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Nevers  Palais Ducal and Hôtel de Ville While at first glance Nevers lacks the charm of many of the wine towns and villages of Burgundy, it has several different aspects on offer by way of relief. Bombed by the British during the second World War, the town centre is rather a hotch-potch but there is a good shopping centre, scenic waterways and plenty of open countryside to attract. The history of the town, and in fact the whole of France can be traced through the pottery it is famous for, faïence. From Italian origins, this heavily patterned china depicts scenes from the ancien régime, to the Revolution in miniature on plates and ornaments. The Montagnon factory, Du Bout du Monde, founded in 1648, still carries on the traditions of generations. If you follow Le Fil Bleu, the blue line painted on the pavement from the Palais Ducal down Rue du 14 Juillet, it will lead you to the pottery quarter of town.  The famous faïence china Head for the Rue Francois Mitterand for stylish shops, the Place de l’Europe for café life and on to the loveliest church, St. Etienne. On a culinary note, if you like nougat, visit Edé, 75 Rue François Mitterand and for those with a very sweet tooth, Au Négus along the same street, has everything from marron glacé to praline, chocolate and caramel see Specialist Shops. Nevers is on the River Loire. Stroll along the Quai des Mariners, or take a trip on a futreau, a traditional flat-bottomed boat. The Canal du Nivernais, 175 km long, is thought to be the most unspoilt and beautiful of all the canals, passing through countryside dotted with vines, fruit trees and châteaux. At Nevers the stopping place is a cul de sac with pontoons, buzzing with life during the summer.  Notre Dame des Eaux Nevers is also a place of pilgrimage. Bernadette Soubirous, a simple country girl from Lourdes claimed that the Virgin appeared 18 times to her. Several miracles occurred as a result of this and Lourdes then became a famous place for pilgrims. Persuaded of her calling, she became a nun at St. Gildard, a convent of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers. She died there in 1879, was beatified and later canonised in 1933. Her body has lain at the Espace Bernadette Soubirous , 34 Rue St-Gildard since 1925 and every year half a million people stop at the shrine. Nevers is also on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela. Market Days Tues to Fri mornings and all day Sat at Marché Carnot Places to eat
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