This article includes a list of generalreferences,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(March 2013) |
Bourges(French pronunciation:[buʁʒ]) is a commune in centralFranceon the riverYèvre.It is the capital of thedepartmentofCher,and also was the capital city of the formerprovinceofBerry.
Bourges | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Bourges  | |
  Bourges  Bourges | |
| Coordinates:47°05′04″N2°23′47″E/ 47.0844°N 2.3964°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Centre-Val de Loire |
| Department | Cher |
| Arrondissement | Bourges |
| Intercommunality | CA Bourges Plus |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–2026) | Yann Galut[1] |
| Area 1 | 68.74 km2(26.54 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[2] | 63,702 |
| • Density | 930/km2(2,400/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Berruyers |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00(CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 18033/18000 |
| Elevation | 120–169 m (394–554 ft) (avg. 153 m or 502 ft) |
| 1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
History
editThe name of the commune derives either from theBituriges,the name of the original inhabitants, or from theGermanicwordBurg(French:bourg;Spanish:burgo;English, others:burgh,berg,orborough), for "hill" or "village". TheCeltscalled itAvaricon;Latin-speakers:Avaricum.In the fourth century BC, as in the time ofCaesar,the area around it was the center of a Gallic (Celtic) confederacy.
In 52 BC, the sixth year of theGallic Wars,while theGaulsimplemented ascorched-earthpolicy to try to deny Caesar's forces supplies, the inhabitants of Avaricum convinced the council not to have their town burned.[3]It was temporarily spared due to its good defences provided by the surrounding marshes, by a river that nearly encircled it, and by a strong southern wall. Julius Caesar's forces, nevertheless, captured and destroyed the town, killing all but 800 of its inhabitants.[4]
Rome reconstructed Avaricum as a Roman town, with a monumental gate,aqueducts,thermaeand an amphitheatre; it reached a greater size than it would attain during the Middle Ages. The massive walls surrounding the late-Roman town, enclosing 40 hectares, were built in part with stone re-used from earlier public buildings.
The third-century ADSaint Ursinus,also known as Saint Ursin, is considered[by whom?]the first bishop of the town. Bourges functions as the seat of anarchbishopric.During the 8th century Bourges lay on the northern fringes of theDuchy of Aquitaineand was therefore the first town to come under Frankish attacks when theFrankscrossed the Loire. The FrankishCharles Martelcaptured the town in 731, but DukeOdo the Greatof Aquitaine immediately re-took it. It remained under the rule of counts who pledged allegiance to the Aquitanian dukes up to the destructivesiegeby the Frankish KingPepin the Shortin 762, whenBasquetroops are found defending the town along with its count.
During theMiddle Ages,Bourges served as the capital of theViscountyof Bourges until 1101. In the fourteenth century, it became the capital of theDuchy of Berry(established in 1360). The future king of France,Charles VII(r. 1422–1461), sought refuge there in the 1420s during theHundred Years' War.His son,Louis XI,was born there in 1423. In 1438, Charles VII decreed thePragmatic Sanction of Bourges.During this period, Bourges was a major centre ofalchemy.[citation needed]
TheGothicCathedral of Saint Étienne,begun at the end of the twelfth century, ranks as aWorld Heritage Site.It is considered[by whom?]one of the earliest examples of theHigh Gothicstyle of the thirteenth century.[5]
Bourges has a long tradition of art and history. Apart from the cathedral, other sites of importance include the 15th-centuryPalais Jacques Cœurand a sixty-five-hectare district of half-timbered houses and finetown-houses.
Population
edit
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: EHESS[6]and INSEE (1968–2017)[7] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Geography
editBourges sits at the river junction where theAuronflows into theYèvre.The disusedCanal de Berryfollows alongside the course of the Auron through Bourges.
Climate
editBourges, located in the center ofFrance,away from theAtlantic Ocean,features a typicaldegraded oceanic climate(Köppen:Cfb), characterized by colder, drier winters and warmer, wetter summers than the oceanic climate.
| Climate data for Bourges (Bourges Airport), elevation: 166 m or 545 ft, 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.6 (63.7) |
22.6 (72.7) |
29.4 (84.9) |
29.4 (84.9) |
32.0 (89.6) |
38.0 (100.4) |
39.6 (103.3) |
39.9 (103.8) |
35.1 (95.2) |
31.7 (89.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
20.0 (68.0) |
39.9 (103.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.9 (44.4) |
8.5 (47.3) |
12.5 (54.5) |
15.5 (59.9) |
19.6 (67.3) |
23.1 (73.6) |
26.0 (78.8) |
25.6 (78.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
17.0 (62.6) |
10.7 (51.3) |
7.4 (45.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.1 (34.0) |
1.1 (34.0) |
3.4 (38.1) |
5.3 (41.5) |
9.2 (48.6) |
12.4 (54.3) |
14.4 (57.9) |
14.1 (57.4) |
11.1 (52.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
4.0 (39.2) |
1.8 (35.2) |
7.2 (45.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −20.4 (−4.7) |
−16.4 (2.5) |
−11.3 (11.7) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
3.4 (38.1) |
4.6 (40.3) |
4.6 (40.3) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
−14.0 (6.8) |
−20.4 (−4.7) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 55.2 (2.17) |
52.0 (2.05) |
53.2 (2.09) |
62.4 (2.46) |
78.6 (3.09) |
60.5 (2.38) |
66.1 (2.60) |
55.0 (2.17) |
59.7 (2.35) |
71.7 (2.82) |
65.7 (2.59) |
67.8 (2.67) |
747.9 (29.44) |
| Average precipitation days | 11.6 | 9.3 | 10.2 | 10.6 | 11.6 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 10.4 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 118.2 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 67.9 | 88.6 | 151.0 | 175.7 | 210.0 | 224.9 | 239.0 | 232.7 | 185.8 | 124.5 | 72.2 | 55.3 | 1,827.5 |
| Source: Météo France[8][9] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Bourges (Bourges Airport), elevation: 166 m or 545 ft, 1961-1990 normals and extremes | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) |
22.6 (72.7) |
24.4 (75.9) |
27.0 (80.6) |
29.8 (85.6) |
35.9 (96.6) |
38.5 (101.3) |
39.2 (102.6) |
35.1 (95.2) |
31.7 (89.1) |
21.6 (70.9) |
20.0 (68.0) |
39.2 (102.6) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 10.2 (50.4) |
13.9 (57.0) |
15.2 (59.4) |
18.0 (64.4) |
23.0 (73.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
30.0 (86.0) |
28.4 (83.1) |
26.2 (79.2) |
19.1 (66.4) |
13.5 (56.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.6 (43.9) |
8.2 (46.8) |
11.3 (52.3) |
14.6 (58.3) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.8 (71.2) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.3 (75.7) |
21.7 (71.1) |
16.9 (62.4) |
10.2 (50.4) |
7.3 (45.1) |
15.5 (59.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.7 (38.7) |
5.0 (41.0) |
7.1 (44.8) |
9.7 (49.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
18.6 (65.5) |
16.1 (61.0) |
12.4 (54.3) |
6.9 (44.4) |
4.1 (39.4) |
11.0 (51.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.9 (33.6) |
1.3 (34.3) |
2.9 (37.2) |
4.9 (40.8) |
8.1 (46.6) |
11.1 (52.0) |
13.0 (55.4) |
12.9 (55.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
8.1 (46.6) |
3.7 (38.7) |
1.1 (34.0) |
6.6 (43.8) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | −5.1 (22.8) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
2.5 (36.5) |
6.1 (43.0) |
8.6 (47.5) |
11.8 (53.2) |
11.0 (51.8) |
7.8 (46.0) |
4.6 (40.3) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −20.4 (−4.7) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−3.7 (25.3) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
3.4 (38.1) |
5.8 (42.4) |
4.8 (40.6) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−12.4 (9.7) |
−20.4 (−4.7) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 61.7 (2.43) |
50.7 (2.00) |
62.6 (2.46) |
47.9 (1.89) |
85.2 (3.35) |
58.9 (2.32) |
51.5 (2.03) |
51.7 (2.04) |
54.8 (2.16) |
49.8 (1.96) |
58.7 (2.31) |
64.5 (2.54) |
698 (27.49) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.7 | 10.5 | 11.1 | 9.7 | 12.5 | 8.9 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 9.2 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 118.4 |
| Average snowy days | 3.9 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 1.0 | .1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 15.3 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 87 | 82 | 76 | 73 | 76 | 74 | 69 | 71 | 75 | 84 | 87 | 88 | 79 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 56.9 | 85.4 | 137.8 | 175.9 | 199.6 | 229.4 | 260.3 | 230.4 | 185.5 | 133.6 | 77.3 | 59.7 | 1,831.8 |
| Percentpossible sunshine | 21.0 | 30.0 | 38.0 | 44.0 | 43.0 | 49.0 | 55.0 | 53.0 | 50.0 | 40.0 | 28.0 | 23.0 | 39.5 |
| Source 1:NOAA[10] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity)[11] | |||||||||||||
Sights
edit
- ItsGothic cathedral(built 1195–1255) was added to the list of theWorld Heritage SitesbyUNESCOin 1992
- Palais Jacques Cœur[12]
- Lallemant'shotel,from the earlyFrench Renaissance[13]
- TheBerrymuseum, located in theCujas' hotel[14]
- TheEstèvemuseum, located in the so-called aldermen's hotel[15]
- The marshes of theYèvreand Voiselle rivers were listed in 2003 as a French Natural Monument or Site[16]
- The ruins of the Gallo-Roman walls
- TheConservatoire national du Pélargonium
Transport
editTheBourges stationoffers direct railway connections toOrléans,Tours,Lyon,Paris,Nantesand several regional destinations. TheA71motorway connects Bourges with Orléans andClermont-Ferrand.Bourges Airportis a small regional airport.
Sport and recreation
editBourges' principal football team areBourges Football 18.It is also home to the women's basketball clubCJM Bourges Basket,which has won multiple titles in domestic and European basketball. Bourges XVis the premier rugby team in the region, currently playing in French National Division, Federal 3.
Colleges and universities
edit- University of Bourges
- École des Beaux Arts ([2])
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Ingénieurs ENSI([3])
Twin towns – sister cities
edit
Augsburg,Germany
Aveiro,Portugal
Forlì,Italy
Koszalin,Poland
Palencia,Spain
Peterborough,United Kingdom
Yoshkar-Ola,Russia
Korosten,Ukraine
Events
editThePrintemps de Bourgesmusic festival takes place in Bourges every year.
Every summer, and since 2002, Les mille univers hosts a writing workshop in collaboration withOulipo.[18]
Personalities
edit- 16th-century poet and translatorPierre Motinwas born in Bourges.
- 17th-century composer and singerFrançois Bourgoingwas born in Bourges.
- The merchantJacques Cœurwas born in Bourges.
- The manuscript illuminatorJean Colombemaintained a workshop in Bourges.
- John Calvinwas a student in theUniversity of Bourges.
- The legal expertJacques Cujaslived in Bourges during 1555-1557 and 1575–1590.
- Eustadiola(594–684) was a saint and abbess.
- TheImpressionistpainterBerthe Morisotwas born in Bourges on 14 January 1841.
- TheArt NouveausculptorJulien Causséwas born in Bourges in 1869.
- The philosopherVladimir Jankélévitch(1903-1985) was born in Bourges.
- The writer and historianJules Bertaut(1877–1959) was born in Bourges.
- Angèle Chevrin(1911–1998), communist politician
- Béatrice Vialle,aviator.
- Emmanuel Imorou,footballer.
- Émilienne Demougeot(1910–1994), historian, was born in Bourges.
- Marcel Bascoulard(1913-1978), artist, was born outside of Bourges and resided there for most of his life.
- The mother of fictional character Gabrielle Maple hailed from Bourges inThe Petrified Forest(1936), endearingly mispronounced "Boorgs" by the actress playing the part,Bette Davis.
- François Jacques(1946–1992), historian, was born in Bourges.
- Arnaud Courlet de Vregille(1958-), painter, was born in Bourges.
- Belle du Berry( born Bénédicte Grimault) (1966-2020) lead singer of Paris Combo
- Patrice Gay(1973-), racing driver
- Geoffroy Tory(1480-1533), printer who introduced accents into French, was born in Bourges.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Répertoire national des élus: les maires".data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises(in French). 2 December 2020.
- ^"Populations légales 2021"(in French).The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.28 December 2023.
- ^"Siege of Avaricum, 52 BC".historyofwar.org.Retrieved24 June2024.
- ^Holmes, Robert C. L. (16 January 2021)."The Gallic Wars: How Julius Caesar Conquered Gaul (Modern France)".The Collector.Retrieved1 March2023.
- ^ [1]Destination 360 (Accessed 7 October 2016) Cathedral one of the earliest examples of High Gothic.
- ^Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui:Commune data sheet Bourges,EHESS(in French).
- ^Population en historique depuis 1968,INSEE
- ^"Données climatiques de la station de Bourges"(in French). Meteo France. Archived fromthe originalon 7 February 2016.Retrieved30 December2015.
- ^"Climat Centre-Val de Loire"(in French). Meteo France. Archived fromthe originalon 16 April 2019.Retrieved30 December2015.
- ^"Bourges (07255) - WMO Weather Station".NOAA.Retrieved3 April2019.
- ^"Normes et records 1961-1990: Bourges (18) - altitude 161m"(in French). Infoclimat.Retrieved30 December2015.
- ^Jacques Cœur's palace,visitor centreArchived21 April 2013 at theWayback Machine
- ^Lallemant's hotel,visitor centreArchived4 March 2016 at theWayback Machine
- ^Berry museum,visitor centerArchived7 May 2016 at theWayback Machine
- ^Estève museum,visitor centreArchived5 March 2016 at theWayback Machine
- ^Bourges' marshes,visitor centre
- ^"Villes jumelles".ville-bourges.fr(in French). Bourges.Retrieved12 November2019.
- ^Les récréations à Bourges.
Bibliography
editExternal links
edit
