Dordonha, pôle patrimonial et culturel
Heritage center of Bergerac in the Petite Mission: Musée Costi, the architecture and heritage interpretation centre (CIAP) and a temporary exhibition.
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About the museum
Dordonha is Bergerac's new heritage and cultural hub. Its name means “Dordogne” in Occitan and recalls the link between the river and the town, which prospered through river trade.
The site occupies the Petite Mission, a dressed-stone building erected in the 1680s, formerly a religious school, enlarged in the 19th century and listed as a historic monument. The renovation opened large windows onto the former courtyard.
On the ground floor, the Musée Costi, opened in 2003, displays about sixty bronzes by the Greek-born sculptor Constantin Papachristopoulos, known as Costi, under the vaults of a former cellar. On the second floor, the architecture and heritage interpretation centre (CIAP), opened in 2023, occupies 300 m²: a model, films and multimedia displays tell the story of Bergerac's founding, its port, bridges, river transport, vineyards and the town's development. Bergerac has held the Ville d'art et d'histoire label since 2014. A temporary exhibition changes several times a year.
Highlights
- Musée Costi: about sixty bronzes by the sculptor Costi
- 300 m² CIAP on the history and heritage of Bergerac
- Model, films and touchscreens about the Dordogne River
- Petite Mission building from the 1680s, renovated
- Free admission and an easy-to-read visitor guide
Permanent exhibitions
- CIAP – Centre d'interprétation de l'architecture et du patrimoine – Permanent exhibition of 300 m² on the second floor covering the history, the Dordogne River, the materials and architecture of Bergerac, with a model, films and touchscreens.
- Musée Costi – About 60 bronze sculptures by Costi, a sculptor of Greek origin, displayed on the ground floor in a vaulted former cellar.
- Founded
- 2023
- Operated by
- Ville de Bergerac
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free, including for the temporary exhibition. A free ticket is collected at reception.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
A lift near the reception serves the floors; toilets are available on each floor. An easy-to-read and easy-to-understand visitor guide (FALC) is offered free of charge. Disabled parking spaces on Rue Saint-James, next to the Saint-Jacques church, and in the car park at the foot of Rue Fonbalquine.
Kids & families
The CIAP is for young and old alike; educational activities outside school hours are also offered.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Quai Salvette (navette Cœur de Ville) · 2-min walk
Free “Cœur de Ville” shuttle (19 stops in the town center).
By car
Free parking
Free car parks: Foirail (7 minutes on foot) and Parking des Illustres (6 minutes on foot).
- Accessible parking
Dordonha is located in the town center, on rue de la Mission.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Café des Musées on the ground floor with a terrace (open in summer), shop at reception.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Photography | Photography without flash is permitted. |
| Good to know | Inside the galleries, touching the works, eating or drinking, entering with an animal or a large backpack, smoking and using e-cigarettes are prohibited. Educational programs are offered during and outside school time. |
