To the east is Nevers, the Roman and medieval capital, languishing on the banks of the Loire, and to the west, the magnificent Morvan regional nature park. This territory with its picturesque towns and villages (La Charité-sur-Loire, Puisaye, Corbigny, Decize...) is watered by numerous rivers, including the Nièvre, the Loire, the lateral canal to the Loire and the canal of the Nivernais, which give it a very particular charm. You can walk along the banks, picnic by the water, fish, meditate while watching the boats go by and even sail to discover the villages and vineyards along the water.
Stroll through Nevers, ancient city of the Dukes, and La Charité-sur-Loire, a city of words and medieval town with a rich heritage, cross the road to Santiago de Compostela, visit the castle of Bazoche and remarkable religious buildings. The shrine of Bernadette Soubirous, in Nevers, is one of the most visited sites in the Nièvre. In terms of nature, go west to discover the ponds of Vaux and Baye, hike in the Morvan landscapes and discover one of its jewels, the lake of Settons, famous for sailing and the famous jump of Gouloux, from where the waterfall of Caillot leaps, source of legends. To reconnect with history, visit the Bibracte archaeological site and the Celtic Civilization Museum. Gourmet ? On the markets of the Nivernais, local producers offer Charolais meat, cheeses and wines, including Pouilly-Fumé. And trust the Toques nivernaises, who identify the best local chefs, to treat you.
When to go to the Nièvre ? All year round, knowing that the high tourist season takes place in summer with festive, cultural and gustatory events. At the end of the year, beautiful Christmas markets animate some of the town centers, including those of Nevers, La Charité-sur-Loire or Decize. The one in Lormes en Morvan is magical. If you want to discover the Nièvre by water, you can do it in spring, summer or autumn, each season having its own charm, by sailing on a rented boat or by taking a cruise on the lateral canal of the Loire which crosses Nevers or the beautiful canal of the Nivernais (from Châtillon-en-Bazois, for example).
Motor sports enthusiasts will be interested in the car races on the Magny-Cours circuit. In the cultural register, another event attracts many spectators: the Zaccros d'ma rue festival in Nevers, a street arts festival, in early July. As for discovering La Charité-sur-Loire, the best thing to do is to schedule your visit during one of the events organized around the book, in April, October or August or, for swing lovers, during the Blues en Loire festival (August). We can also mention the Estivales en Puisaye-Forterre (classical music) during the second half of August, the festival of French song in Lormes (July), the accordion festival in Luzy (August) or the D'Jazz festival in Nevers (November).
The department of Nièvre is not homogeneous as for the climate. There are three different climatic zones. The Nivernais region and the Sologne Bourbonnaise have a degraded oceanic climate, with dry summers and high thermal amplitude. In the east, at the border of the Morvan, it is a climate of mountain margins, then in altitude a mountain climate: cold winter, cool and wet summer. Finally, in the plain, south of the Morvan, we find an altered oceanic climate (moderate rainfall).
