Nevers

Nevers (/nəˈvɛər/ nə-VAIR, French: [nəvɛʁ] ; Latin: Noviodunum, later Nevirnum and Nebirnum) is a town in the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in central France. It was the principal city of the former province of Nivernais. It is 260 km (160 mi) south-southeast of Paris.

Nevers
Panoramic view of Nevers, France
Panoramic view of Nevers, France
Coat of arms of Nevers
Location of Nevers
Nevers is located in France
Nevers
Nevers
Nevers is located in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Nevers
Nevers
Coordinates: 46°59′36″N 3°09′26″E
CountryFrance
RegionBourgogne-Franche-Comté
DepartmentNièvre
ArrondissementNevers
CantonNevers-1, 2, 3 and 4
IntercommunalityCA Nevers
Government
  Mayor (20202026) Denis Thuriot[1]
Area
1
17.33 km2 (6.69 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2020)[2]
32,284
  Density1,900/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Neversois (masculine)
Neversoise (feminine)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
58194 /58000
Elevation167–238 m (548–781 ft)
(avg. 180 m or 590 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

Nevers first enters written history as Noviodunum, a town held by the Aedui at Roman contact. The quantities of medals and other Roman antiquities found on the site indicate the importance of the place,[3] and in 52 BCE, Julius Caesar made Noviodunum, which he describes as in a convenient position on the banks of the Loire, a depot (B. G. vii. 55). There, he had his hostages, corn and military chest, with the money in it allowed him from home for the war, his own and his army's baggage and a great number of horses which had been bought for him in Spain and Italy.

After his failure before Gergovia, the Aedui at Noviodunum massacred those who were there to look after stores, the negotiators and the travellers who were in the place. They divided the money and the horses among themselves, carried off in boats all the corn that they could and burned the rest or threw it into the river.

Thinking they could not hold the town, they burned it. That was a great loss to Caesar, and it may seem that he was imprudent in leaving such great stores in the power of treacherous allies. However, he was in straits that year, and probably he could not have done other than he did.

Dio Cassius (xl. 38) tells the story of Caesar out of the affair of Noviodunum. He states incorrectly what Caesar did on the occasion, and he shows that he neither understood his original nor knew what he was writing about.

The city was later called Nevirnum, as the name appears in the Antonine Itinerary. In the Tabula Peutingeriana, it is corrupted into Ebrinum. In still other sources the name appears as Nebirnum or Nivernum.

It became the seat of a bishopric at the end of the 5th century. The county dates at least from the beginning of the 10th century. The citizens of Nevers obtained charters in 1194 and 1231. For a short time in the 14th century the town was the seat of a university, transferred from Orléans, to which it was restored.[3]

In 1565, the town became the seat of a branch of the Gonzaga family, who in 1627 succeeded to the Duchy of Mantua. This line of the Gonzaga Dukes of Nevers itself died out in 1708.

Geography

Nevers is situated on the slope of a hill on the right bank of the river Loire.[3]

Climate

Nevers has an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) in spite of being far inland. In spite of moderate averages, temperatures are highly variable depending on weather patterns, with a temperature amplitude of 64.4 °C (115.9 °F) for its records since 1946.[4] While summer nights frequently fall into the single digits, every month between April and October has reached 30 °C (86 °F) during the afternoon at some point.[4]

Climate data for Nevers (1991–2020 averages), extremes since 1946
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.2
(63.0)
23.5
(74.3)
26.7
(80.1)
30.0
(86.0)
31.6
(88.9)
39.0
(102.2)
39.4
(102.9)
39.2
(102.6)
35.1
(95.2)
30.2
(86.4)
23.5
(74.3)
19.5
(67.1)
39.2
(102.6)
Average high °C (°F) 7.3
(45.1)
8.8
(47.8)
13.2
(55.8)
16.4
(61.5)
20.1
(68.2)
23.8
(74.8)
26.0
(78.8)
26.1
(79.0)
21.9
(71.4)
17.1
(62.8)
11.1
(52.0)
7.8
(46.0)
16.6
(61.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.9
(39.0)
4.5
(40.1)
7.6
(45.7)
10.3
(50.5)
14.0
(57.2)
17.6
(63.7)
19.6
(67.3)
19.4
(66.9)
15.5
(59.9)
12.1
(53.8)
7.3
(45.1)
4.5
(40.1)
11.4
(52.4)
Average low °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1)
0.2
(32.4)
2.0
(35.6)
4.2
(39.6)
8.0
(46.4)
11.4
(52.5)
13.1
(55.6)
12.7
(54.9)
9.1
(48.4)
7.1
(44.8)
3.4
(38.1)
1.2
(34.2)
6.1
(43.0)
Record low °C (°F) −25.0
(−13.0)
−21.8
(−7.2)
−13.8
(7.2)
−7.5
(18.5)
−4.8
(23.4)
0.2
(32.4)
3.4
(38.1)
0.3
(32.5)
−1.2
(29.8)
−8.9
(16.0)
−12.3
(9.9)
−16.8
(1.8)
−21.8
(−7.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 63.0
(2.48)
55.2
(2.17)
52.6
(2.07)
68.8
(2.71)
73.2
(2.88)
61.8
(2.43)
58.1
(2.29)
61.7
(2.43)
63.5
(2.50)
74.4
(2.93)
75.4
(2.97)
75.8
(2.98)
783.5
(30.84)
Average precipitation days 12.2 10.1 9.8 10.5 10.7 8.9 8.8 8.1 8.2 10.9 11.9 12.2 122.3
Average relative humidity (%) 87 82 78 74 77 76 74 77 80 85 87 87 80.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 63 91 154 181 205 226 245 236 189 123 72 59 1,844
Source 1: Météo France[4]
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, 1961–1990)[5]

Main sights

The Ducal Palace of Nevers, in France
The incorrupt body of Saint Bernadette, seer of Our Lady of Lourdes apparitions

Narrow winding streets lead from the quay through the town where there are numerous old houses dating from the 14th to the 17th century.[3]

Among the ecclesiastical buildings the most important is the Cathédrale of Saint Cyr-Sainte Julitte, dedicated to Saint Quiricus and Saint Julietta, which is a combination of two buildings, and possesses two apses. The apse and transept at the west end are the remains of a Romanesque church, while the nave and eastern apse are in the Gothic style and belong to the 14th century. There is no transept at the eastern end. The lateral portal on the south side belongs to the late 15th century; the massive and elaborately decorated tower which rises beside it dates to the early 16th century.[3]

The church of Saint Étienne is a specimen of the Romanesque style of Auvergne of which the disposition of the apse with its three radiating chapels is characteristic. It was consecrated at the close of the 9th century, and belonged to a priory affiliated to Cluny.[3]

The Ducal Palace (now occupied by the courts of justice and an important ceramic museum) was built in the 15th and 16th centuries and is one of the principal feudal edifices in central France. The façade is flanked at each end by a turret and a round tower. A middle tower containing the great staircase has its windows adorned by sculptures relating to the history of the House of La Marck by the members of which the greater part of the palace was built.[3]

Behind the palace lies an open space with a fine view over the Loire Valley. The Porte du Croux, a square tower, with corner turrets, dating from the end of the 14th century, is among the remnants of the old fortifications; it now contains a collection of sculptures and Roman antiquities.[3]

A triumphal arch from the 18th century, commemorating the victory of Fontenoy and the hôtel de ville, a 19th century building which contains the library, are of some interest.[6] The Loire is crossed by a modern stone bridge, and by an iron railway bridge.[3]

At the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the mother house of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers, it is possible to view the incorrupt body of Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the famous seer of Our Lady of Lourdes apparitions, which are presented in a gold and crystal reliquary.

Economy

Nevers is the seat of a bishopric, of tribunals of first instance and of commerce and of a cour d'assises and has a chamber of commerce and a branch of the Bank of France. Its educational institutions include several lycées, a training college for female teachers, ecclesiastical seminaries, a school of art (Esaab)[7] and an automotive and transports engineering school (Institut supérieur de l'automobile et des transports) being part of the University of Burgundy. The town manufactures porcelain, agricultural implements, chemical manures, glue, boilers and iron goods, boots and shoes and fur garments, and has distilleries, tanneries and dye works. Its trade is in iron and steel, wood, wine, grain, livestock, etc. hydraulic lime, kaolin and clay for the manufacture of faience are worked in the vicinity.[3]

Transport

Nevers railway station offers connections to Paris, Dijon, Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and several regional destinations. The A77 motorway connects Nevers with Paris.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 11,846    
1800 11,200−0.80%
1806 12,077+1.26%
1821 12,280+0.11%
1831 15,085+2.08%
1836 16,967+2.38%
1841 15,007−2.43%
1846 16,721+2.19%
1851 17,045+0.38%
1856 18,182+1.30%
1861 18,971+0.85%
1866 20,700+1.76%
1872 22,276+1.23%
1876 22,704+0.48%
1881 23,846+0.99%
1886 25,006+0.95%
1891 26,436+1.12%
1896 27,108+0.50%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 27,673+0.41%
1906 27,030−0.47%
1911 27,706+0.50%
1921 29,754+0.72%
1926 29,306−0.30%
1931 31,879+1.70%
1936 33,699+1.12%
1946 34,036+0.10%
1954 35,183+0.42%
1962 39,085+1.32%
1968 42,422+1.37%
1975 45,480+1.00%
1982 43,013−0.79%
1990 41,968−0.31%
1999 40,932−0.28%
2007 38,007−0.92%
2012 35,327−1.45%
2017 32,990−1.36%
Source: EHESS[8] and INSEE (1968–2017)[9]

Notable people

Culture

Nevers has been known for several centuries for its Nevers faience.

The Formula One circuit of Magny-Cours is located near Nevers, as well as the museum Conservatoire de la monoplace française.

The anonymous French woman (played by Emmanuelle Riva) who is the main character in the film Hiroshima mon amour by Alain Resnais is from Nevers, and the film features many flashbacks to her youth there during World War II. In the final scene of the film, her Japanese lover tells her "You are Nevers". There is a lot of play on the English translation of the town's name throughout the film, with dialogue such as "Nevers ? Jamais !" ("Nevers? Never!")

Most of the scenes in the film Rosalie Blum were filmed in Nevers between March and April 2015, with the exception of the end scenes, which were filmed at Leffrinckoucke in the Nord.

Nevers is also the setting of most of the second half of Éric Rohmer's 1992 film, Conte d'Hiver.

International relations

Nevers is twinned with:[10]

See also

References

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Noviodunum". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
  1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. "Populations légales 2020". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2022.
  3. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Nevers". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 456–457.
  4. "Données climatiques de la station de Nevers" (PDF) (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  5. "Normes et records 1961-1990: Nevers-Marzy (58) - altitude 175m" (in French). Infoclimat. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  6. Base Mérimée: Hôtel de ville, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  7. "Ésaab | nevers.fr". www.nevers.fr (in French). Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  8. Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Nevers, EHESS (in French).
  9. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  10. "Les villes jumelées". nevers.fr (in French). Nevers. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
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