Does your family want to go on holiday to Nevers but you're not happy with the idea? It's because you don't know all the most beautiful faces and secrets of this historic city, where art and history intertwine to create a fabulous detour in the heart of the Nièvre. Pack your bags and let's go!
Right on the banks of the Loire, Nevers is a real gem. In the south of Burgundy, this former ducal city, which has been labelled "Ville et Pays d'Art et d'Histoire" since 1989, amazes visitors with the richness and diversity of its heritage. Here, it is the old stones that tell the visitor the history of Nevers, like those that adorn the Ducal Palace. The first castle of the Loire, built during the 15th century, is the current witness of this prestigious past that Nevers can boast. Former residence of the Dukes of Nevers, it now houses exhibition halls, the Tourist Office and an amazing aquarium; with its round medieval towers and its elegant facade, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in Nevers, without a doubt. The list of must-sees for anyone visiting Nevers includes the church of Saint-Etienne, the magnificent chapel of Sainte-Marie, the astonishing church of Sainte-Bernadette-du-Banlay, the Goguin tower, the Porte du Croux, which marks the entrance to the town, and the cathedral of Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Juilette. Located on the rue du Cloître Saint-Cyr, it fascinates with its two opposing choirs, one Romanesque and the other Gothic, witnessing the juxtaposition of two works that have now been brought together. Located on the historic hillock of Nevers, facing the meandering Loire River, it fascinates by its architecture, but also by the magnificence of its contemporary stained glass windows which bring a very special light to the building. Also, in order not to miss anything of Nevers and its nature, take the time to walk on the quay of Médine, on the quay of the Mariners, on the way of the Green-Worm, to follow the route of the "Fil Bleu" or to walk on the side of the protected space of the island to the terns between the Bridge of railroad and the Bridge of Loire.
And how can you visit Nevers without mentioning its gold, its blue gold, which has amazed people for centuries now? Earthenware is indeed THE symbol of the city of Nevers; developed since the end of the 16th century, earthenware and more particularly the "bleu de Nevers" tint will make the city a key stage for any art lover. Nowadays, you can discover traditional and contemporary workshops that perpetuate the art of earthenware "made-in Nevers", works that you can also discover during a visit to the Museum of Earthenware and Fine Arts Frederic-Blandin. Finally, how can you visit Nevers without mentioning its gastronomy? As greedy as you could wish for, it owes its strategic location between the Loire and the Nièvre to Nevers' strong focus on river fish. On the menu? Carp, Loire salmon, fried fish, pike-perch, fish to which are added dishes based on Charolais meat, generous dishes such as beef bourguignon and Burgundian stew, washed down with Pouilly wine, Coteaux du Giennois, and sweet delicacies such as nougatine and Negus... We're crazy about it! Our advice to finish: if Nevers can be visited on foot, you can also opt for excursions by bike, or by boat, for a bucolic stroll on the royal river!
