Mussidan, Dordogne - travel guide

Hotels

Visit Mussidan

Mussidan is one of the larger towns in the area north of Bergerac and West of Perigueux but it has the air of a town crying out for some money to be spent on it. Its main street is frankly rather drab and a bit dilapidated and the main square, the Place Victor Hugo could be very nice - it is surrounded by pleasant buildings but there are no bars, cafes, restaurants et and so really it is just used as a big car park.

There are however nice bits of Mussidan. Walk up a little street on the side of the square to the lovely little church which is raised slightly above the square, behind the church are good views of the river. Mussidan sits on the River Isle and so you can go canoeing etc. from here.

In the centre of town is a small river. Look over the bridge near the tourist office and you can see a nice pigeonnier and a water wheel on the side of the river, plus some picnic benches if you are looking for a picnic spot.

Also near the tourist office is a very attractive looking ecole de musique with a little garden outside it.

Mussidan has a modern and not especially attractive Halle but it has a very good market. It is known locally as a good one with a high proportion of stalls selling locally grown produce. Saturday is market day in Mussidan and is the best day to visit.

Things to do in Mussidan

Mussidan has an arts and crafts museum the Musée Andre Voulgre. The museum is open from the 1st April to 31 May, Saturdays and Sundays from 14h00 to 18h00 and from the 15 June to 15 September, every day 9h30-12h00 and 14h00-18h00. The museum shows the evolution of daily life in the Perigord and how it changed as time passed. The museum is housed in an attractive 18th century building.

There is also a ceramic workshop in Mussidan where you can have a guided visit. This is open all year round Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and one in two Saturdays and Tuesdays. The visit takes about 1 hour and is free of charge.