Nemours

Nemours is a town located along the Loing River, about 17 kilometers south of Fontainebleau and 81 kilometers from Paris. It is part of the Fontainebleau-Nemours employment area, connecting with the greater Paris region.

Historically, Nemours has been an important site since prehistoric times. Archaeological digs in areas like Beauregard have uncovered tools and artifacts dating back to the Magdalenian period (about 17,000 years ago). Finds include thousands of stone tools from several prehistoric cultures, such as the Gravettian and Badegoulian. A large camp from the Magdalenian period near Pincevent, discovered in the 1960s, has provided insight into early life in the region.

During the medieval era, Nemours grew under the influence of powerful families linked to the French monarchy. In the 12th century, Orson of Nemours built a castle by the Loing River to fortify the area, and the town expanded around it. Over time, Nemours became a duchy, passing between various royal families and remaining strategically significant.

The 16th to 18th centuries brought change and development, with the construction of churches and administrative centers, as well as the opening of the Loing Canal, which boosted trade. The town suffered during the Hundred Years’ War but was spared major destruction due to its defenses.

Nemours played a minor role in the French Revolution, and one notable resident, Pierre Samuel Dupont, later emigrated to America, where his family established the DuPont Company. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the town evolved into a quieter community with local industries, but it remains connected to the Paris region and attracts visitors with its rich history and historic sites, including the Nemours Castle and museums dedicated to archaeology and prehistory.