Nontron
Subprefecture and commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nontron (French pronunciation: [nɔ̃tʁɔ̃] ⓘ; Occitan: Nontronh [nunˈtɾuɲ]) is a commune in the Dordogne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.
Nontron | |
|---|---|
Subprefecture and commune | |
The town hall in Nontron | |
![]() Location of Nontron | |
| Coordinates: 45°31′46″N 0°39′43″E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Nouvelle-Aquitaine |
| Department | Dordogne |
| Arrondissement | Nontron |
| Canton | Périgord Vert Nontronnais |
| Intercommunality | Périgord Nontronnais |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Nadine Herman-Bancaud[1] |
Area 1 | 24.67 km2 (9.53 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | 3,057 |
| • Density | 123.9/km2 (320.9/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 24311 /24300 |
| Elevation | 183–274 m (600–899 ft) (avg. 200 m or 660 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
History
The name Nontron probably derives from the Gallo-Roman personal name Nantironius.[3] Over time, the placename has been spelt Natadun, Nattun, Nantrun and Nontroun, before the current Nontron.[4]
The town was probably founded around 1100 BC and has been invaded or sacked several times, including by Saracens in the eighth century.[4] In the Hundred Years' War, Nontron was besieged several times, sitting on the border between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France.[4] In 1800, after the French Revolution, it became a subprefecture of the department of the Dordogne.[5]
The town's railway station served passengers between 1883 and 1940, continuing to handle freight until 1975.[6] The town is known for producing a type of folding knife, known as the Nontron knife.[7]
Population
Historical population | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: EHESS[8] and INSEE (1968-2023)[9] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
