Centre des monuments nationaux

Visit the Jacques Cœur palace located in the historic centre of Bourges, a town of art and history, and one of the most sumptuous examples of 15th-century Gothic civil architecture. Find out about Jacques Cœur, an extraordinary figure who was a merchant, adventurer and the great master of the mint to King Charles VII.

Visiting the Jacques Cœur palace in Bourges

• A masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic. The palace combines elements from the Gothic repertory (decorations based on plants and miniature architectures), royal symbolism (lilies), and the arms of Jacques Cœur (shells, hearts) together with realistic scenes of everyday life.

• A palace with bourgeois comfort. The building was inspired by the aristocratic residences of Duke Jean de Berry and has fireplaces in every room and a steam-room for washing. Circulation between the ceremonial receptions rooms is separated off from the private quarters.

Understanding Jacques Cœur and his palace in Bourges

• Like a character from a novel. Jacques Cœur was a merchant and had a huge network of trading counters, and became master of the mint to King Charles VII in 1438. He was ennobled in 1441 and became the King's right-hand man. The palace (1443-1451) is testimony to his rank. Court jealousies led to his arrest in 1451. He escaped from prison and took refuge in Rome. He died of disease when leading a Crusade in 1456. Jacques Cœur became a legendary figure and the French poet François Villon sang of his life and deeds.

• A public building. The building was used as the town hall in the 18th century, as a tribunal and finally law courts from 1820. It was included on the first official list of historic monuments in 1840.