Christmas is Coming

There’s magic about Bergerac at Christmas

By day, Bergerac is charming; by night in December, it sparkles.

As evening falls, the streets transform into a twinkling maze of lights, garlands and glowing shop windows. Soft lights were strung across narrow streets, glowing gently against the stone buildings as if they’d always belonged there. Nothing flashy (apart from maybe the market square tree!), nothing over the top — just quietly magical.

The decorations are elegant rather than over-the-top, letting the town’s natural beauty do most of the work.

Standing by the river, watching the lights reflect on the water, I realised I was having one of those inconvenient “this is lovely” moments. The kind that makes you feel good in a world that seems to be ever more full of chaos and angst.

Visiting Bergerac at night during the festive season isn’t about rushing from sight to sight. It’s about wandering slowly, soaking up the atmosphere, and letting the lights guide you. Wrap up warm, stop for a glass or two of excellent Bergerac wine, have a meal with friends, take your time, and enjoy a town that isn’t try to sell you Christmas - just enjoy the style, sparkle and a wonderfully relaxed French flair.

What really stood out was the atmosphere. The town felt calm, cosy, and completely unbothered. Bergerac didn’t shout a loud and commercial Merry Christmas.

It quietly twinkled and said, “See you next year.” And as we will hopefully spend our fist Christmas at our château in 2026, we very much look forward to that. À bientôt