| Planning a short break to Bourges? Check out Travel Library's recommended Top 10 Things To Do in Bourges. It's a perfect companion for weekend city breaks to Bourges. Once you've been you can add your own tips and suggestions to help other visitors. |
| Top 10 Things in Bourges on a Short Break |
|
 Cathedrale St-Etienne - Cutural Attraction |
Place Etienne-Dolet. This is possibly the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in France, and dates back to the end of the 12th century. It has asymmetrical towers on either side and amazing doorways, one shows episodes in the life of St. Stephen.
The cathedral has a vaulted roof and five aisles and is very long, 122m; it's top attraction is its stained-glass windows made between 1215 and 1225. The cathedral also has a 12th century crypt, in it rests the tomb of Jean de Berry.
The cathedral is open April to September everyday from 09h00 - 18h00; and October to March everyday from 09h00 - 16h00. Admission is free for the cathedral; and for the crypt and tower: $7.20 for adults; $4.80 for ages 18 - 25; and free for children under 17. |
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 Musee du Berry - Cutural Attraction |
| 4 rue des Arenes. This museum is housed in the Hotel Cujas and was built in 1515. Exhibitions on display include a collection of Celtic and Gallo-Roman artifacts; of which the most spectacular are the 280 funerary sculptures. Some of the rooms contain finds from Egyptian archaeological digs, as well as medieval masterpieces of sculpture from around 1400. Some of the rooms on the second floor have ethnological exhibitions. The museum is open Monday and Wdnesday to Saturday from 10h00 - 12h00 and 14h00 - 18h00; and Sunday from 14h00 - 18h00. Admission is free. |
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 Hotel de Bourbon/Grand Hotel Mercure - Restaurant or Cafe |
Boulevard de la Republique, close to the railway station. This is the best hotel in Bourges and is housed in a converted 17th century abbey. The stylish and comfortable hotel offers a restaurant; bar; room service; and laundry services. The hotel's restaurant is one of the most popular in town and is worth a visit, even if you're not staying at the hotel. The modern rooms are all comfortable and have TV; minibar; hairdryer; telephone; and a full bathroom.
For more information visit: www.alpha-hotellerie.com/bourbon_accueil_francais.html |
|
 Palais Jacques-Coeur - Cutural Attraction |
| Located on Rue Jacques-Coeur. This is one of France's most amazing secular Gothic buildings, and was built in around 1450 by finance minister Jaque Coeur. There are guided tours that take you through the four buildings situated around a central courtyard. There are sculptures from the 15th and 16th centuries found in the great hall. Guided tours are operated everyday at 09h00; 10h00; 11h00; 14h00; 15h00; and 16h00, April to October there is an additional tour at 17h00, and July - August another tour at 18h00. Admission is $6.60 for adults; $4.20 for 18 - 25 and people over 60; children under 17 are free. |
|
 Jacques-Coeur - Restaurant or Cafe |
| 3 place Jacques-Coeur, near the Palais. This is one of the best restaurants in town, Jean-Pierre Mercier serves the most excellent traditional bourgeois cuisine. Some of the restaurants specialities include veal kidneys berrichonne; frogs' legs sauteed with herbs; fresh filets of mackerel marinated in white wine; and chicken en barbouille. They also have a great wine list, with many regional vintages. The restaurant is open Sunday to Friday 12h00 - 14h15; and Monday to Friday 07h15 - 21h15. Reservations are required. |
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 Musee de Maurice Esteve - Cutural Attraction |
| Rue Edouard Branly. This museum is housed in the 15th century Hotel des Echevins, and contains the works of the locally born artist, Maurice Esteve, who died in 2001. On display are many of his highly coloured, mostly abstract paintings and tapestries. The museum is open Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 10h00 - 12h00 and 14h00 - 18h00; and Sunday from 14h00 - 18h00. Admission is free. |
|
 Musee des Arts Decoratifs - Cutural Attraction |
| Rue Bourbonnoux. This museum is housed in the early Renaissance Hotel Lallemant, with a coffered ceiling that is carved with alchemical symbols. The museum contains many different exhibitions, including paintings; tapestries; furniture; and objets d'art, such as works by the Berrichon artist Jean Boucher. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10h00 - 12h00 and 14h00 - 18h00; and Sunday from 14h00 - 18h00. Admission is free. |
|
 Jardin des Pres Fichaux - Natural Attraction |
| Located on boulevard de Republique and allee des Pres Fleuris. This beautiful garden has the most amazing scuplted vegetaintion, and is filled with hedges; French lime trees; lawns; beautiful yews; flower-beds; and ponds. The garden was founded in 1930, and still has many Art Deco ornaments and statues. This is a great place to take a break from the busy city, and take a relaxing stroll, looking at all the interesting sights in the garden. The garden is open everyday and there is no admission charge. |
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 The Gibjoncs landscaped garden - Natural Attraction |
| Ruse de Saint Michel. This beautiful 8 hectare garden was designed by the City's Parks and Gardens Department, and is made up of a number of sections, which are bordered by flower-beds, filled with 10,000 different flowers. The garden also has a 15 metre fountain; an interesting pyramid engraved with the Declaration of the Rights of Man; a large square; a sand pit; and children play areas. This garden is a great place for the whole family to take a break and have some fun. |
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 Hotel Lallemant - Cutural Attraction |
6 rue Bourbonnoux, just north of the cathedral. The Renaissance Hotel Lallemant has been changed into a museum of decorative art. The Hotel Lallemant was built for a textile merchant, and today its galleries display the interesting history of Bourges.
Exhibits in the museum include china; objets d'art; ceramics; and antique furniture.
The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10h00 - 12h00 and 14h00 - 18h00; and Sunday 14h00 - 18h00. Admission is free. |
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