Decize

Decize (58300) is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.

Site

The town is situated on a former island in the Loire ("en Loire assise") at the confluence of the Aron river. The right channel of the Loire was dammed up to reclaim land and now remains as an arm ("la Vieille Loire") stretching upstream to the centre of town. The Loire at this point is an important navigation point as it forms the junction between the Canal du Nivernais and the Canal Latéral à la Loire both of which are within the town boundaries.

History

Decize is an ancient settlement first noted in the Commentarii de Bello Gallico where Julius Caesar settled a dispute involving the Decetiae from whom comes the town's name. In later times it belonged to the counts of Nevers, from whom it obtained a charter of franchise in 1226.

People