Eymet... the French bastide 'So British'!
Some history first...
“Bastides” were “new fortified towns” built during the Middle Ages, established by the kings of France and England, between 1150 and 1350 in the South-West of France. Bastides all have in common their checkerboard layout where streets, alleyways and even passageways are arranged around a central square. They were designed to group populations from the surrounding countryside together for economic, defensive and political reasons.
The Eymet bastide was created on 28 June 1270 by Alphonse, Count of Poitiers, Count of Toulouse and Louis IX’s brother. It was one of the few bastides to have a fortified castle and, today, the walls and a splendid dungeon still stand erect.
Free, go-as-you-please visit of the outside only using a mini discovery guide which you can pick up from the Tourist Office.
The essentials
Heritage tour
Discover the bastide
and its close surroundings
the Place of the bastide
The lively and commercial centre
of the city
the castle
A special architectural feature
of this bastide
the Dropt
And in the middle flows a river....
the lake of Escourou
The exceptional nature site
a lively village
Activities all year round
Welcome in Dordogneshire !
Eymet, the most English
of French bastides
Félibrée
The 101st edition of the festival takes place in the bastide