The swamps of Bourges were historically a useful means of defence. Julius Caesar paid the price when he wished to conquer Avaricum, ancient Bourges, and got literally bogged down in the marshlands. The battle was harsh and drawn out, but the emperor was eventually victorious. Through the centuries, the land slowly dried up and served as vegetable plots that fed the city from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The last packing crates were put away in 1976, but lately, a few locals armed with hoes and picks have revived the tradition. Heritage crops that are making a reappearance include patience, a type of sorrel that grows in water. So when one tells you that patience is a virtue among the citizens of Bourges, you know it's true!
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