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Nevers, Central France
Nevers has spread out
and modernized significantly over
the centuries, but its old town is still a good place for an unhurried
walking
tour.
In particular, we
enjoyed the old perimeter
fortifications, the Cathédrale Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte
de Nevers, the Porte du Croux
fortress and other ancient structures. Among them
is the Palais Ducal, one of the oldest châteaux in Central
France, located close to the cathrédrale.
Of course, for many,
especially the Catholic faithful, a visit to the St. Gildard Convent to
pay homage to St.
Bernadette
is the main reason to visit Nevers (which also is a stop on one of the
pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela).
Although
the mercurial Loire is too unruly for the
large cruising barges,
smaller boats can usually navigate the river. It is, therefore,
possible to travel to Nevers by water if you are in a self-drive boat
with a sufficiently shallow draft.
The barges stick to
the Canal Latéral à la Loire, which is
not far from Nevers. At the point where the canal crosses the Allier
River, there is a spur which heads toward Apremont-sur-Allier,
ending within walking distance of that old village.
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Nevers
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The bridge across the Loire River at Nevers