Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel de Chouys, located in Bourges in the Cher department, is a mansion built in the 3rd quarter of the 17th century, more precisely in 1661. Ordered by Canon Charles de Chouys, it illustrates bourgeois civil architecture of the period, blending classical elegance and neat ornaments. Its entrance gate, decorated with ionic columns and surmounted by a dice cornice, marks a monumental entrance. The arch in full hang, framed with harps imitating the boss, and the tympanum decorated with volutes and foliage, testify to a refined sculptural work.

The inner courtyard, lined with three buildings, reveals an architectural harmony between the levels. On the ground floor, the openings in the middle hanger have prominent keys, while on the first floor, the low arch windows are equipped with stone balusters. The facade pavilions, with stone skylights and modillon cornices, complete this remarkable ensemble. These elements, typical of the emerging Louis XIV style, underline the social status of its sponsor.

The hotel was partially protected by a decree of 1 May 1933, classifying its gate and facades on courtyard as Historic Monuments. This recognition highlights its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its history linked to the local clergy. Today, there remains a precious testimony of bourgeois urban planning in Bourges in the seventeenth century.

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