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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Clock Tower, also known as the Tower of the Beffroi, is an emblematic monument of Nevers, built at the end of the 14th century at the initiative of Philippe de Bourgogne, Count of Nevers. Located on Rue des Boucheries (present-day Rue du Commerce), it served both as a shopping gallery on the ground floor, welcoming the powerful butchers' corporation, and as the seat of Comtal justice on the first floor, with the court of bailliage. This dual role reflected its economic and administrative importance to the city.

The construction, completed in 1398 under Philippe de Bourgogne (son of Philippe le Hardi), included a clock in the 15th century and a girouette added much later, in the 20th century. At the top, a watchman monitored the fires and looters, reinforcing his defensive utility. The statutes of the butchers' corporation, granted in 1400 by the Count, are among the oldest known to Nevers, illustrating the link between power and craft activities.

Ranked a historic monument in 1974 for its facades and roofs, the tower is now owned by the town of Nevers. Its architecture combines medieval heritage — with its commercial and judicial functions — and subsequent adaptations, as the clock became symbol of the city. The Mérimée base precisely locates it at 62 rue François Mitterrand, confirming its anchoring in the historical centre.

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