Nevers Ducal Palace

Nevers Ducal Palace, locally known as Palais des Ducs or Palais Ducal, lies in the center of the city of Nevers, in the Nièvre department in France.

The palace was built in the 15th century as a residence for John II, Count of Nevers. It was built on the hill that dominates the old town and where a previous castle stood. It is considered to be one of the first Châteaux of the Loire Valley. 

In the 16th century the position of Count of Nevers had passed to the House of Clèves. They, having styled themselves as Dukes, remodeled the palace, in particular adding the splendid central turret with its staircase.

In 1810 the heir of the last Duke of Nevers sold the palace to the local government. By 1850 the palace was used by the local justice court and its interior was completely redesigned. In the 1980s it was restored.

The palace has a rectangular plan with round 15th century towers at its posterior corners and octagonal turrets at its anterior corners. The grand central turret overlooks a tree-lined esplanade overlooking the banks of the Loire.

At present Nevers Ducal Palace is used for communal purposes; it serves as the mayor's office, reception rooms and a small museum, amongst other uses. A beautiful building in a nice old town.

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