Bergerac

Yes, this is the Bergerac of Cyrano de Bergerac fame—but not exactly. The real satirist and playwright Cyrano (1619-55) who inspired playwright Edmond Rostand's long-nosed swashbuckler was born in Paris and never set foot anywhere near this town. That hasn't prevented his legend from being preempted by the town fathers, who have plastered his schnoz all over the town's promotional materials and erected an exceedingly ugly statue of him. They shouldn't have bothered; Bergerac's gorgeous old half-timber houses, narrow alleys, riverside setting, and gastronomic specialties are more than enough to attract tourists staying in Bordeaux or Sarlat, both less than 100 km (62 mi) away. In the 14th century the English moved in, but in 1450 the French took over and, in time, Bergerac became a Protestant bastion. Today it's a lively farm-trade town with colorful markets held Wednesday and Saturday (the larger of the two).