The gare SNCF and gare routière are on rue du Chemin-de-Fer. The tourist office, in the foyer of the Palais Ducal (May–Sept Mon–Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 10am–7pm; Oct–April Mon–Sat 9am–noon & 2–6pm, Sun 3–6pm; tel 03.86.68.46.00, www.ville-nevers.fr), provides maps and information on events in the summer music festival, and can arrange trips in the traditional wooden boats that used to ply the Loire – ask for Pascal Boutreue (tel 06.89.57.10.33), who runs two-hour excursions for around €13 a head, as well as two-day expeditions. Bike rental is available from Belair, 31bis rue de la Préfecture (tel 03.86.61.24.45). Internet access can be found at the bakers' at 5 rue de la Pelleterie.There are few hotels in the old centre, though the Hotel de Cleves, 8 rue St Didier (tel 03.86.61.15.87, fax 03.86.57.13.80; €40–55) is very comfortable, and well-located just off Place Carnot. Nearer the train station, the pleasant Beauséjour, 5 rue St-Gildard (tel 03.86.61.20.84, fax 03.86.59.15.37; €30–40) is almost opposite the church of Ste Bernadette, while Hôtel Thermidor, 14 rue Claude-Tillier (tel 03.86.57.15.47, [email protected]; €30–40) is also good value and quiet. The municipal campsite has been closed in recent years, though it's worth checking at the tourist office; otherwise the nearest is at Fourchambault (tel 03.86.60.81.59; May–Nov), on a riverside site 4.5km from town. Avenue de-Gaulle has a few inexpensive restaurants and cafés, such as La Mange d'Or, 24 av de-Gaulle (closed Sat & Sun lunch, & all day Mon), and some more upmarket places too, such as the Gambrinus, 37 av de-Gaulle (tel 03.86.57.19.48; closed Mon & Sat lunch, & all day Sun; menu from €17) and the excellent Aux Choecurs de Bacchus, 25 av de-Gaulle (tel 03.86.36.72.70; closed Mon & Sat lunch, & all day Sun), which has a good menu at €13.60, and a wine-tasting version at €20.50. Le Goemon, 9 rue du 14-Juillet (closed Sun & Mon evening), is a crêperie with good salads, and live jazz on Saturday nights. Donald's Pub, on rue François Mitterand near the river, is a good place for a drink.
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