Discover Gourdon
An ancient town with a fortified gate, narrow streets and half-timbered houses, perched on a rocky outcrop, Gourdon is best appreciated with the senses wide open! History oozes from the old stones and flows from one monument to another, as if memory were a living thing.
360 ° view on the esplanade
This is the starting point of any discovery of Gourdon. Situated at the top of the city, where a castle and ramparts once proudly stood, this site is the ideal introduction. Both for its role in the region's history, but also for the spectacular view. From the hill, the undulating landscapes of Bouriane and Perigord roll out beyond the roofs of the city, as far as the eye can see.
A unique architectural heritage
Getting lost in the winding alleyways is the best way to find the soul of the place. Stroll around the monuments and discover the church of St Pierre, with its two towers imposing their Gothic presence over the town. A step further on you'll discover the Maison de Cavaignac, built in the 18th century, the Town Hall, a former 17th century consular house and the House of the Seneschal, today an Architecture and Heritage cultural centre. It's here that you'll discover the secrets of one of the most emblematic buildings in the city, a great opportunity to learn about medieval crafts, the Renaissance, and the everyday life of Gourdon through the ages.
Afternoon in the Gardens "Jardins de la Butte"
Hedgerows, refreshing fountains, pebbled streams... leave the maze of the mediaeval streets of Gourdon to discover a different world in shades of green, shadows and light. A unique series of gardens, each constructed around a different theme. First, the Middle Ages, with the "Zig-Zag" gardens. Built in a style inspired by Charlemagne, a medicinal herb garden, a vegetable garden planted in wicker chestnut baskets, a rose garden and a maze to explore. Next door, the Jardin du Sénéchal has a royal court of spectacular flowers, embellished with a butterfly, grown in boxwood. Further down in the courtyard of the library is the Fairytale Garden, a place where wicker structures and wooden figures overflow with colour among graminaceous borders.
