Palais Jacques Coeur is a 15th century mansion tha marked the turning poing in the history of architecture.  Built by the rich merchant Jacques Coeur, it will never be inhabited by its owner who fell into disgrace a few years before the end of the construction. 

Born in Bourges some time around the year 1400, Jacques Coeur rapidly rose to the top of the social ladder. After his appointment as Finance Minister to the King and being made a nobleman, he began the construction of his Palace, which was finished around 1450.

The façade on the street side and that of the main building are beautifully decorated with Jacques Coeur's royal emblem, together with a multitude of sculptures portraying religious themes, Jacques Coeur's travels or scenes of everyday life.

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On the facade, Jacques Coeur is represented with his wife.

It is assumed that originally, both of them were facing the cornice that was supposed to house a sculpture of Charles VII to show that they were close to the King. After the episode of disgrace, the statue of the king disappeared and the couple’s portraits were exchanged to turn their backs on the king.

On many walls we can also see hearts, scallops and the motto “A vaillans cuers riens impossible”, symbols of the master of the place.

This monument was unique in France for its time but illustrates well the original personality of its builder.
It is a precursor of the mansions of the Renaissance period : the large main building is constructed against the Gallo-Roman wall.
The galleries running around the courtyard link it to the chapel over the main doorway.

This vast residence was admired by his contemporaries. It is based on the model of the castle of Duke Jean de Berry of Mehun-sur-Yèvre but behind the fortifications of the facade it integrates a lot of comfort. It thus marks a turning point in the history of architecture, taking up again the characteristics of a medieval castle with a dwelling and a châtelet at the entrance completed with galleries to connect the two and a low courtyard below. However, it is pierced by numerous windows letting in a lot of light, which was unusual for the time.

Hall way around the Courtyard.

The Courtyard.

Entrance

Eexotic trees in the courtyard facade.

Stairway leading to the first floor.

Pantry is situated between the kitchens and the banqueting hall, opening into it through a serving hatch.

The pantry has no fireplace and only a small window to kept cool and fresh.  The

On the left are deep cupboards built into the thick wall.  The very thick wall on the window side was the site of a Gallo Roman wall for the site of a Gallo Roman wall from the 4th century, of which there were still numerous traces in the time of Jacques Coeur.

We are now headed to the Entresol (a low story between the first floor and the second floor).

Panels telling the story of Jacques Coeur who was a Land Lord and his ascension into Nobility.

We are now going up...

Treasury Room

This small room with an iron door was referred to in the ancient texts as the "huis de fer" (gateway) and used to guard the house's most valuable objects.

It never fulfilled that role in this building.  Instead, due to its iron door, it was used as a cell in the 19th Century.

A famous scene form the poem "Le Roman de Tristan"  the secret meeting between Tristan and Isolde, spied on by King Mark hidden in a tree is represented on an ornamental base.

Modern art were added

View of the courtyard from the 2nd floor.

These small lined showcases representing in the magical islands of Turakie, an island invented by the inhabitant of this apartment.

These sculptures were made using various recycled materials, carved avocado pits, cuttlefish bones, carved and dried potatoes,

used bones found on beached and other small objects from everyday life.

North Gallery was known as the "Chambre des mois de L'an" (months of the Year room), due to the stained glass windows representing the 12 months of the year and the coats of arms of ancient families from the Berry Region.

In the 17th century, it was also known as the "Winter gallery) .  The windows have disappeared, like most of windows in the palace, as have the 2 fireplaces on the northern wall.  Today this room is used fore temporary exhibitions.

In Turaki it is said that...

Nightclub, that's enough, CD the transition to musical modes

East Gallery is used for strolling and entertainment.  The long ogee-shaped barrel vaults consist of ribs which start from a molded ridge and descend to the top of the wall, onto sculpted wooden bases.