Bourges

Bourges, the chief city of Berry, is crowned by the great Gothic cathedral of Saint-Étienne. Its five portals, soaring interior and stained glass reflect the wealth and ambition of an important ecclesiastical centre. The city also became a seat of ducal and royal patronage, whose buildings enriched its streets.

During the Hundred Years’ War, Charles VII made Bourges a base from which to recover his kingdom. Among his supporters was Jacques Cœur, a merchant born in the city who became the king’s financier and built a far-reaching commercial enterprise. His splendid house at Bourges and the chapel he endowed in the cathedral testify to his fortune and his place at court. The cathedral also received an astronomical clock during Charles’s residence in the city.