Bourges
Bourges
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| <map lat='47.0833' lng='2.4' zoom='10' view='0' /> | |
| Check out hitchhiking spots on Hitchmap | |
| Information | |
Country:  |
France |
| State: | Centre-Val de Loire |
| Population: | 70,000 |
| Major roads: | A71 |
| Meet fellow hitchhikers on Trustroots | |
Bourges is a city located near the geographical center of France. The locals are called berruyers and berruyères (not bourgeois-es—even if there are many, like everywhere).
Contents
- 1 Hitchhiking out
- 2 Hitchhiking in
- 3 Places to avoid
- 4 Accommodation and Sleep
- 5 Other useful info
Hitchhiking out
South/North/West via A71
Option 1 – Péage de Bourges
The best spot is at the motorway toll station (barrière de péage), as all directions diverge from there. You can check the spot on OpenStreetMap.
To get there:
- On foot (~5 km from the city center): Head southwest via Avenue Marcel Haegelen, continue straight on Avenue d’Issoudun, then follow blue signs to the autoroute. The toll station is just past the roundabout.
- By public transport (as of 30/04/2018): Take **bus 8** towards "Salengro (St-Florent-sur-Cher)" and get off at "Marcel Dassault". Then follow the road straight through one roundabout, take a left at the second, and then the second right at the third roundabout. The walk is about 10 minutes. On Sundays, use the d4 line.
North towards Vierzon, Orléans, Paris
Very straightforward—this direction is direct via the A71.
West towards Tours, Nantes, Rennes
You’ll need to switch to the A85 after Vierzon. Be alert—Vierzon is just 15 minutes from Bourges.
South-East towards Montluçon, Clermont-Ferrand
Also direct and simple via A71. To go further to Lyon, switch routes before Clermont-Ferrand.
South-West towards Limoges, Bordeaux, Toulouse
A bit trickier—several options:
- Go to Vierzon and switch to the A20.
- Go to Châteauroux via national roads to access the A20.
- Exit before Clermont-Ferrand and join the A89.
East towards Besançon, Belfort, Mulhouse
No direct autoroute. You'll need to cross hilly Burgundy using national and departmental roads. Good waypoints include Nevers, La-Charité-sur-Loire, Avallon, Beaune, or Chalon-sur-Saône before catching the A6 or A36.
Short distances (local towns)
Bourges is well connected via national and departmental roads. A ring road (rocade) encircles most of the city (except northeast). For short trips, stand on the roundabouts outside the ring road (often called "portes" like in Paris).
Hitchhiking in
Places to avoid
Accommodation and Sleep
Wild camping is possible. Try the green areas just outside the ring road.
Other useful info
Public Transport
- **Urban area transport:** Agglobus – Single ticket costs €1.40, valid for 1 hour including return trips.
- **Regional transport:** Rémi – Centre-Val de Loire
