Description

The Palace of Jacques Coeur

The superintendent of finance of Charles VII, master of the mint, inspector general of the salt tax, and commissaire in the estates assemblies of the Languedoc region, Jacques Coeur had a grand'maison built in his hometown that is now known as the Palace of Jacques Coeur. This splendid résidence, one of the most beautiful urban private buildings of the Middle Ages, testifies to the activities and ambitions of its rich builder.

Pomp, comfort, wealth and magnificence characterised this masterpiece, whose prestige and singularity did not fail to impress Antonius Astesanus (Antonio Astesano), a contemporary of Jacques Coeur : « There I saw a hôtel worthy of a great prince built with extreme care for the steward of our powerful king, a man as great in mind as rich in treasure, putting him on par with Crassus of illustrious renown ; and, though his hôtel is as yet unfinished, he has already spent one hundred thousand gold crowns, so much does he endeavour to build himself a handsome abode, wishing the splendour of this residence to want for nothing » (Éloge descriptif de la ville de Paris et des principales villes de France, 15^th century).