Bourges, city in central France, capital of Cher Department. It is a farm-trade, manufacturing, and transportation center; products include aerospace equipment, armaments, processed food, textiles, and machinery. In the city is the Cathedral of Saint Étienne (mainly 12th-13th century), one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in France. Every April, Le Printemps de Bourges, a pop and rock music festival featuring French and foreign performers, draws tourists to the city.
The city is situated on the site of Avaricum, an important Roman settlement in Aquitania. By the 14th century Bourges was the capital of the duchy of Berry; when other parts of France were occupied by the English in the early 15th century, Charles VII of France made the city his capital. In 1438 he issued the Pragmatic Sanction of Bourges, limiting papal authority over the French church. Louis XI, who was born here, founded (1463) the University of Bourges, which was abolished during the French Revolution (1789-1799); the noted jurist Jacques Cujas was on its faculty in the 16th century. Population (1999) 72,480.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Bourges Information info
|
