Châteauroux, on the banks of the Indre river, is the préfecture (chief town) of the Indre département and the main town in the Lower Berry region. It boasts a wealth of places of interest including Saint-Martin gate, a vestige of ancient fortifications; pretty medieval streets (Rue de l'Indre, Rue de la Vieille Prison and Rue Grande); a 13th-century former convent, the Couvent des Cordeliers, today home to temporary contemporary art exhibitions; the elegant Château Raoul; and the Neo-Romanesque Notre-Dame church whose dome is topped by a gilt bronze statue of the Virgin.
Also not to be missed in the Musée-Hôtel Bertrand, an 18th-century mansion that once belonged to General Bertrand, Napoleon's comrade-in-arms and is today home to a collection of Napoleonic souvenirs and fine art.
The small town of Déols on the outskirts of Châteauroux is a must-visit place for architecture fans because of its splendid Romanesque bell tower, the remains of an ancient Benedictine abbey.
Every August, the town of Châteauroux hosts the Darc festival, a multicultural event featuring music shows and dance courses.
Located in the Centre region, the city is Châteauroux Prefecture of Indre. It is twinned with Gütersloh (Germany), Olsztyn (Poland) and Bittou (Burkina Faso).
Its history is intimately linked with that of Deols. Around 937, the lord of the nearby city built a fortress on the left bank of the Indre. It is the Chateau Raoul. A city of artisans and merchants will develop on its premises and will soon name Châteauroux by contraction.
With its strategic location at the edge of Aquitaine, Chateau Raoul and the Kings of France and England are going to dispute the possession until the 13th century. It was the Revolution that Châteauroux will become the chief of the department.
In the early 19th century, the city became industrialized (tobacco, textiles ...) and the railway arrived in 1847.
The plant installed in 1936 Aviation Deols then the implementation of a major U.S. base between 1951 and 1967 will invigorate the city and contribute to its development.
The historic heart of Châteauroux preserves many testimonies from the medieval period: rue de l'Indre, rue Grande, Saint-Martial church, Porte Saint-Martin, Cordeliers convent...
The 18th century is superbly represented by the 'Hôtel Bertrand, mansion that once belonged to General Henri-Gatien Bertrand, Napoleon's faithful companion in arms, whom he followed to Sainte-Hélène (the municipal museum is now located there). The churches of Saint-André (neo-Gothic) and Notre-Dame (of Romanesque, Byzantine and Auvergne inspiration) and the guitars of the town center bear witness, among other things, to the architecture of the 19th century.
Equinoxe, Scène Nationale is a brilliant contemporary achievement.
The two must-see sites are the Bertrand Museum (works from the Gallo-Roman period, Napoleonic memories, Flemish and Dutch paintings from the 15th to the 18th century...) as well as the Couvent des Cordeliers (former Franciscan convent from the 13th century, it now houses temporary exhibitions of contemporary art).
After having obtained the 4 flowers label, Châteauroux is part of the Association of Parks and Gardens. The city is crossed by the Indre river, itself bordered by green spaces forming a green flow. The Public Garden is the flagship of municipal gardens offering different atmospheres and creative landscaped spaces. The Daniel Bernardet leisure park (Belle-Isle) with its lake is for sports (fishing, swimming, nautical activities on the lake; playgrounds, walks and relaxation in green spaces).
