History
The Cathedral of St. Etienne in Bourges
Bourges is a rich historical town with medieval and renaissance
architecture, ancient ramparts and the impressive Cathedral
of St Etienne. It was in Bourges that the Dauphin Charles VII
planned the re-conquest of his kingdom guided by Joan of Arc and
supported by the Berry financial adviser Jacques Coeur, born
in 1395. Jacques Coeur remains the symbolic figure of
Bourges.
Medieval houses in Bourges city centre
Tourist attractions
The city has magnificent half-timbered medieval houses in the
largest preserved historical area in France and also Gothic
renaissance and classical buildings. The Cathedral, has been on
UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation) World Heritage list since 1992. At certain times
during the summer months of July and August parts of the city are
illuminated in the evening with historical images projected on to
ancient walls transforming the ambience.
Geography
Bourges is a green city. To the south there are woods, to
the north forests, to the west lakes and to the east the Sancerre
vineyards. It is nationally honoured as the flowering city where
parks, gardens and landscapes have been preserved and
developed.
Cultural events
Bourges Maison de la Culture was the first in France and holds
various festivals and events. The Spring Music Festival 'Les
Printemps de Bourges' has made headlines every year since it
started in 1977. It features hundreds of contemporary music acts
from rock to rappers and lasts for one week during the French
Easter holidays. Then throughout the summer months of June to
late September there is Un Été à Bourges, a line-up of free
outdoor performances.
Economy
Armament and defence are the main industries in Bourges with 90%
of the population working in this sector.
Why not get involved in twinning?
If you are interested in making new friends, visiting new
places, improving your French language skills or learning more
about French culture and our twin town Bourges why not join the
Peterborough Anglo French Association. For further information
please contact Chair Robert Weyers, Crawford Lodge, 97 South
Street, Crowland, PE6 0AH. The group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of
month at 7.45pm at St. Andrew's Church Hall, Ledbury Road,
Netherton, Peterborough.
Links with Bourges
The twinning link is supported by The Peterborough Anglo-French
Association and in Bourges by the Association France Grande
Bretagne, which visit each other every year. Kings school,
Peterborough Cathedral Choir, Peterborough Chamber Choir (visits in
1997 and 1999), Pig Dyke Molly, Peterborough Rotary Club,
Dogsthorpe Fire Station, Peterborough Rugby Club, Peterborough
motorcycle club all have links with partner organisations in
Bourges.
Twinning activities
May 2001 Bourges Rugby club visit to Peterborough.
May 2002 Peterborough Colts return visit to Bourges
2004 artist represents Peterborough at art event in Bourges
2005 to celebrate 100th anniversary of the Entente
Cordiale free Eurotunnel travel for a coach for the
Peterborough Anglo French Association and for the Peterborough Fire
Brigade and Fire engine to attend a National Fire Service Congress
in
Bourges.
July 2007 event to celebrate 50th anniversary of twinning between
Bourges and Peterborough held
in Peterborough.
March 2010 a group of students from Bourges visit Peterborough
to learn about and film how we dispose of our waste
visiting the sites at Dogsthorpe and the Recyling facility.
They also visited St John Fisher school, where they showed students
a film about how waste is disposed off in Bourges. The children all
enjoyed getting together and getting to know about each other.
Useful links