Bourges, a commune in central France, is located on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the département of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry. Bourges, a city at the centre of an accumulation of 100 000 inhabitants, is equipped with important assets and fully plays its role as a regional centre.

Having grand bourgeois buildings, Bourges was trying to rival Dijon. The centrepiece of Bourges is the excellent Gothic Cathédrale St-Étienne, which is based on an improved design for the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Paris. The Cathedral of St Etienne of Bourges built between the late 12th and early 13th centuries, is one of the great masterpieces of Gothic art and is admired for its proportions and the unity of its design. Bourges is a medium-sized city close to the Loire Valley, about 250km south of Paris. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another attraction at Bourges is the feverish schedule of festivals, such as the week long Les Printemps de Bourges during the Easter holidays and the July through to September timetable of concerts for the Un Été à Bourges series. Each year, the Spring Music Festival makes the music headlines for since its creation in 1977 it has become a major event not only in France but throughout the rest of Europe, too.

Bourges, being a city of art and history, is proud of its monuments like the Jacques Coeur Palace and the Saint-Etienne Cathedral – included on the UNESCO World Heritage list - of its old streets and its half-timbered houses. St Etienne's Cathedral had to be unique in design which is the figurehead of the Capetian domain facing the south of France. The architectural style chosen by the unknown Master-builder is based on a plan with no transept and plastic effects of great modernity for their time. The Cathedral is still surrounded by the half-timbered houses of the medieval town. This is the most visionary of all the French Gothic cathedrals, with its double aisles and single internal space. The cathedral also retains its original stained glass in the ambulatory, with fine rich red and blue predominating.

A green city, Bourges is one of the greenest cities in France with 135 hectares of marshland in the heart of the city and more than 50 m² of parks per inhabitant. Bourges is a marvellous city, full of character. It's a testament to the glories of the French Gothic style, from its visionary cathedral to the fine palace of Jacques Coeur. Not to be missed is the Marshes Fete at the beginning of September with boat rides and a chance to discover the fauna and flora.