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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame de Bourges, originally dedicated to Saint Peter under the name of Saint-Pierre-le-Marché until 1803, finds its origins controversial. Gaspard Thaumas de La Thaumassière evokes a construction as early as 1157, but the surviving architectural elements and research by Paul Gauchery suggest a construction in the 15th century. The 1487 fire, which ravaged Bourges, partially destroyed the building that had been recently completed. Inscriptions mention the indulgences granted to Lambert Léodepart, the father-in-law of Jacques Coeur, confirming links with this influential family at the end of the 14th century.

The reconstruction and expansion of the church was undertaken in 1520 thanks to the parishioners' funds. The north tower, attributed to architect Guillaume Pelvoysin, was erected in 1525 under the supervision of Pierre Alabat, lord of Boisjaffier, who offered the land in exchange for a right of burial in the building. The southern gate was redecorated in 1640 by sculptors Michel Legendre and Claude Bellorier, while the bedside underwent modifications in the 19th century. A marble decoration of the choir, disassembled, was acquired by Alphonse Joseph Charmeil and relocated to his garden.

Ranked a historic monument in 1931, the church is distinguished by its nave of four spans without transept, its bedside with cut strips, and its irregular chapels. Among its furniture, a white marble bentier of 1507, decorated with lily flowers and squid, attracts attention. The stained glass windows, dating from the 15th, 19th and 20th centuries, illustrate religious scenes, such as the life of Saint John the Baptist (15th century, restored in 1950) or the Assumption of Mary (1861, by Louis-Victor Gesta). The rectangular bell tower houses two arched octagonal halls and a belfry illuminated by geminied bays.

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