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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Town Hall of Nevers, built in the first half of the 19th century, replaces the former castle of the Counts of Nevers, restored and fortified by Pierre de Courtenay in 1194. This feudal castle, whose remains were still in the form of gardens and ruins called the "Old Castle", was finally razed in 1827 to give way to the new town hall. The project was part of a desire for urban modernisation, including the drilling of Sabatier Street in 1802 to facilitate links between the institutions located on the hill and the suburbs.

Designed by the Niverese architect Paillard, the building was completed in 1834 and adopted an italian style with Louis-Philippe influences. Its symmetrical facade, made of cut stone, is distinguished by rectangular bays adorned with volutes on the first level and triangular pediments on the second. The ground floor, originally built between 1850 and 1853 to accommodate municipal services, underwent several extensions, notably in 1860-1862 with the addition of the mayor's office and the police office, and then a comprehensive renovation in 1899 by architect Brazeau.

Inside, the present Civic State Hall was once a sumptuous reception room, a witness to the past fascist of the place. The building, which has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1993 for its facades, roof and room, also houses a model of the medieval castle at the Ducal Palace. Its history thus reflects the urban and political transformations of Nevers, between feudal heritage and modern ambitions.

The original site, occupied by the Castle of Counts, played a strategic and symbolic role in the city. The destruction of the Magdalen gardens and the ruins of the "Vieux Château" in 1827 marked a break with the medieval past, while the municipal library, integrated into the original project, emphasized the desire to promote public education. The sober but elegant architecture of the city hall, with its massive base and discreet roof, illustrates this transition to a new urban identity.

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