JEAN SANS PEUR TOWER

Built between 1409 and 1411, the Jean sans Peur tower is the sole testimony of one of the largest medieval Parisian mansions, the Hotel de Bourgogne, whose surface area is estimated around one hectare. It is named after its sponsor, regent of the kingdom under the reign of King Charles VI.

Historical
May 6, 1270 • Robert d’Artois, nephew of St. Louis, bought a house at the Pointe Saint-Eustache.
1369 • The Hotel Artois becomes the Hotel de Bourgogne as the result of a union between the two families. The domain includes an area delimited by the Rue Saint-Denis, Montorgueil, Tiquetonne and Mauconseil, covering more than a hectare.
November 23, 1407 • Jean the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy, had assassinated his cousin Louis d’Orleans, brother of King Charles VI. The murder triggered a civil war between Armagnacs (supporters of the Orleans family) and Burgundians.
February 9, 1409 to May 15, 1411 • Jean the Fearless took power and undertook the beautification of his Parisian hotel.
He built new buildings served by a high stair tower.
September 10, 1419 • Jean sans Peur was assassinated on the Montereau bridge.
1477 • On the death of Charles le Téméraire, grandson of Jean sans Peur, the Duke’s properties are managed by the Crown. Hotel de Bourgogne falls into disrepair.
1543 • Francois Ist sold the hotel in several lots. On the west side of the recently built rue Francois, its western part became the famous Hotel de Bourgogne, the cradle of French comedy.
The Oriental part, sold to Diego Mendoza, was kown for a long time as the hotel ‘Mendosse’.
Seventeenth and eighteenth centuries • In the hotel Mendosse followed: a charity shop established by St. Vincent de Paul, a cabaret with a certain reputation “Chez Mendosse” ...
From mid-eighteenth century to 1871 • The ironmonger Sterlin then the locksmith Bricard installed a shop, a warehouse and a workshop. The tower was inhabited by some of their workers and employees.
1868 • The construction of the rue Etienne Marcel clears the tower, the last vestige of the medieval hotel. The City of Paris buys it.
1884 • It is classified as an historical monument.
1893 • A threatening ruin, it is consolidated.
1991-1992 • It benefits from a complete renovation.
October 1999 • Thanks to the work of the association friends of “La Tour Jean sans Peur,” it was opened to the public for the first time. Since then, nearly 110 000 visitors have been able to visit it.

Specificities
A virtually intact medieval monument which can be visited on 5 levels.
A unique princely stair completed by an ornately organic carved vault.
Rooms of great comfort with latrines (one room has been restored with its original furnishings and decoration).