Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin
Heading east from the city of Angoulême, the most westerly of the Périgord region’s beautiful valleys line up, with the parishes of Nontron, Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière and Thiviers dotted along the way, the last one of the gateways to the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin. La Flow Vélo® leads you through parts of this regional natural park, via meadows where wild orchids grow. From the traditional crafts of Nontron to the culinary tradition of making foie gras in Thiviers, not forgetting the glorious medieval village of Saint-Jean-de-Côle, our part of the Périgord Vert area shows you how traditions are still preserved and going strong in this unspoilt part of France.
Wild orchids in the Périgord’s valleys
From either Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière or Thiviers, explore the Circuit des Orchidées Sauvages. Between April and mid-June, over 22 species of flowers pop up on this publicly-owned land, including bee orchids, pyramid orchids and limodores.
All along the Yvette Mariaud Trail, maintained by staff from the Parc Naturel Régional, signs indicate areas where orchids grow. They extend across the municipalities of Milhac-de-Nontron, Saint-Front-la-Rivière, Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière and Champs-Romain.
A few kilometres north of La Flow Vélo®, do explore the well-maintained site of Le Saut du Chalard, in the parish of Champs-Romain. It has a pedestrian trail you can follow for some 90 minutes, taking you deep into the countryside through dense greenery, under steep cliffs, to the Saut du Chalard waterfall.
Craft traditions in Nontron
Located in the northwest corner of the Dordogne, Nontron is a stopover along La Flow Vélo® that focuses on craft. The town’s reputation is particularly linked to knife-making, introduced by a master-cutler in the 17th century.
The traditional Nontron knife is the result of centuries-old know-how, its making involving some 30 stages. The same craftsperson undertakes every stage, from beginning to end. And the factory, La Coutellerie Nontronnaise, offers tours to visitors on weekdays and summer Saturdays.
Proud of its provincial craft traditions, the town of Nontron has developed its Pôle Expérimental Métiers d’Art (PEMA) to host craft exhibitions throughout the year, on ceramics, tapestries, stained-glass, contemporary mosaics, wood-turning, leatherwork and more.
Saint-Jean-de-Côle medieval village
Located under a kilometre south of La Flow Vélo® cycle route (west of the town of Thiviers), the village of Saint-Jean-de-Côle is worth the detour!
A member of that select association, Les Plus Beaux Villages de France®, the village greets you with a medieval bridge defended by two protruding defences above the Côle River. Boasting houses with ochre-coloured walls and brown-tiled roofs, the village of Saint-Jean-de-Côle makes an enchanting stop in the heart of the Périgord Vert area.
The Château de la Marthonie, with its medieval forms, dominates the village square. Fans of architecture will enjoy the priory and Romano-Byzantine church.
Thiviers, capital of foie gras
On the most easterly stage of La Flow Vélo®, Thiviers is ideally located to explore the wider Périgord Vert area.
A gateway town to the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin, it’s renowned for its traditional farmers’ markets. According to the season, meetings and tastings with producers are organized in the tourist office shop.
The little town of Thiviers is also reputed for its ceramics tradition. The cornflower motif was the emblem of the Dubourdieu family pottery. However, the Thiviers workshop, created in 1755, closed its doors in 1929. The most beautiful historic pieces preserved are exhibited in the Salle des Faïences in the town hall.