Bergerac

Location: (1) Dordogne, N21 coming into Bergerac from the south, junction with D660 towards Cahors and Sarlat (2) Bergerac town centre, south west side of Vieux Pont (old bridge)

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Found two splendid roundabouts in Bergerac.

The first - at the junction between the N21 towards the town centre and the D660 for Sarlat - has almost too much going on: men turning a capstan, wine casks, waterfalls, lamp-posts, trees and an autumnal flowerbed with a small crab apple and rudbekias.

The second, on the south west side of the old bridge in the centre of Bergerac, is a fountain with leaping fish.

D2 out of Bordeaux

Location: Gironde, D2 heading north out of Bordeaux, junction with D211, crossroads to Macau (east) and Paloumey (west)


At the start of the D2 going north out of Bordeaux (which is the road that passes many of the great Bordeaux vineyards and chateaux) there is a wonderful roundabout where each "side" tells a story. The roundabout sits at the D2 junction with the D211 to Macau on the mouth of the Garonne.

We have the blue of the sea circled by a net. Then there is the red earth surrounded by vines. Spanning the two is a metalwork

"gateway", with fish and vine leaves. Although difficult to see because it is covered one side by a banner, I think there is also an artichoke in the centre of the "gates".

The whole is a grand entrance to the Médoc wine region.

D207 at Brach

Location: The Gironde: The D207 Carcan < > Castelnau-de-Médoc coming into the village of Brach

The small roundabout at the entrance to Brach on the D207 to Castelnau-de-Médoc in the Gironde is gently surreal. Is the skeleton hut meant to be leaning over? And what is the bicycle wheel attached to the rusty oil drum supposed to be?*

* Paul suggests that it might have been stuffed with burning straw or sawdust and used to keep frost or insects at bay in orchards

Tennis Club, Tonneins

Location: Tonneins, Lot & Garonne, tennis club, behind Leclerc, off N113

There is a tiny roundabout in front of the Tonneins tennis club, with an old-fashioned lamp post in the middle of delicate flowers and grasses.

The Dolls House Chateau

Location: Junction of D642 to Aguillon with the D813 Agen < > Tonneins, Lot & Garonne

This is not strictly a roundabout, but a magical traffic island with a dilapidated miniature chateau amid the flower-beds

Castelmoron Outskirts

Location: Lot & Garonne, D13 heading north out of Castelmoron-sur-Lot towards Miramont; junction with D225 towards St Étienne-de-Fougères and Casseneuil

This is another roundabout where the two sides are completely different. Coming out of Castelmoron and heading towards Miramont, you are faced with a waterfall.

Coming from Miramont towards Castelmoron, the view is of the emblem of Castelmoron etched on stone.

Miramont Ring Road

Location: Miramont-de-Guyenne, Lot & Garonne, on the ring road, turning for D933 towards Marmande and Mont de Marsan

D933 / D116 Outside Marmande

Location: Lot & Garonne, going south from Marmande, junction with the D933, a loop onto the N113 and the D116 towards Cocumont

This is a roundabout where each half of the circle is in stark contrast.

On one side we have grass and a small boat nestling in flower beds.

On the other side there is a steep slope of concrete and in the middle a bed of bright annuals. There's also a sign at the moment for a summer tomato festival. Marmande is famous for the quality of its tomatoes.

Peage Marmande Turn-off

Location: Turning from D933 south of Marmande, Lot & Garonne, onto the toll motorway A62/E72 (Bordeaux < > Toulouse, junction 5)

This roundabout reminds us of Marmandais vineyards in the locality. The metal writing says "Les Vignerons du Marmandais". The "g" is intriguing, because only the top half of the letter is evident, so it looks like an "a".

I think the pebbles are meant to represent the Garonne, with the vines growing on the valley sides.

The Pigeonnier

Location: South of Porte-Ste-Marie, Lot & Garonne, junction of D930 to Lavardac with D119 (to Le Passage and Agen) and D642 to Buzet.

This roundabout on the way to Buzet has a wonderful diversity of elements. Not content with just a pigeonnier (dovecote) above the flower-beds, we are also reminded of Buzet's viniculture with the casks, the vines and the old agricultural implements.

Fauillet Outskirts

Location: Lot & Garonne. D101 on edge of Fauillet village, leading to N113 (Marmande < > Tonneins). The route through the village leads to Gontaud-de-Norgaret.

D101 Fauillet / Varès

Location: Lot & Garonne. The D120 north out of Tonneins to Varès intersects with the D101 from Fauillet to Grateloup.



The "shed" in the middle of the roundabout is a miniture representation of a séchoir or tobacco drying barn. Tonneins used to be the heart of the tobacco industry in France. You can still see séchoirs throughout the area. The slats open and close to allow ventilation around the tobacco which hangs in great fronds from the ceiling.

Notice the beautiful topiary of the hedges.

Tonneins Leclerc

Location: Lot & Garonne. Tonneins outskirts, direction of Marmande. N113 turn-off for Leclerc

The roundabout to the turn-off for Leclerc in Tonneins has some splendid flower-beds. The first photo shows them in late spring, just planted and the next photos show them later in the summer.

The topiary is also interesting. The wavy lines are meant to represent the waves of the Garonne. And on one side there is a sleeping cat. Its outline has got somewhat fuzzy, but it is possible to see the back leg including curled tail.

Marmande Commercial Estate

Location: Lot & Garonne. Marmande outskirts, direction of Bordeaux, N113

Ste-Livrade Town Centre

Location: Lot & Garonne, Ste-Livrade-sur-Lot town centre, off D911 to Villeneuve