Bourges Spring Festival

As you make your way up the Rue Moyenne, allow me to tell you about one of the city’s’ most renowned events: its music festival. It’s called Printemps de Bourges, meaning “Springtime in Bourges”, and it’s actually the first major festival of the year in France, happening every April. Its first occurrence was way back in 1977, and today it hosts concerts by world-famous and upcoming artists. Performances are held under this giant tent, which is put up just for the festival. It’s a real springboard to stardom, and for some it has borne fruit! As Daniel Colling, co-founder of the festival, puts it, the festival is “a hub for creation, self-expression, and musical exchange”. Each year, it hosts more than 150 artists; some perform on open-air stages around town and others on the big stage called “the W” under the tent; this one’s just for the headliners! With an average of 200,000 festival-goers showing up each year, the Spring Festival of Bourges is one of the biggest in France! So, whether you’re here to see your favorite artist or just stroll through the streets to the music of young up-and-coming talents, this festival has something for everyone! Fun fact: it just celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2021.