A festival of knives may seem like an unattractive prospect at first but visitors to the Dordogne in August should take note of an event celebrating the simple yet essential item of cutlery.

Unless you’re on a French holiday in the area on either the 7th or 8th of August, you’ll be unlikely to see an event similar to the small festival held in Nontron for the past 15 years anywhere else.

Each year over a hundred expert cutlers – the craftsmen who make the finest blades for use in the kitchen – along with thousands of visitors flock to the city square. The festival boasts exhibitions from chefs and craftsmen on the best use and best types of knife for preparing the culinary treats the region is famed for, as well as stalls selling some of the cuisine itself.

Speaking to Sud Ouest, the Mayor of Nontron Pierre Giry says that the festival was launched during the election programme of 1995. “At the time, Gerald Chaperon [former mayor] owned the knife shop and planned to step down from office,” says Mayor Giry, “We decided that if were elected, we would do something about the knife.” He says that the plan worked better than he expected.

The city now boasts two specialist cutlers, as well as a small museum dedicated to the art. The festival will take place between 10am and 8pm on Saturday and on Sunday, between 10am and 7pm. Entrance is free for children under 16 years but adults will have to pay an admission fee of 5 euros for one day or 7 euros for a weekend pass.

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