Bourges sits on the site of Avaricum, capital of the Gallic Bituriges tribe and, briefly, one of the most strongly fortified towns in pre-Roman Europe. Long stretches of the later Gallo-Roman ramparts survive, particularly along Rue des Remparts and incorporated into the foundations of houses around the old town.
The remains are unspectacular at first glance — a few courses of large blocks at the base of medieval walls — but the locations are worth seeking out. A small archaeological circuit, signposted by the tourist office, links the key segments.