Country France Canton Decize Population (2012) 5,711 Local time Sunday 10:41 AM | Department Nièvre Intercommunality Sud Nivernais Area 48.22 km² Arrondissement Nevers | |
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Region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Weather 6°C, Wind S at 19 km/h, 81% Humidity | ||
Decize is a commune in the Nièvre department in central France.
Contents
Map of 58300 Decize, 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
Demographics
At the 1999 census, the population was 6456.
Tourism
As of September 2010 work began on a new port for pleasure boats in the "Bassin de la Jonction" between the Lateral Canal and the Loire. Intended to be ready for spring 2011 it will make this one of the largest pleasure ports in Burgundy.