Monuments to visit Bourges

Bourbonnoux Street is urbanised in the th century outside the Gallo-Roman rampart and follows the route. Until the beginning of the th century, it was a very important artery of the city, and many artisans and traders lived there. The wooden houses on this street, most reconstructed after the fire of the Madeleine in 1487, were on street and often two floors - modified later. They are constructed in corbel on enlarged pole, limiting the projection of the floor on the ground floor. The half-timbered houses of Bourges houses are in diamond or cross-André. As is still the case, the ground floor is usually occupied by a shop - finally - followed by a service room - the kitchen - at the back. The rooms are on the floor, and they can be accessed by a screw staircase in the side corridor leading to the courtyard and the workshop. The Gothic style focuses on poles and beams. The houses are separated by stone fire streets.

The Hotel des Échevins was built in 1489, on a space "released" by the great fire of 1487. He draws on the Gallo-Roman wall of Bourges. It is an essential monument to the city. At night during Night Nights it offers a magical setting to the projections on its stone walls. A rectangular rectangular body includes on the ground floor the large hall equipped with a monumental fireplace and the board of the jury vaulted stone and the fire test. The Hotel des Échevins was the headquarters of the municipality for three centuries. Its interior is just as interesting as its walls. Many sculpted decorations celebrate Berry's sheep, whose wool was so important to the city's wealth and influence. This Gothic style building was influenced by the decoration of the Jacques Coeur Palace: arches in accolade, pinacles, frayed cabbage. The false windows of sculpted characters adorning the octagonal tower will be delighted: These are sergeants of town that go to the pass. Admiring them will entertain children. In 1624, a new gallery body inspired by the Renaissance architecture treaties was added to the existing building. The Hotel des Échevins has been completely restored. It was built in a museum and now offers visitors to discover the works of the painter Maurice Estève, from Culan.

The water tower was built in 1865 to collect the waters of the Auron, supervised by engineer Bourdaloue. A competition was organized to select the architect of the imposing fountain located in: it is Albert Tissandier's project - bricks and stones, and paying tribute to the classical architecture of the early eighteenth century - which was chosen. As for the sculpted decoration, it is the work of the Berrichon archeologist and sculptor Jules Dumoutet. Unaffected since 1940, inscribed in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments in 1975, the eau d 'eau was completely redesigned by the City of Bourges in 1999, which made it a place dedicated to the diffusion of plastic arts. The ground floor of 220 m ², with its two concentric spreads separated by 16 columns and surrounded by 14 alveoli, allows a unique presentation of the works, whether painted, carved, engraved, drawn, projected or hammered. A place of discovery, exchanges and meetings, the water tower hosts carefully selected exhibitions. A successful conversion.

The organ of the cathedral has changed many times over the centuries: Reference was made to the first organ in the early 1986 th century and the most recent was inaugurated in by Bishop Plateau. Burned in 1599, it was rebuilt and saved narrowly during the Revolution. With its 50 games, 4 keyboards and its German pedals, it allows you to play the organistique repertoire in full since the th century. The buffet retains the original elements of this time. The th century gives her a beam with the musicians and the th century his gallery. Completely restored, the organ always sounds under the vaults of the cathedral. Many concerts and activities take place during the year. The Festival of the Very Rich Hours of the Berry Organ showcases this great organ by inviting prestigious concertistes to play solo, chamber music, or with an orchestra.

Built just after the great fire of 1487, the Lallemant Hotel occupies several plots of land and spans the Gallo-Roman bastion that plunges the high city. It is the first Bourges building where the Renaissance style appears, still mixed with Gothic elements, hence its great architectural interest. This particular house was built for the family of Lallemant, rich ennobled traders, who have exercised important municipal loads, and have also been interested in alchemy in a less formal way: not to miss the hotel's oratory, whose ceiling to the 30 crafted casing may well represent the quest for philosopher's stone. The Hotel Lallemant, now owned by the city of Bourges, has been set up in the museum of Decorative Arts. The visit is free, an explanatory workbook is provided at the reception.

The archbishops of Bourges are located on the south side of the cathedral from the th century. In the th century Bishop Phélypeaux de La Vrillière decided to make it a great palace. From the ambitious project led by the architect Pierre Bullet, only the south wing and the garden are made. To see this imposing building, the pavilion of La Vrillière, one can only imagine the prosperity of the archdiocese at that time. Inside, the rotating staircase hanging on the arch is adorned with statues and bas-reliefs representing the four evangelists. Following the separation of the Church and the State, this palace was ceded free of charge to the city of Bourges in 1909, which installed its municipal services and the library the following year. Since the construction of the new town hall (adjacent) in 1992, the old archiepiscopal palace still houses some municipal services, the Municipal Council Hall, the hall of honour, the weddings hall and the Best Workers'Museum in France.