Panorama du Jardin Public de Nontron
Nontron sits on a dramatic promontory above the Bandiat gorge, and the town's public garden — perched right on the edge of the escarpment — delivers one of the finest free viewpoints in the northern Dordogne. On a clear morning the forested ridges roll away south in every shade of green, with the river glinting 80 metres below.
The garden itself
The Jardin Public is a formal French garden laid out with clipped box hedges, rose beds and a central fountain, open all day every day at no charge. It sits immediately behind the Château de Nontron, making it easy to combine both in a single stroll from the town centre.
Stone benches along the clifftop balustrade face directly south-west, making this an exceptional spot at golden hour when the Périgord Vert canopy turns amber and the church towers of distant villages catch the last light. Bring a bottle of local wine and a Nontron knife to slice a wedge of Cabécou — you will not regret it.
Château de Nontron backdrop
The château immediately adjacent dates from the 15th century (heavily restored in the 18th) and now houses the Musée des Poupées et Jouets Anciens — a surprisingly charming museum of antique dolls and toys that is particularly good if you are travelling with children. The pale limestone façade photographs beautifully against the green valley backdrop.
Together the garden, château and gorge view form a classic Périgord scene that feels entirely uncommercialized. You will rarely share it with more than a handful of locals walking their dogs.
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