The golden age of this duchy created in 1360 dates back to the medieval times of Jacques Coeur. Berry has an interesting variety of landscapes. Boischaut occupies the southern part towards La Châtre and the northern part towards Valençay. Issoudun and Champagne Berry mark the central area. But the plateau du Blanc, the hills of the Sancerrois, a hint of Sologne, the Pays Fort around Vailly-sur-Sauldre and part of the thousand ponds of the Brenne are also appreciated.
Campsites in Berry
Among the thirty or so campsites in the Berry region, we recommend the Robinson campsite *** , not far from the historic centre of Bourges and the banks of the Auron lake. It has more than a hundred traditional pitches and a choice of modern mobile homes. Further south, the La Roche *** campsite in Saint-Amand-Montrond, is a quiet and green site, offering a hundred or so pitches between the Cher and the Berry canal, on 4 hectares of shaded land, with the possibility of renting comfortable tents. In Châteauroux, Le Rochat Belle-Isle *** offers you, on the banks of the Indre, around its lake and its heated swimming pool complex, nearly 150 pitches and about twenty rentals. Still in the Indre at Issoudun, the Les Taupeaux ** campsite cultivates conviviality with its fifty or so pitches on the banks of the Théols river, from July to early October.
From abbeys to castles
Among the architectural treasures, the Jacques Coeur Palace and the Cathedral of Bourges are masterpieces of Gothic art. Also measure the Benedictine power that emanates from the remains of Notre-Dame de Déols (917) and the Abbey of Fontgombault (1091), not forgetting the vast Cistercian monastery of Noirlac (1136). Of the ten or so great châteaux, Valençay is worth a visit, a perfect illustration of the Renaissance with its park, furniture and very refined décor.
Culture and beautiful walks
Berry is ideal for walking with its paths through meadows, undergrowth, along the canals, in the hollow of the Indre, Loire and Creuse valleys. The cycling network with its greenways and signposted circuits allows you to explore the smallest corners of the region, which does not have any major valleys. This is an opportunity to appreciate the local heritage, which features typical barns, Gallo-Roman remains, half-timbered houses, a few twisted bell towers, frescoes and the caquetry of Romanesque churches. The tourist route of the Route Jacques Coeur between Gien and Arnay-le-Vieil completes the discovery perfectly. Music in Berry, as well as a host of festivals and sporting and cultural events will enliven your stay in unusual or prestigious sites.
The romantic memory of George Sand
Conquered by the place, George Sand, a dynamic figure of literature, came regularly. She wrote, received famous friends, and then rested in her manor house in Nohant surrounded by superb gardens, nestled in the Black Valley. The endearing bush landscapes of Berry are omnipresent in George Sand's novels.
Feast Day
To the south-east of La Châtre, in the south of Berry, the commune of Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre cultivates the memory of the shooting of Jacques Tati's first film in 1947. A sound and 3D scenovision retraces the filmmaker's universe, recalling the backstage and the participation of the inhabitants of the time.
Berry specialities
In addition to the famous wines of Sancerre, Reuilly, Châteaumeillant, Menetou-Salon, the agricultural tradition is reflected in some flagship products: green lentils, pâté berrichon, cheeses (Valençay, Selles-sur-Cher, Crottin de Chavignol, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre), fruits of the orchards.