Bourges
The City of Jacques Couer
The fine City on the banks of the River Auron is in the east of the Région and boasts a splendid large, early 13th C. High Gothic Cathedral of St-Etienne with beautiful stained glass windows and which is surrounded by the very colourful Jardin-de-la-Archevêque.
The Palace of Jacques Couer
Palais Jacques Couer
One of France’s most successfull businessmen and financiers, Jacques Couer (1395-1456) came from Bourges. He traded in almost everything and had a palace built for himself near the Cathedral which can be visited. Like many such figures he overeached himelf and made loans to the King, Charles VII which led to jealousy and distrust amonst his peers and his eventual downfall.
Whilst in Bourges make sure you stroll around the old quarter with the half-timbered houses between the Auron and St-Etienne and on the rues Bourbonnoux, Mirebeau and Place Gourdaine.
