EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

The gare SNCF is at the end of cours Alsace-Lorraine, ten minutes' walk north from the old town, while the tourist office is at 97 rue Neuve-d'Argenson, two minutes' walk northeast of the old town (July & Aug daily 9.30am-7.30pm; rest of year Mon-Sat 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-7pm; tel 05.53.57.03.11, fax 05.53.61.11.04). You can rent bicycles from Périgord Cycles at 11 place Gambetta (tel 05.53.57.07.19). There is a vast market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in the covered halles in the old town centre and around Notre-Dame church.

For accommodation in town, there are several small hotels in the backstreets. Opposite the station, Hôtel Le Moderne (tel 05.53.57.19.62, fax 05.53.61.80.50; 160-220F/¬24-34; closed two weeks in Oct) is a welcoming, well-kept place with a brasserie restaurant downstairs (closed Fri; menus from 63F/¬9.60), while Le Family , 3 rue du Dragon (tel 05.53.57.80.90, fax 05.53.57.08.00; 160-220F/¬24-34; restaurant from 82F/¬12.50), offers simple, cheerful rooms right in the town centre by the halles . For something more comfortable, try the Hôtel de Bordeaux on place Gambetta between the station and the old town (tel 05.53.57.12.83, fax 05.53.57.72.14; 300-400F/¬46-61; closed mid-Dec to Jan); behind an austere façade it boasts a swimming pool, small garden and good restaurant (Nov-March closed Sat lunch & Sun; menus from 110F/¬16.77). There's also a municipal campsite , La Pelouse (tel 05.53.57.06.67), on the south bank of the river.

Apart from the hotel restaurants mentioned above, good eating options include La Blanche Hermine , a cheerful crêperie by the market hall, for a light lunch (closed Sun & Mon); Poivre et Sel , 11 rue de l'Ancien-Pont, opposite the Musée du Tabac (closed Mon Oct-April; menus from 80F/¬12.20), for something regional; and the more refined L'Imparfait , nearby at 8 rue des Fontaines, where fish features strongly (tel 05.53.57.47.92; closed Sun & Mon Dec-April; menus from 100-180F/¬15.24-27.44).

If you should find yourself here in July, don't miss the magnificent food festival called La Table de Cyrano in the week of July 14. Classical music concerts also take place throughout the month, with jazz on Wednesday evenings throughout July and August.