Saint-Doulchard
Commune
Location of Saint-Doulchard
Saint-Doulchard Show map of France Saint-Doulchard Show map of Centre-Val de Loire
Coordinates: 47°06′20″N 2°21′27″E / 47.1056°N 2.3575°E / 47.1056; 2.3575
Country	France
Region	Centre-Val de Loire
Department	Cher
Arrondissement	Bourges
Canton	Saint-Doulchard
Intercommunality	CA Bourges Plus
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Richard Boudet[1]
Area 1	24.01 km2 (9.27 sq mi)
Population  (Jan. 2021)[2]	9,645
• Density	400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	18205 /18230
Elevation	119–167 m (390–548 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Doulchard (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ dulʃaʁ]) is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is on the outskirts of Bourges.

History

In Roman times, it was named Ampeliacum, which literally means "the vineyard hillsides", where they grew grapes.

In the Middle Ages, it was home to Dulcardus, a hermit monk who gave his name to the place - St. Doulchard, by then just a village with a small church and bell tower.

With the introduction of railways in the nineteenth century and the Michelin tyre factory in 1950, the commune has grown, attracting businesses, jobs and an ever increasing population.

Geography

An area of both farming and light industry comprising a small suburban town and several hamlets situated along the banks of the Yèvre and the canal de Berry, immediately to the west of Bourges at the junction of the D104 with the D60 and the N76 with the D400 road.

Population

Sights

• The church, dating from the eleventh century.
• The chateau of Varye, built in 1870, and its park.
• The fifteenth-century manorhouse and mill at Ouzy.

Personalities

• Philippe-Ernest Legrand, French Hellenist was born here in 1866.
• Bernard Diomède, French footballer was born here in 1974.
• William Bonnet, French racing cyclist was born here in 1982.
• Loïc Jacquet, French rugby union player was born here in 1985.
• Morgan Sanson, French footballer was born here in 1994.

International relations

Saint-Doulchard is twinned with:

• Darłowo, Poland