Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges (Bourges Cathedral)

Neglected by tourists for a long time, Bourges Cathedral was recognized in 1992 when UNESCO made it a world heritage site. This Gothic masterpiece is a stunning and stylistically daring sanctuary. Work on the cathedral began in 1195 and within twenty years, nearly half of the building was completed. The Cathedral opened in 1230. In contrast to the other grand Gothic cathedral of France it deliberately omits a transept from its design. Its magnificent chevet resembles the one at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris with double flying buttresses creating an overall pyramid-shaped elevation. It's splendid windows, like those at Chartres, make this cathedral famous. 183 stained-glass windows can be counted in Bourges cathedral, almost all dating from the 13th century, and in which more than 2,450 characters appear. Sinking foundations destabilized the adjacent vaults and the north tower collapsed in 1506. It took thirty years to rebuild. The new tower, Tour de Beurre or 'Butter Tower', owes its name to the methods used to fund its construction: exemptions from fasting were granted in exchange for silver.

The token machine is located inside the Cathedral. Hours of operation: Varied; see website.
No admission fee to access the token machine.
No on-site parking.

Token Machine 1 design is:
Obverse: Bourges Cathedral with 'La Cathédrale Saint Étienne de Bourges'.
Reverse: Highlighted region of Centre Val de Loire and Bourges crest inside an outline of France with 'Souvenirs et Patimoine Bourges'.

G.P.S. coordinates: Latitude: N47° 4' 56.643" Longitude: W-2° 23' 55.3302"
Google Maps coordinates: 39JX+VM Bourges, France

April 12, 2019. Token is of great quality. MWHTH