Several great houses of the same period still exist at Bourges. Among others, the Hôtel Lallemand, built towards the close of the fifteenth century, the inner court of which is especially noteworthy, and the still more famous hôtel or château of Jacques Cœur.
This beautiful structure dates from the second half of the fifteenth century, and is built in part on the ramparts of the town. It is so well known that it will be unnecessary to describe or illustrate the famous portals and inner court. But the façade on the Place Berry, though less sumptuous, is hardly less interesting. Here we have the two great towers of the fortified enceinte, with their Gallo-Roman bases, and between them the corps de logis or main buildings of the mansion, which retain many features of the feudal castle, and bear witness to the wealth and power of Charles VII.'s ill-used favourite, the famous banker, whose splendid fortunes suffered such undeserved eclipse.
CHAPTER II
TOWN-HALLS, BELFRIES, PALACES
The social evolution which resulted in the enfranchisement of the communes had its origin in the eleventh century, though the consummation of this great political change was of much later date.
Down to the fourteenth century the efforts of the communes to exercise the rights conferred on them in charters wrung from their feudal lords received incessant checks. The opposition they encountered is hardly to be wondered at, seeing that every concession in their favour tended to diminish the despotic authority of those from whom it had been won. No sooner, therefore, was a charter rescinded and a commune abolished than the instant demolition of the town-hall and belfry was demanded. Hence very few town-halls of earlier date than the fourteenth century have survived.
Town-halls.—A few of the great Southern cities owned town-halls so early as the twelfth century, among them Bordeaux, where the building was of the Roman type, and Toulouse, whose town-hall was practically a fortalice.
219. TOWN-HALL OF PIENZA, ITALY (END OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY)