Collinebourg

Collinebourg is the capital and largest city of the Serene Grand Duchy Yonderre. Collinebourg stands on the Peritonne river with a population of 8.200.000 in its metropolitan area. Previously independent cities like Nouvelle-Estia and Nymia have been incorporated into Collinebourg due to urban sprawl.

Collinebourg was founded in 1464 by the Estian Count (later Grand Count of Yonderre) Joanus de Martigueux when he built his castle on a hilltop overlooking a narrow stretch of the Peritonne river at the height of the Conquest of Joanusterra. Local Gothic settlements had existed on and around the site since neolithic times. Settlers soon came from the Holy Levantine Empire and Collinebourg saw rapid expansion even in Joanus' own lifetime. Collinebourg was made capital of the new marcher realm Jouanusterra in the Treaty for the guarantee of Joanus' Land signed with the Holy Levantine Empire in 1494. Collinebourg remained an important trade city for land-based trade into the Age of Enlightenment due to its strategic location on the crossroads of Catholic Levantia and Ultmar. The Great Fire of Collinebourg raged for four days in 1728 and ravaged much of the medieval city, and although it left around a quarter of Collinebourgers homeless it also cleared the path for modernization and urbanization previously thought impossible in the inner city. Further developments during the Yonderian Golden Age brought a Neoclassical look to Collinebourg's architecture.

Collinebourg remains a cultural and economic powerhouse in the Vandarch region. With a number of bridges connecting the various districts, the cityscape is characterised by parks, promenades, and waterfronts. Collinebourg is home to Guillaumebourg which houses the Yonderian Parliament. As the historic core of Yonderre, Collinebourg serves as the home of numerous Yonderian artists, scientists, and sports figures due to the presence of its various museums, academic and political institutions, and theaters. The city is home to Collinebourg University, the oldest and largest university in Yonderre. Collinebourg is an international tourist attraction, the second most popular in Yonderre after Gabion. Collinebourg is also home to the Ligue Yonderre football clubs Artillerie FC and Collinebourg Chevaliers.

Etymology
The name of Collinebourg comes from the Collinebourg Castle. It is a combination of the Burgoignesc words colline meaning "hill" or "mount" and bourg meaning "castle". It has sometimes historically (if incorrectly) been referred to as "Collinsburg" or "Collin's Burg" in Ænglish.

Education
The University of Collinebourg is Yonderre's oldest university founded in 1479. The Academic Ranking of World Universities placed it 30th in the world in 2026. The city is also home to Collinebourg Business School, Metropolitan University College, University College Capital, Technical University of Yonderre, Yonderre Business Academy, IT University of Collinebourg and the Collinebourg campus of Gabion University. The Yonderian Academy of Fine Arts has provided education in the arts for more than 300 years. It includes the historic School of Visual Arts, and has in later years come to include a School of Architecture, a School of Design and a School of Conservation.