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Origin and history

The abbey of Notre-Dame de Nevers, founded around 624-630 by Théodulphe Babolène, monk of the abbey of Saint-Martin-des-Fossés, was erected on the presumed site of the martyrdom of Saint-Réverian, beheaded in 274. Originally established outside the walls of Nevers according to the rule of Saint-Colomban, it was destroyed by the soldiers of Charles Martel and re-founded in 849 by Bishop Heriman under the Benedictine rule. A diploma from Charles le Chauve in 888 confirmed his possessions.

In the 12th century Bishop Fromund (1121-1145) restored the monastery and dedicated his church to Notre-Dame. In 1194, Peter II of Courtenay integrated the abbey into the urban enclosure, including the Faubourg Saint-Genest. The thirteenth, fifteenth and eighteenth centuries saw successive restoration campaigns. The abbey, often in conflict with the bishops of Nevers, was led notably by notable abbesses such as Catherine de Boutillat (XVth century) or Gabrielle Andrault de Maulévrier-Langeron (VIIth century), who hid arms during the Fronde.

Transformed into a prison during the Revolution, the abbey was sold as a national property. His remains, including the entrance gate, the vaulted passage and the capitular hall, were classified as historical monuments in 1944 and 1946. Today, it houses the Frédéric-Blandin Museum. Archaeological excavations (2003-2005) and work (2007-2012) have contributed to a better understanding of its history.

The partially preserved abbey church once housed the tomb of Bishop Heriman and a stone linked to the martyrdom of St. The chapel Saint-Michel (XII century) and the convent buildings (15th century) bear witness to its medieval architecture. The cloister, replaced by a garden, and the capitular room recall its monastic organization.

The abbey had outbuildings such as the Priory of Notre-Dame du Montet (1407-1780), a place of pilgrimage for the Nivernais. Its obituary (14th century) and its archives, preserved in the Tower of the Croux Gate, reveal its religious life and its links with the local nobility. The coat of arms of the abbey, described in the 18th century, reflect its past prestige.

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