We've decided to stretch out our trip to the Loire Valley a few more days and will do a brief tour of Berry...specifically Bourges and the wine/cheese loop around Sancerre. Any special recommendations for the region? We're booked into the Hotel de Bourbon in Bourges (a converted Renaissance abbey), supposedly the nicest place to stay in town. I know Bourges has an outstanding cathedral, any other sights in or nearby especially worth noting?
Thanks!

The sancerre to be released this summer is supposed to be the most outstanding vintage in many years. Enjoy!!

The Château de Valençay isn't too far off.

We're in Bourges now and it has turned out to be one of the most attractive places we've seen in France...a feeling of "real" France we certainly didn't find in Amboise. I am surprised to find so few posts about the city...most Fodorite reports seem to be about stopping in the city on their way to somewhere else...it's definitely worth more than an overnight visit.

BTilke-- I am so glad you are enjoying your visit to Bourges!! I have posted repeteadly on this wonderful city, but do agree that it seems to still be an undiscovered gem! I posted before on the beauty of the cathedral, to me far more spectacular than Notre Dame (sorry, if some considered this blasphemy ). The House of Jacques Couer, now a museum, worth the visit as it is the Roman Museum. The restaurant next door is very good as well. Don't miss a visit to the top of the cathedral, the views of Bourges are breathtaking.

BT-- I forgot to mention the Chateau de Sully, a nearby chateau with an impressive ceiling, but mostly interesting because it was the first place Joan of Arc was taken and interrogated when taken prisioner. The chateau connects via pedestrian walkway to a wonderful little village, worth taking in the scenery, history, and beauty! Enjoy.

We had a great time trying the wines of Sancerre yesterday and today and left Sancerre with 4 cases ...all from Vacheron (2 cases of the absolutely terrific 2001 Les Romains white, 1 of the last 2 cases left of the 2001 Belle Dame red, and a case of the 2002 Belle Dame red, which needs another year or so). Not only were Messieurs Vacheron pere and fils very kind and helpful, Jean-Laurent Vacheron (the son) is one attractive French guy! M. Vacheron pere gave us a bottle of the 2003 white to try at home.
We also have a mixed case from Couly Dutheuil (a wedding present for a German cousin), bought at their fairly new store in Azay-le-Rideau and two cases of Saumur Champigny from Les Roches and Fillietreau.
Plus a few bottles of cremant de Loire for aperitifs, either alone or mixed with Pousse Rapiere (liqueur de Armagnac).
I have a strong feeling that we'll be finished with all the above before heading back to Sancerre in October!

My, my, BTilke, are you driving a lorry about the Loire with all those cases of wine?

The Saumur Champigny is one of my favorites. It reminds me of the pleasant time I spent there as well as being a very nice wine.

It's amazing how much you can stuff into a Renault Laguna when the "stuff" is some outstanding wine!! I looked up some online reviews of Vacheron and the critics give them nothing but one rave after another. Their Les Romains white was rated one of the absolute best Sauvignon Blancs in the world and the Belle Dame also gets one top mark after another. If you can find either one of them around, definitely try them, and buy up as much as you can, because they are selling out fast...
(pricing note: we paid a case rate of 23 euros per bottle for the Belle Dame reds and 13 euros case rate per bottle [I think] for Les Romains white.).

If you have the chance, try the Restaurant Le Jardin Gourmand (15, bis, avenueAvenue Ernest-Renan). It's been a few years, but I still remember having one of the best lobsters ever there. Also, outside town near the marsh, La Courcillière was very good, too.
Bourges has a number of great sites - the Palais Jacques-Coeur, the Musée de Berry, an Arts Décoratifs museum, and the Musée Estève, which has modern art from others as well as Estève (not my cup of tea, but it's good stuff).
Enjoy your stay.

We got lucky and hit one of the three "son and lumiere" week-ends in Bourges this summer. The cathedral (partially in scaffolding) was beautifully lit up and the outdoor shows at the decorative arts museums and the former Augustin convent were magical...a beautiful mix of renaissance art and music. On Friday night, we were about the only ones watching the show at the decorative arts museum (they started around 10 pm and went on until well after midnight) and outside the Esteve museum, we went back on Saturday and they were filled with people.
The Hotel de Bourbon in Bourges is great...a former Renaisance abbey. The dining room is a historic monument. We got an upgraded room because of our Accor favorite guest status. The hotel's restaurant is supposed to be the best in town, but it's pretty formal and rather expensive. Instead, we ate at d'antan Sancerrois, whose owner clued us into to the Vacheron winery in Sancerre (and also gave us great parking advice...park in the free lots as you enter the village...if you try and park on the "other side", there are almost no spots).