Bed and breakfast accommodation in Nevers Monasteries

In the past the city was ruled by the Counts and Dukes of Nevers, whose opulent Renaissance house is now the Town Hall.

On the high ground where Nevers’ political and religious institutions are set is the Ducal Palace, the symbol of power for the old Counts and Dukes of Nevers. The architecture is fascinating; it’s a blend of Renaissance designs from the 16th and 17th centuries, with dormer windows, decorative chimneys and a central spiral staircase. The palace is now the town hall, but is also now Nevers’ tourist office with an exhibition about the city’s past.

If you know about decorative art you may already know about Nevers faience, fine earthenware crafted by master potters in an industry that employed thousands of people in the 17th and 18th centuries. The museum is Heaven for people with an eye for fine decorative items, this museum in a Benedictine abbey has hundreds of pieces of local faience. You can also call in at three workshops to see a master potter at work. 

This city of historic and artistic interest also offers much for nature lovers, hot air balloonists and racing car enthusiasts with the Magny-Cours Circuit. 

How to get around ? 

Nevers is located on slight hilly terrain on the northern bank of the Loire River. The town centered around Place Carnot is quite walkable.

By train from Paris Gare du Lyon or from Paris-Bercy. The service from Gare du Lyon is a direct non-stop train and the journey takes almost 2 h.

Nevers railway station station is located on Rue Saint-Charleville, from where there are local train services to Vauzelles, Les Perrièrs and Le Banlay just adjacent to the train station is the bus station.

Nevers is a town located in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in central France.

Nevers developed during Gallo-Roman times on a hill overlooking the river Loire. In the 5th century it became an important monastic centre.

The city is most famous for Bernadette Soubirous who at the age of 14 years old had the Virgin Mary appear to her. A series of 18 apparitions changed her life forever and made her the bearer of the message of Lourdes. 

Bernadette Soubirous joined the Mother House in Nevers also known as Saint Gildart in 1866 and never left. She died on the 8th December 1933 and was canonised and then declared a saint.

The international pilgrimage of Saint Bernadette maintains Nevers' religious tradition as a shrine. The body of Bernadette Soubirous rests in Saint-Gildard's convent chapel.

The cathedral of Saint Cyr Sainte Juliette located right by the dominique square, the monument is an unusual combination of two buildings in different styles : one is Romanesque (11th century), the other Gothic (14th century). It also possesses two apses which is rather rare.

In the 1960s, the Bishop's wish to create a place of worship in the northern suburb of Nevers resulted in the construction of the Church of Sainte Bernadette of BanlayIt was listed as an Historical Monument in 2000. Although the harshness of the building's exterior is surprising, the interior is very soft owing to the predominance of curves and light streaming down from the arched roof.

There are many important churches and chapels to visit in the city, and there is also a tour circuit, this is free for everyone by following the blue lines to discover the rich heritage. There are two loops tours for different districts.