Discover Nanthiat: Château, Calvaire and Circular Routes

Nanthiat combines historic buildings with different ways to shape a trip. The Château de Nanthiat has a monumental 16th-century entrance portal; the Calvaire-autel stands in the public square. There are also two distinctly different routes: the Boucle des Calvaires starts in Nanthiat, while a longer circular cycling route passes through the village. If you are looking for hotels in Nanthiat, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Historic buildings in Nanthiat

The Château de Nanthiat has a monumental 16th-century entrance portal. Its grooves were designed for a drawbridge. This specific architectural feature points both to the period when it was built and to a technical function. Anyone interested in historic architecture will find a clearly defined look at the design of the entrance here, rather than just a general description of the Château.

The Calvaire-autel in the public square offers a different architectural accent. A stone altar supports a cross with a crucifix and two seated figures. Behind it is a crenellated structure that apparently represents a medieval castle. The interpretation as a castle is therefore a cautious reading of its form. The altar, figures and crenellated background make it possible to understand the monument’s composition piece by piece.

The historic monument designations also refer to different structures and dates: the Calvaire-autel was classified as a historic monument by decree on 21 October 1926. The Château de Nanthiat was partially listed as a historic monument (monument historique) in 1946. To understand the status of the two sites, it is worth considering these details separately: one has a dated decree, while the other has a partial listing.

Hiking route and circular cycling route

The Boucle des Calvaires starts in Nanthiat and is 4.5 km long. Along the way, you can discover limestone villages and landscapes with viewpoints. Its stated length makes it the shorter of the two routes discussed here. It therefore offers a different scale for planning your day than the considerably longer circular cycling route.

The circular cycling route « Boucle vélo 51 km Thiviers - Nanthiat Négrondes » runs from Thiviers via Nanthiat and Corgnac-sur-l'Isle to Négrondes. It is 51 km long and has an elevation gain of 376 metres. The stated average duration is 3 hours and 45 minutes; the route is classified as difficult. Taken together, the distance, elevation gain, duration and difficulty give a specific picture of the cycling options, without equating this route with the shorter hiking route.

When choosing between the two routes, the main considerations are their different distances and activities: the 4.5 km Boucle des Calvaires contrasts with 51 km by bike. Their connections to the village also differ. The hiking route starts in Nanthiat; on the circular cycling route, Nanthiat lies along the described sequence from Thiviers via Corgnac-sur-l'Isle to Négrondes.

Discover more destinations: La Rochebeaucourt-et-Argentine, Condat-Sur-Trincou, Saint-Mesmin, Nabirat, Les Lèches, Coulaures, Saint-Vincent-De-Cosse, Salles-de-Belvès.

For the wider travel overview: Dordogne.