Eymet

Visit Eymet, Aquitaine

Eymet is in the Dordogne department of Aquitaine, south of Bergerac and west of Castillonnes.

Eymet was founded 1270 by Alphonse of Poitiers, like many of the French bastide towns, as part of a defensive strategy against the English. The site on which Eymet was built had already previously been occupied during Roman times and in the prehistoric era.

Explore Eymet

The town has the 'normal' bastide town layout, with a central square and a surrounding grid of straight roads - both containing many good examples of medieval houses. It also has the remains of its medieval fortified walls and a defensive castle.

An attractive unspoiled town to visit, there is a thriving central square and it is in a pretty location on the banks of the Dropt river - it was transport links along the Dropt that enabled Eymet to flourish.

There are three parts to your exploration of Eymet (the Eymet tourist office can give more details of each of these, the last two being designed for a car journey):

1) discovering the bastide itself, with the straight streets lined with medieval houses in stone and colombage. Some of the houses bear fascinating ancient carvings and engravings, and many of the houses in the central square (the Place Gambetta) still have the medieval arcades at ground floor level.

Other notable buildings in Eymet include the tower, gateway and ruins of the original castle, and a large 19th century church.

The Italian restaurant on the main square comes highly recommended if you are passing through Eymet at lunchtime, and there are also several other restaurants to choose from

2) the river frontage, and the pretty bridge across the river, with the shady banks of the Dropt being a perfect excuse to stop for a picnic. The route leads through several small villages and hamlets in the Eymet vicinity such as Fonroque and Cadelach.

Further afield there is a great deal to enjoy along the valley of the dropt to the east and west of the town - see Dropt Valley for details.

3) a third route will lead you through the vineyards to the north of Eymet via Ste-Innocence, Sadilac and St-Capraise-d'Eymet. Wine enthusiasts will also want to visit Duras, about 20 kilometres from Eymet.

English Eymet?

Eymet has a bit of a reputation for being once more home to the English - many English retirees and families have homes in and around the town - and it is true that you are very likely to hear English spoken throughout the town, which can seem a bit strange in the centre of a beautiful part of France. Don't let that put you off visiting, it's a lovely town and definitely recommended when you are in the region!

See Aquitaine and Dordogne (the region and department for Eymet) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Eymet

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Suggested places to visit near Eymet, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Duras 17km; Issigeac 18km; Bergerac 22km; Sainte-Foy-la-Grande 24km; Monsegur 25km; Eynesse 26km; Pellegrue 27km; Villereal 27km; Beaumont-du-Perigord 31km; Monflanquin 33km; Saint-Avit-Senieur 35km;

Eymet tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Parc et potager de Pouthet - remarkable garden (0km) : Jardins de Beauchamp - remarkable garden (26km) : Jardin du cloître Notre-Dame - remarkable garden (26km) : Jardins du Sardy - remarkable garden (31km) : Ets Latour-Marliac - remarkable garden (33km) : Eglise de Sainte Livrade (Sainte-Livrade-sur-Lot) - religious monument (33km) : Montcaret Archaeological site - national monument (34km) : Eglise Sainte-Croix (Beaumont-du-Perigord) - religious monument (35km) :

See more places and a map at places near Eymet