Bourges, capital of Berry and medieval town, rich in history, is famous for its cathedral, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, its surroundings are full of bucolic places just waiting to be discovered. Vineyards, vast green spaces, ancestral know-how, there will be something for everyone. So get off the beaten track and discover what is hidden around Bourges.

Recognized vineyards

The surroundings of Bourges are rich in different cultures, especially vines. Every year, before the harvest, the winegrowers of Menetou-Salon open their cellars to let you discover their local wines. With Sauvignon and Pinot Noir grape varieties, the open cellars are an original and authentic way to discover the winegrowers who hide behind this ancestral culture. To accompany these wines, nothing better than good local products enhanced by a chef or simply around a table with friends. You can taste these delicious local dishes in the famous restaurant C'u l'Zib where you can taste Menetou but also other local wines, such as Reuilly or Quincy located not far from here, northwest of Bourges.

*Alcohol abuse is dangerous for health

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A preserved and pampered nature

Nature is in the heart of all berruyers. This is why they like to escape into large expanses of greenery. Why not do the same? 

The park of Jussy Castle is one of the parks classified as a "remarkable garden" by the Ministry of Culture. Its 60th century castle has a vast park with walks shaded by hundred-year-old trees, a large canal and various plants such as yews or even Afghan roses. With its XNUMX hectares of greenery, you can only appreciate the fresh air and the shade of these gigantic trees.

For a more intimate spirit, we invite you to discover the Garden of Mary. Located in the village of Neuilly-en-Sancerre, this garden classified as a "remarkable garden" is a real green lung in the heart of the Berry countryside. Marie lovingly pampers her plants and shrubs and is always delighted to welcome visitors to her haven of peace. A magnificent garden made up of roses, vegetable patch, orchard, pond, which is ideal for spending an afternoon away from the crowds of big cities and reconnecting a bit with nature. An open and friendly place, ready to welcome you and why not discover artistic works there.

For the more athletic and cycling enthusiasts, take a stroll along the Berry Channel  alone or in a group. Stretching over more than 300km, the Canal de Berry is a place where people like to meet to take their time and observe nature. From summer 2020, cyclists will be able to ride a new cycle route along the canal. Laid out over more than 200km, linking Saint-Amand-Montrond to Vierzon, via Bourges, you can discover a multitude of landscapes, towns, villages and monuments.

Practical information :

  • Jussy Castle Park open every day from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m. / Price: €5
  • Garden of Mary open every day from 14:30 p.m. to 18:30 p.m., exceptional closings on August 1 and 2, August 26 and 27 / Price: €7

Unparalleled know-how

Much more than a natural heritage, the surroundings of Bourges have many cultural and historical riches.

In the heart of the Henrichemont forest, located 30 minutes from Bourges, hides the village of La Borne. You will discover there many potters who make this village its fame. More than 80 craftsmen keep this high place of ceramics alive and perpetuate this activity by opening the door to their workshops. THE Contemporary Ceramics Center brings together this spirit of meeting between the old and the present thanks to regular exhibitions and highlights the work of ceramists. For lovers of the old, each year, in August, the fleas of La Borne are organised. You will be charmed by the cultural moments of this chipery by exchanging with the ceramists of the village.

Further west, the town of Mehun-sur-Yèvre also has an ancestral know-how, porcelain. Thanks to the manufacturing Pillivuyt, a porcelain manufacturer for 200 years, it is a high place for this know-how and the company is recognized throughout the world. Today, it is considered a “living heritage company”. With its more resistant “Pillenium” porcelain, which won the Innovation Prize in 2005, the company is diversifying and gaining momentum. 

On the same theme, you can also visit the porcelain pole. Focusing on Berry porcelain in particular, it revives the great hours of porcelain production in the region. More than two centuries of porcelain are exhibited, from the oldest to the most contemporary models, constituting a collection of 600 pieces in total.

Practical information :

  • Contemporary ceramic center open every day from 11 a.m. to 18 p.m. / Price: €3
  • Pillivuyt open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m. and Friday from 30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and from 12 p.m. to 14 p.m.
  • porcelain pole open every day from 14:30 p.m. to 18 p.m. / Price: €5 (porcelain centre, castle and temporary exhibition), free for children under 10