Bourges is a city in the Loire Valley in France – one upon a time it was the capital of the country, before Paris picked up the gauntlet. Its centrepiece is the huge cathedral, completed in 1255, which has now been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. The old town is a pedestrian area, but car hire from Bourges is a great way to make your way around the modern city and further afield. The new town has all the shopping centres and restaurants that you would expect from a busy city. Bourges is the gateway to the Loire Valley which offers sights along the Yèvre River.
The Loire Valley is thronged with characterful towns, and hiring a car in Bourges makes visiting fascinating towns, such as Chartres, easy. There is another UNESCO listed cathedral, as well as plenty of independent shops featuring perfume makers and glass blowers, along with traditional restaurants. You can be in Orléans in an hour and a half if you hire a car from Bourges and although it's one of the oldest towns in France, it consists of very modern elements, with whole streets are dedicated to shopping. With so much to see in the area surrounding Bourges, it makes a great base of operations.
