This paper introduces a key problem for the investigation of medieval achievements in the context of the city: the places of power. These ones are to be considered in the most extensive acception: i.e., not only princes' palaces, buildings housing administrative civil services, and bishoprics as their religious counterpart; but also lay elites' private implantations, and conventual establishments in the town itself or in its surburbs, hospitals, and finally the enclosure of the whole with its gates. After considering separately each of these components (global typology, specific features, functions), it is focused on their complementarity and interaction. All this presentation relies on particularly significant examples, and aims to provide a broad bibliographical survey of the various aspects. Keywords: urban topography, places of power, urban palaces, town halls, bishoprics, elites' residences, urban/suburban convents, hospitals, city enclosure and gates.