Bourges, France - twinned 1957

Useful websites and contacts

Maison de La France French Government Tourist Office

For details of Peterborough Anglo/French Association:

Location

Region - Centre (Berry), Department - Cher. Geographically located at the centre of France close to the A71 autoroute and approximately 220km from Paris. Bourges is located on the Yevre river.

History

Bourges is a rich historical town with medieval and renaissance architecture, ancient ramparts and the impressive Cathedral of St Etienne. The Cathedral has been on UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage list since 1992. Dauphin Charles VII planned the re-conquest of his kingdom guided by Joan of Arc and supported by his Berry financial adviser Jacques Coeur, born in 1395. Jacques Coeur remains a symbolic figure of Bourges. The Berry canal, railway and Napoleon's choice of Bourges as the French armament centre laid the foundations for Bourges' economic expansion.

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. There are four museums in Bourges housing modern art, architecture, ancient Greek, and Egyptian collections. At certain times during the summer months of July and August parts of the city are illuminated in the evening 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.

Sports

Bourges has a wide range of facilities which are able to host both national and international events. The Prado Sports Centre is the largest sports hall with spectator capacity of up to 3,000. Among the sports offered in Bourges are watersports, riding, tennis, squash, golf, hand gliding, microlites and the Bourges-Sancerre walk.

Cultural Events

Bourges Maison de la Culture was the first in France and holds various festivals and events. The Spring Music Festival 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. During the first week of June there is the Festival Synthèse, an electronic and acoustic music event. 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.