Cher

Self-catering holiday rental homes in Cher, France

Cher is a department located in the centre of France. Named after the Cher River, it’s part of the Centre region. It is surrounded by the departments of Indre, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret, Nièvre, Allier, and Creuse. Find your ideal holiday house or cottage to rent in Cher and explore this vast plateau in the centre of France, positioned half-way between Paris and the Massif Central.

Sancerre, in the north of the department, rises on a rocky limestone outcrop to form a dramatic, picturesque townscape. The area surrounding the town is covered by the vineyards that make Sancerre a famous worldwide. It is not the only wine region, however, in the Cher department; there are also the appellations (AOC) of Reuilly, Quincy and Menetou-Salon all north of Bourges - and the less known wines of Chateaumeillant in the south, producing mainly rosés. Be sure to sample these many delights when renting self catering Cher holiday accommodation.

There are some local specialties, food-wise, including Sancerre goats cheese - crotin de Chavignol is an AOC cheese. And for the really sweet-toothed, Bourges is home to Forestines - the first and original filled sweets invented by Georges Forest in 1879.

Bourges is Cher’s delightful medieval capital, well worth a visit when staying in holiday rental property in Cher. The town is a fascinating mix of half-timbered houses and Roman remains and possesses one of the most outstanding gothic cathedrals in France. The cathedral of St-Etienne (12th c.) is a must when you explore Cher. The town has a rich history and holds an abundance of vestiges from the Roman period. Bourges has the label ‘town of Art and History’.

Chateaumeillant is another of Cher’s villages worth a visit. It’s located on the Compostelle pilgrim route. Saint Amand Montrond, a ‘ville fleurie’, offers numerous beautiful monuments, abbeys, Gallo-Roman sites, medieval gardens.  

The medieval village of Sancerre has a wonderful setting: perched on a rocky mountain, it offers a breathtaking view over the Val de Loire Valley and the surroundings vineyards. The AOC crottin de Chavignol (goat cheese) and its wine of the same name are produced in the area.  

Vierzon is famous for the production of porcelain. The town is much appreciated amidst nature lovers as it is surrounded with 7,500 hectares of forests and 5 rivers.

Travelling to your Cher holiday rental accommodation

By road: The A71 motorway traverses the department – it links to the A20 motorway form Paris and also links to the A7 to the south. By rail: There are direct links to the department from Paris Austerlitz station. It takes 1hr 45 mins to arrive at Bourges station. By air: The nearest airports are those of Tours and Limoges, although it is also feasible to fly to Paris or Poitiers. Tours is served by Ryanair; Limoges by Ryanair and flybe; Poitiers by Ryanair; and Paris by most airlines including British Airways, Air France, bmi, bmibaby, flybe, easyJet, Jet2, Thomsonfly and Aer Lingus.