Idea #693 – Visiting Jacques Coeur’s Palace in Bourges
Born in Bourges around 1400, Jacques Coeur experienced an incredible social rise. After being named Grand Argentier of the king’s hotel and ennobled, he undertook the construction of his home. The work ended around 1450. A unique monument in France for this period, the palace prefigured the mansions of the Renaissance: a large main building was built on the support of the Gallo-Roman wall, circulation galleries defined a courtyard of honor, linking this building to the chapel built above the entrance gate.
The facade facing the street and that of the main building had an exceptional decor: the iconic royal associated with that of Jacques Cœur rubs a multitude of carved characters evoking religious themes, journeys of Jacques Heart or scenes of the everyday life. The interior reflected a great concern for comfort and hygiene. The reception rooms and private apartments were equipped with fireplaces, some of which are richly decorated. This unit was connected by a traffic system – spiral staircases, service corridors, galleries – particularly functional. Filigree, allusions to the heart in connection with the patronymic of the owner and, we have appreciated, the bat – present from the origins in the attic – can guide a parallel reading of the decoration and the monumental sculpture of the building.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Palais Jacques Coeur, Bourges, France
