Bourges

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Bourges

Kathedrale Bourges v2.jpg
Saint-Étienne de Bourges
Flag of Bourges
Coat of arms of Bourges
Bourges is located in France
Bourges
Administration
Country France
Region Centre
Department Cher
Arrondissement Bourges
Intercommunality Bourges
Mayor Serge Lepeltier
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 120–169 m (390–554 ft)
(avg. 153 m or 502 ft)
Land area1 68.74 km2 (26.54 sq mi)
Population2 99,980  (2000)
 - Density 1,454 /km2 (3,770 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 18033/ 18000
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 47°05′04″N 2°23′47″E / 47.0844°N 2.3964°E / 47.0844; 2.3964

Bourges (French pronunciation: ​[buʁʒ]) is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.

Contents

History [edit]

The name of the city is either derived from the Bituriges, the name of the original inhabitants, or from the Germanic Burg (French: Bourg. Spanish: Burgos. English, others: Burgh, Berg, or Borough), for "hill/village". Its Celtic name was Avaricon and its Latin name was Avaricum. In the Gallic Wars, the Gauls practised a scorched-earth policy, but the inhabitants of Avaricum begged not to have their city burned, and it was spared due to its good defences provided by the surrounding marshes and a strong southern wall. Following the siege of Avaricum in the winter of 52 BC, Julius Caesar's forces destroyed the city and killed all but 800 of its inhabitants.

The city was reconstructed as a Roman city, with a monumental gate, aqueducts, thermae and an amphitheatre, reaching a greater size than it would attain during the Middle Ages. The massive walls surrounding the late Roman city, enclosing 40 hectares, were built in part re-using stone from earlier public buildings.

The third century Saint Ursinus, also known as Saint Ursin, is considered the first bishop of the city. Bourges is the seat of an archbishopric. During the 8th century Bourges lay on the northern fringes of the Duchy of Aquitaine and was therefore the first town to come under Frankish attacks when they crossed the Loire. It was captured by the Frankish Charles Martel in 731 but immediately reconquered by the duke Odo the Great. It remained under the rule of counts who pledged allegiance to the Aquitanian dukes up to the destructive assault of Pepin the Short on independent Aquitaine starting in 760, when Basque troops are found defending the town along with its count.

The Gothic Cathedral of Saint Etienne, begun at the end of the twelfth century, is listed as a World Heritage Site. It is considered the earliest example of the high gothic style of the thirteenth century.

During the Middle Ages, Bourges was the capital of a Viscounty until the fourteenth century. The future king, Charles VII, sought refuge there. His son, Louis XI, was born there in 1423. In 1438, Charles decreed the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges. During this period, Bourges was also a major capital of alchemy.

The city has a long tradition of art and history, other sites of importance include the Palace of Jacques Cœur and a sixty-five-hectare district of half-timbered houses and fine town houses.

Personalities [edit]

The Impressionist painter Berthe Morisot was born in Bourges on 14 January 1841.

The Art Nouveau sculptor Julien Caussé was born in Bourges in 1869.

Population [edit]

Historical population
Year Pop.   ±%  
1793 15,964 —    
1800 16,330 +2.3%
1806 17,552 +7.5%
1821 18,910 +7.7%
1831 19,730 +4.3%
1836 25,324 +28.4%
1841 22,826 −9.9%
1846 24,799 +8.6%
1851 25,037 +1.0%
1856 26,799 +7.0%
1861 28,064 +4.7%
1866 30,119 +7.3%
1872 31,312 +4.0%
1876 35,785 +14.3%
1881 40,217 +12.4%
1886 42,829 +6.5%
1891 45,342 +5.9%
1896 43,587 −3.9%
1901 46,551 +6.8%
1906 44,133 −5.2%
1911 45,735 +3.6%
1921 45,942 +0.5%
1926 44,245 −3.7%
1931 45,067 +1.9%
1936 49,263 +9.3%
1946 51,040 +3.6%
1954 53,879 +5.6%
1962 60,632 +12.5%
1968 70,814 +16.8%
1975 77,300 +9.2%
1982 76,432 −1.1%
1990 75,609 −1.1%
1999 72,434 −4.2%
2008 68,980 −4.8%

Sights [edit]

Floorplan of the cathedral of Bourges

Transport [edit]

The railway station Gare de Bourges offers direct connections to Paris (2 hours), Orléans, Tours, Lyon and several regional destinations. The A71 motorway connects Bourges with Orléans and Clermont-Ferrand. Bourges Airport is a small regional airport.

Sport and Recreation [edit]

Bourges has a football team called Bourges Football 18. It is also home to the women's basketball club CJM Bourges Basket, which has won multiple titles in domestic and European basketball. Bourges XV is the premier rugby team in the region, currently playing in French National Division, Federal 3.

Colleges and universities [edit]

Personalities [edit]

Twin towns – sister cities [edit]

Bourges is twinned with:

Half-timbered houses in Place Gordaine

Events [edit]

The Printemps de Bourges music festival takes place in Bourges every year.

See also [edit]

References [edit]

External links [edit]