard, a small museum commemorating the importance of the local resistance movement during the Second World War.