Nemours

Nemours is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.

Geography

Nemours is located on the Loing and its canal, c. south of Melun, on the Moret–Lyon railway. Nemours – Saint-Pierre station has rail connections to Montargis, Melun, Nevers and Paris.

Nemours is supposed to derive its name from the woods in the midst of which it formerly stood, and discoveries of Gallo-Roman remains indicate its early origin. It was captured by the English in 1420, but derives its historical importance rather from the lordship of Nemours, and the fief lords the Duke of Nemours to which it gave its name. In 1585 a treaty revoking previous concessions to the Protestants was concluded at Nemours between Catherine de' Medici and the Guises.
The Hôtel de Ville was commissioned as a convent in 1669.

Inhabitants are called Nemouriens.

The church, which dates mainly from the sixteenth century, has a handsome wooden spire. The feudal castle, erected around 1120 was turned into a museum in the 20th century. It has a central keep with four rounded towers.
A statue of the mathematician Bézout, a native of the town, was erected in 1885.
In the vicinity is a group of fine sandstone rocks, and sand is extensively quarried.
The city also hosts the Musée de Préhistoire d'Île-de-France, museum dedicated to prehistory in Île-de-France region.
Close to the city, at Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, is located the forest Massif forestier des Rochers-Gréau.