Nontron

Located within the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin, the town of Nontron has charm. A stopover town for cyclists tackling La Flow Vélo, Nontron boasts a long past, particularly in craft and industrial history. Dismount to enjoy discovering plenty of surprises in the little capital of the Périgord Vert area.

Discover Nontron’s craft traditions 

The town of Nontron’s dynamism and prosperity derive from its craft and industrial traditions.

Down the centuries, many factories were set up in Nontron, including mills, tanneries and felt-making plants, the last to help in the making of paper, a speciality in the wider Angoulême region. The cast-offs from felt-making were reused to improve the comfort of workers’ shoes (the area becoming known as capital of felt-making in the 19th century). Many across the wider area became involved in the making of a beloved kind of robust slipper (or pantoufle) nicknamed the Charentaise! Industrial traditions have continued in Nontron. Today, luxury items are also made here, notably for the famed Hermès brand.

Wandering around Nontron, look out for the many craft artists with studios in town. As to the PEMA (or Pôle Expérimental des Métiers d'Art), it was set up to support and promote local arts and crafts, encouraging visitors to discover traditional skills, putting on exhibitions. Normally located in Nontron Castle, at time of writing the PEMA has moved temporarily, as the château is being renovated. Go and admire some of the local creations in Nontron’s Boutique des Métiers d’Art, a dedicated shop. Fashion accessories, jewellery, gifts, tableware, decorative objects and objets d’art all feature, and could make a memorable memento of your great cycling trip.

If visiting Nontron late in the season, note that the town organizes an annual craft fair, Rue des Métiers d'Art, every October, a rendez-vous really worth making it to if you love craft. 

Visit the Coutellerie Nontronnaise and its traditional knife-making workshop

The main craft that made Nontron’s reputation is knife-making. The town is the birthplace of the oldest-known folding knife in France, dating back to the 15th century. The tradition is kept alive by the Coutellerie Nontronnaise, the only company still making local traditional knives today. A veritable symbol of the town, Nontron honours its knife-making and celebrates the many facets of the craft during an annual summer festival that takes place early August. Knife-makers, further craftspeople and designers, as well as specialist knife-sellers from across the globe meet here to spread the word. La Fête du Couteau attracts many dedicated knife-makers and puts young designers to the fore. Coming to Nontron at any time, you can discover much more about this craft. 

If you can spare the time before rejoining La Flow Vélo cycle route, you can visit the Coutellerie Nontronnaise workshop every week day during working hours (but closed for lunch)… and it’s free. 

Coutellerie de Nontron – Visiting the shop at the Coutellerie de Nontron, also learn about all the stages in the making of Nontron knives, from sawing and forging to assembling the knives. 

Nontron, a history and art walking tour

Built in the 18th century, Nontron’s château went up on the site of an earlier fortress. Nowadays, the place is home to the PEMA (Pôle Expérimental des Métiers d'Art), which of course gives pride of place to a fine collection of historic knives! At time of writing, the castle is being renovated to provide new exhibition spaces and educational workshops. 

Leaving the château, head for the Jardin des Arts. This public garden, a place for a peaceful walk or to sit down and relax, offers views over the Bandiat Valley. It was created in 1998, its plantings representing flora from the five continents. Enjoy a mini exotic trip of your own here, looking out for cedars of Lebanon, Chinese poppies, Japanese maples and Central American tomatoes! Also appreciate the art on show, with contemporary works scattered around the garden, including fountains, sculptures and outdoor furniture.

Before getting back on your bike, stop at the Eglise Notre-Dame des Ronces. A church built in the late-19th-century, it contains a Black Virgin or Madonna. The story goes that this statue was discovered by children among brambles (ronces in French), hence the edifice’s name. The organ, put in in 1875, is majestic and was renovated in 2006.

The Château de Nontron was listed on the French register of historic monuments in 1984 and has since been owned by the town of Nontron.