Bourges sits near the geographic center of France, the historic capital of the Berry province. It is a city of art and history that most visitors to France never reach — which is a shame, because its Gothic cathedral alone is worth a detour of any length.
Fortified since Gallic times and of strategic importance during the Hundred Years' War, Bourges was the capital from which Charles VII reconquered his kingdom. The Cathédrale Saint-Étienne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the great achievements of Gothic architecture — its west facade with five portals is unique in France, and the stained glass rivals that of Chartres. The Palais Jacques-Coeur, built by a medieval merchant-banker, is one of the finest examples of civil Gothic architecture in the country.
The old town is compact and walkable, with half-timbered houses and quiet streets. Behind the cathedral, the Marais — a vast working patchwork of canal-laced kitchen gardens — is one of the most surprising urban landscapes in France. Bourges also hosts the Printemps de Bourges, one of France's most important music festivals, every April.