Château Le Sallay

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3D Tour

There are at least two noteworthy architectural sites here: the ducal palace and the Gothic cathedral. Lovers of Romanesque architecture will appreciate the well-preserved church of Saint Etienne from the 9th century. There is also a museum of local earthenware (faience) and a number of important Catholic shrines, including the relics of St. Bernadette Soubirous.

Overall, Nevers is a classic provincial French city, a very pleasant place to spend a day.

This rare architectural structure is a navigable aqueduct: a bridge over which a canal intended for ships passes over the river Allier.

This charming medieval hamlet is on the list of “The Most Beautiful Villages of France”. It houses a unique castle with a museum of old bicycles and carriages, a park and a botanical garden which will make an indelible impression.

Bourges is one of the oldest cities in France. In the Gallic Wars, when it was known as Avaricum, it was besieged in a crucial confrontation between Julius Caesar and Vercingetorix. Its magnificent Gothic cathedral is listed as a UNESCO heritage site. Its 12^th century stained-glass windows are among the best-preserved and best-known in the world.

You can also see the Palace of Jacques Cœur (15^th century), France’s richest merchant until his wealth was seized by the king, and several other architectural monuments in his birthplace, Bourges.

Moulins is the former capital of the Bourbon dukes, which houses the famous Moulins Cathedral (15^th century), numerous half-timbered houses of the 15^th and 16^th centuries and many other architectural sites.

Especially noticeable is the famous triptych “The Virgin in Glory” by a 15^th century painter known as the Master of Moulins. Another interesting sight is the Maison Mantin. The owner, Louis Mantin, bequeathed his mansion to the city as a museum on the condition that, for a hundred years after his death, the house would stay closed. His wish was respected, and only recently visitors to the city have finally gained access to this window into the life of the French bourgeoisie in the late 19^th and early 20^th century.

In the former mining town of Le Maсhine, there are no architectural treasures above ground, but its abandoned mines now host guided tours for adults and children, which invariably collect rave reviews.

Also an hour away (a little after the city of Machine), there is the Morvan national park. In addition to its natural beauty and rare animals, it also offers canoeing and several historical sights. In antiquity, one of the largest Gallic fortifications was built in Morvan – the fortified city (oppidum) of Bibracte. Archaeological excavations on its territory continue to this day, and tourists can visit the site. Morvan is also the region where the Romans founded the city of Avgustodunum, now known as Autun.

The nearest cluster of wineries is in the area around Sancerre where the famous wine is made. You will find many different wineries side by side here, which guarantee a great time.