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Blois travel guide

Visit Blois (Centre-Loire Valley, France)

The town of Blois is found between Tours and Orleans in the Loire Valley. In recognition of the number of interesting monuments and the well preserved town centre Blois is a listed French ' Ville d'Art et Histoire' and has also been classified as a protected Historic Town in France .

Explore Blois

France This Way review: Blois is one of our favourite towns in the Loire Valley and an unmissable highlight of your visit: the town is one of the most interesting in the region, and has an impressive centre with several historic monuments as well as the renowned Chateau de Blois in the centre of the town.

Before starting to explore the centre of the town we suggest you cross the bridge in the town centre and walk a short distance along the river banks on the other side. This long stone bridge in Blois, the Pont Jacques Gabriel, dates from the 18th century. The view from here across the town is very lovely, and also helps you get a sense of where each of the main monuments in the town is situated. To help you there is an information board that highlights each of the principal monuments in Blois.

Before returning to the north side of the river you can visit the Church of Saint-Saturnin, one of the oldest churches in Blois, as well as the aitre of Saint-Saturnin: the aître is one of just a few cemeteries in France surrounded by galleries and is now the Lapidary Museum (with historic carved stones) for the town.

The north end of the bridge is a good starting point to explore the town. From here you can simply follow the streets as they meander, climb and clamber through the centre, admiring the protected historical buildings as you go, stopping of course for refreshments at a street side cafe along the route.

The main medieval centre in Blois is in the Rue des Trois Marchands (the western part of Blois) with the Church of Saint-Nicolas to the south and the castle to the north. This church is one of the most interesting in Blois and close to the Church of Saint-Nicolas you can also visit the Musee de la Resistance, dedicated to the resistance movement in the region during the Second World War.

Climb the hill and from the large square in front of the castle (the Place du Chateau!) you have nice views across the town and river. You can also find the Blois Tourist Office here and the Maison de la Magie, a popular attraction where you can learn about magic and see items that were used by Robert-Houdin and other magicians, as well as two popular restaurants.

If you follow the street next to the Tourist Ofice around the side of the castle you reach two more notable sights. The Church of Saint-Vincent is a baroque style church, and the large gardens behind the castle are also a peaceful place for a stroll and also have views across the town and castle.

Although the monuments around the castle are the most visited in Blois, we do recommend you also find the time to visit the region around the Cathedral of Saint-Louis, where you can also see Town Hall and its carefully maintained gardens and the Halle aux Grains. In the cathedral there are some very impreeive contemporary stained glass windows. Again, the views across the town rooftops and river are a large part of the attraction.

Chateau de Blois

The Château de Blois, a Renaissance château once occupied by King Louis XII, is in the center of Blois and is one of the most historically important castles in France. The castle was home to several French kings, and was also the place where Joan of Arc went in 1429 to be blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before she departed with her army to drive the English from Orléans during the Hundred Years War .

The chateau comprises several parts and wings, added as each owner tried to improve on the version before. The Chateau that we now see was therefore built over the course of several hundred years, from the 13th to the 17th centuries. The most renowned architecture in the Chateau de Blois is the spiral staircase, found in the François I wing.

The castle was neglected for much of the 17th-18th centuries, then ransacked in the Revolution, and narrowly managed to avoid demolition. The improvement in its fortunes began in 1841 when it was made a National Monument, and it has now been restored. For more information see Chateau de Blois .

Attractions nearby

A short distance north of the town centre on Rue de la Paix the Fondation du Doute features various contemporary artworks and interactive art exhibits. Near to Blois there are various pleasant woodlands and forests, including the Foret de Blois, the Parc de Chambord and the Foret de Boulogne.

To the east of Blois you can visit two of the most important castles in the Loire Valley: the Chateau de Chambord , the largest and most visited castle in the region, and the Chateau de Cheverny , a more recent castle and with the most beautiful interiors in the region.

You can find more travel ideas in the Loir-et-Cher guide and the Loire Valley guide .

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Map of blois and places nearby, visit near blois with france this way reviews.

One of the most impressive of the Loire castles, the Chateau de Blois is best known for its double helix renaissance staircase

Chateau de Cheverny

Cheverny Castle is perhaps the most opulently furnished of the Loire castles, and also has very lovely gardens

Chateau de Chambord

The largest castle in the Loire Valley, Chateau de Chambord exceeds all expectations with its grandeur - despite being built as a hunting lodge and rarely occupied!

Chateau de Chaumont

The small village of Chaumont-sur-Loire is dominated by the Chateau de Chaumont, one of the largest Loire Valley castles and with a famous annual International Garden Festival

Now listed as a 'town of art and history', Vendome retains many monuments from its active past despite extensive wartime damage

A small town on the banks of the Loire River, Beaugency squeezes a remarkable number of interesting sights in a small space!

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Loir-et-Cher

Tourist classifications for Blois

Blois has received the following tourist classifications: historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé); listed town of Art and History ; village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*

Address: Blois, Loire Valley, 41000, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 47.585, longitude 1.33

Plan your visit to Blois, Loir-et-Cher

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby.

• Roseraie des terrasses de l’évêché: remarkable garden
• Parc du château de Beauregard: remarkable garden (7 km)
• Fougeres-sur-Bievre Chateau: national monument (15 km)
• Domaine régional de Chaumont-sur-Loire: remarkable garden (16 km)
• Talcy Chateau: national monument (22 km)
• Jardin du château de Talcy: remarkable garden (22 km)
• Réserve de Beaumarchais: zoo or wildlife park (26 km)
• Vendome : town of art and history (31 km)
• Beaugency : recommended detour (31 km)
• Amboise : secteur sauvegarde (32 km)
• Jardin du domaine de Sasnières: remarkable garden (33 km)
• Parc et jardins du château de Chenonceau : remarkable garden (35 km)

Market days in Blois, France

Regular market(s) are held in Blois each Wednesday & Tuesday & Thursday & Sunday & Saturday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)

The French version of this page is at Blois (Francais)

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Office de Tourisme de Blois Chambord-Val de Loire

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Towering above the northern bank of the Loire, Blois’ royal château, one-time feudal seat of the powerful counts of Blois, offers a gripping introduction to some key periods in French history and architecture. Parts of the city still have a medieval vibe, and Blois makes an excellent base for visits to the châteaux, villages and towns of the central Loire Valley.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Blois. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Château Royal de Blois

Seven French kings lived in Blois' royal château, whose four grand wings were built during four distinct periods in French architecture: Gothic (13th…

Maison de la Magie

This museum of magic occupies the one-time home of watchmaker, inventor and conjurer Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin (1805–71), after whom the American magician…

Blois’ medieval and Renaissance old town is well worth a stroll. The façade of Maison des Acrobates – one of Blois' few surviving 15th-century houses – is…

Fondation du Doute

Avant-garde from the floorboards to the roof, this museum showcases the art and 'state of mind' of the 1960s Fluxus movement, inspired in part by the…

Maison de la BD

Bandes dessinées (BD; adult comic books) have achieved the status of an art form in France. This museum, unique in the country, provides a rare…

Église St-Vincent-de-Paul

Built by the Jesuits in the mid-1600s, this elegantly proportioned church has features typical of the Counter-Reformation. The classical façade is adorned…

Cathédrale St-Louis

Although Gothic in style, most of this cathedral (including the nave) was rebuilt after a terrible storm in 1678. The stained glass, bearing enigmatic…

Maison des Acrobates

The façade of Maison des Acrobates, one of the few surviving 15th-century houses in Blois, is decorated with wooden sculptures of figures from medieval…

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Visits & walks in and around Blois

Discovering blois.

The historic city of Blois has a wealth of treasures, best discovered by following our marked trails

Blois is ideal for walking, soaking up its rich and charming history. The pedestrian streets of the old town are lined with half-timbered houses and surprising perspectives. From Rue du Poids du Roi, a succession of delightful façades and rooftops leads you to the bell tower of the Gothic cathedral of Saint-Louis, overlooking the whole city.

Walking the streets

Built on the hillside, Blois is a city made for walking, with stairs, slopes and climbs everywhere. Forming a bank of the Loire, it offers a magnificent view of the Royal River and the Jacques Gabriel Bridge , built in the eighteenth century. Don't miss the Renaissance mansions of rue du Puits-Châtel, or the " Maison des acrobates " on Place Saint-Louis, one of the oldest buildings in Blois dating back to the reign of Louis XI. It was crowned "The most beautiful house in France" in 1960.

To allow you to discover the city at your own pace, four pedestrian circuits called " À nous les p’tits clous ” are marked with bronze studs in the ground (the "petits clous" in question) which guide you around the different districts: the surroundings of the château and the royal gardens, Puits-Châtel, the surroundings of the old abbeys, and the left bank with its magnificent panorama.

From the Royal Château to the Maison de la Magie

One thing you'll notice fairly quickly is that all roads lead to the château , with its striking facade - a unique demonstration of the developments in of architecture between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries. Richly decorated and superbly restored in the 19th century, this royal residence saw no fewer than seven kings and ten queens of France. It also houses the  Museum of Fine Arts , which include masterpieces by Ingres, Rubens and Boucher.

In a completely different key, don't miss the Maison de la Magie , located opposite the château. An outstanding building, this large bourgeois house from the middle of the 19th century takes you on a fantasy tour every half hour, when the six-headed mechanical dragon appears at the windows! A permanent collection dedicated to the magical arts, also paying tribute to the illusionist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin , one of the city's famous sons. The Maison de la Magie is also home to the fascinating exhibition " Secrets de Papier ." From origami to the repertoire of illusionists and artists, the world of paper reveals itself in all its forms: suspended Japanese cranes, pop-up books, sculptures by Éric Joisel and Gérard Ty Sovann .

"Fluxus" - the Foundation of Doubt

It is also impossible to visit without taking a tour of the Foundation of Doubt : Its facade, covered with plaques by the artist Ben is a striking sight. Ben conjured up this palace of art dedicated to the Fluxus movement in contemporary art. Among the permanent collections are works, videos and interviews of major players in the movement, from the great John Cage to Joseph Beuys and Georg Brecht.

Your artistic journey around the city continues as you discover thirty enamelled plates made by Ben in 30 different places, each asking questions to challenge visitors. It's just one beautiful illustration of the character of Blois, a living and vibrant city where tradition and innovation work in harmony. Check out the "photocall" on the square in front of the château for another example!

Our suggestions

Château Royal de Blois

HISTORIC SITE AND MONUMENT

 Blois

The Foundation of doubt

House of Magic

Musée des Beaux-Arts du château royal de Blois

Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Centre de la Résistance, de la déportation et de la Mémoire

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Visit Blois in the Loire Valley Guide

Pierre Robison / Getty Images

Blois, only one hour 22 minutes from Paris by train and roughly halfway between Orleans and Tours in the Loire Valley, makes a perfect center for exploring the gorgeous towns with their impressive châteaux (castles) along the river valley. It’s a delightful city, with its old streets clustered around the Château de Blois in the center of the town. Blois makes a perfect short break and is compact and easy to walk around. There's good public transport to some of the châteaux nearby and good train connections to many other French cities.

• In the Loir-et-Cher department (41)
• In the Centre-Val de Loire region
• 48,500 inhabitants

How to Get to Blois

• By car The distance from central Paris to Blois is around 159km (99 miles) and the journey takes around two hours depending on your speed.
• By train There is a good train service from Paris Gare d’Austerlitz to Blois station.
• By Bike Blois is on the main bicycle route in the Val de Loire, which offers 550 km of paths, trails and back roads specially marked out for cyclists. You can pick a part of the route, and there’s a very good section, Châteaux by Bike , that takes you past some of the castles. You'll find suggestions of accommodation, places which are friendly to bikers, places to eat and more in the local tourist offices which also have a very good free map.

A Little History

The town started as the fortified residence of the Counts of Blois in the 10th century. With such a powerful family protecting the town, it inevitably prospered and grew along the river and around the bridge that was built in the 11th century.

The town was a natural trading post on the road from Chartres to Poitou, and the move by the French kings to live in Blois ensured its prominence. Convents and churches followed and the city expanded along the Loire. In 1716 what was known as the Great Ice Break destroyed the old bridge and a new one was built. It’s a handsome structure linking the two banks and was followed by quays along the riverside.

The French Revolution did away with 15 of the churches; the Industrial Revolution brought further expansion particularly around the train station. In 1940 an air raid destroyed nearly 500 buildings; reconstruction took place between 1946 and 1950 and the result is a distinctive old quarter and new buildings that more or less fit into the cityscape.

Today Blois is a thriving city; the natural heart of the Loire Valley with good connections east and west. It makes a perfect base for exploring the Loire river, the châteaux along its banks and the numerous gardens in the area.

Where to Stay and Eat

Blois is a major center, so there’s plenty of choices from modest hotels to chic bed and breakfasts and from top-end Michelin-starred dining to friendly casual bistros down by the river.

For quick snacks and drinks, there are plenty of places along the main roads and in the square in front of the château. 

Just opposite the château, this is a good place for a drink and a snack in the small walled garden. There’s a comprehensive wine selection to buy in the cellar underneath the house and good regional products as well.

Attractions

• Château of Blois - Visiting the glorious château at Blois is the main reason most people visit the city. Dominating the town and the river, it has everything: a history of royalty and intrigue, of romance and dark deeds; spectacular architecture which takes in four centuries and four very different styles; an interior full of fine art and furniture; some wonderful events in the summer, and a truly remarkable son-et-lumiere (sound and light) show on summer evenings.
• The House of Magic (Maison de la Magie) - You can’t miss this extraordinary museum housed in an old red brick house opposite the château entrance. If you can, catch the first show every half hour when the windows open and the heads of six dragons snake out. And don’t think this is just for children; magic of this kind is for every age. The museum is devoted to Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin. Born in Blois in 1805, he made clocks and automates, many of which you’ll see in the museum as you make your way from illusion to illusion on its five levels. There are shows on selected days in the underground theater and special events.
• The Old Town - The old part of Blois stretches out from the château and the Place St-Louis around the cathedral, built during the reign of Louis XIV in 1697. The story goes that the Bishop had wanted the church of St-Nicolas for his cathedral, but as the church was higher than the château (its three spires form a great landmark), the King refused. Instead, Louis offered the site of the former Saint Solenne’s church which had just been hugely damaged by a hurricane. The Bishop had to accept and the church became Saint Louis Cathedral. Today, it’s mainly notable for a set of stained glass windows added in 2000.
• Walking around the Old Town - The Tourist Office has a good map detailing four walks, all around two kilometers long and starting in the town center. With the map, the walks are well signposted with different bronze dials embedded in the pavements.
• The Porcupine route (emblem of Louis XII) takes you along the old streets around the château and into the château’s now public gardens.
• The Fleur de Lys takes you on a circuit to the Puits Chatel district, full of Renaissance townhouses.
• The Saint-Nicolas Steeples is a trail around the western part of the city surrounding what was once an old abbey.
• The Sailing Boat walk is around the left bank area which takes you across the river. It gives you a great view of Blois and the chateau and takes you into Saint-Saturnin Church, once a major pilgrimage destination.

The rue du Commerce and its surrounding streets offer the best shops in Blois, which historically is known for chocolate making through its trading position on the Loire. The chocolate maker Auguste Poulain opened his first shop in Blois in 1847 and rapidly became the great modernizer, establishing his own brand and mechanizing his production. Bought in the 1990s, today you'll see mass-produced (but still very good) Poulain chocolates in every supermarket in France. Irresistible cakes, patisseries, and chocolates at the shop run by this meilleur ouvrier de France (best in any particular skill) and former chef at the Ritz, Paris. Chocolate or fruit cakes are a specialty; you can also eat them in the salon de the .

• Patissier-chocolatier Stephan Buret - More fantastic creations here, including the Saint-Michel (a confection of meringues with Grand Marnier butter between them).
• Markets - Blois is a natural center for the region, so it has a good range of markets.
• Daily markets Tuesday morning: Place Louis XII Wednesday morning: rue Pierre et Marie Curie Wednesday afternoon: quartier Begon-Coty Thursday morning: Place Louis XII and rue Chateaubriand Friday: Quai Amedee Contant, bio market from 5pm to 9pm Saturday morning: Place Louis XII Saturday afternoon: Quartier Republique Sunday morning: Avenue de l'Europe
• Brocante market on the Mail St Jean rue Jeanne d’Arc, second Sunday in each month

From Blois, a local coach company runs buses to Chambord, Cheverny, and Beauregard châteaux and back to Blois daily.

With such a central position, Blois is surrounded by attractions. Here are some suggestions for places to visit.

• Top Attractions in the Loire Valley
• Gardens in the Western Loire Valley
• Gardens in the Eastern Loire Valley
• Guide to the Cathedral City of Bourges

Guide to the Châteaux of the Loire Valley

A Tour of West France

Top 10 Chateaux in the Loire Valley

Top Gardens of France

The Best Loire Valley Driving Tour

The Loire Valley's Top Ten Attractions and Places to Stay

The Top 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France

6 Gorgeous Winter Châteaux to Tour in France

Top Bed and Breakfast Accommodation in the Loire Valley

The Essential Guide to Alsace, France: What to See & Do

Top French Wine Tours, Regions and Wine Routes

The Top 15 Things to Do in Bordeaux, France

North Coast of France: The Ultimate Road Trip From Dieppe to Calais

Guide to Angers in the Loire Valley, France

Guide to the City of Tours and its Attractions in the Loire Valley

Guide to Montreuil-sur-Mer

Plan Your Trip to Blois: Best of Blois Tourism

Essential Blois

Blois Is Great For

Historic sites

The great outdoors

Eat & drink

• Fleur De Loire
• Mercure Blois Centre
• Hotel Anne De Bretagne BLOIS
• Hotel de France et de Guise
• Best Western Blois Chateau
• Le Castelet
• L'Assiette au Bœuf
• Les Banquettes Rouges
• Le Petit Honfleur
• Chateau Royal de Blois
• Maison de la Magie
• Escalier Denis Papin
• Les Jardins de l’Ancien Eveche
• Ancienne Chocolaterie Poulain de Blois
• Day at the castles of Chenonceau and Chambord from Blois
• Circuit 2 castles around Blois: Chambord + Cheverny
• Loire Valley Ebike Tour to Chambord from Amboise
• 5 DAY Loire Valley Wine and Castle Tour with Guide and Sommelier
• Private round transfer to Normandy D Day Beaches from Paris

• plan du site
• groups and professionals
• schoolchildren
• shooting a film

• Prepare your visit

Your stay in Blois on 25 April

More services in addition to the entrance fee.

As you follow the route of the audio-guided tour, a selection of 40 numbered information points guide you to the main elements in the tour of the château.

In extracharge on the entrance ticket: +3€ per person, to book on the spot (subject to availability)

Audioguide available in 8 languages - Systematic disinfection

Systematic disinfection

Opening hours

The Royal Chateau of Blois is open all year round, except on 1 January, on 26 August and on 25 December.

The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the Chateau. Our ticket office staff remain at your disposal for further information in French and English.

Download our leaflet HERE

Admission prices

Free admission for children under 6 years and people with disabilities (proof required).

* Reduced rate granted to students, teachers on an individual visit, adults with large families and job seekers (proof required, less than 6 months). The price is 7€ for the students provided with the PCE (student cultural pass).

** Histopad included in the entrance fee (subject to availability), except for free tickets: +4€/person.

Combined tickets

Continue your visit in Blois by taking advantage of our combined tickets !

* Reduced rate granted to students, teachers on an individual visit, adults with large families and job seekers (proof required, less than 6 months) ** The combined ticket Château + Son et Lumière + Maison de la Magie + Fondation du doute is only sold at the ticket office (in the first site you come).

It's not necessary to book a date or an access to visit the Royal Chateau of Blois and to see the Sound and Light Show. Combined tickets are valid for the 2024 season. They could be used on several days.

#Good plan! For 55€ per person, the "Carte Privilèges" grants you free entrance to the château and expositions for 1 year. Become a privileged visitor and take advantage of exclusive benefits. Information and conditions

Group prices

Accepted payment options

Buy your entrances in advance here

Safety device of the château

Visits for individuals

Several visits are organized, guided or on own your own. You will find below details of each visit and their frequency. An english version of our website to buy your tickets online is coming soon

Self-guided tour

An information leaflet is available free at the entrance to the château. To supplement this information, cartels in English present each room.

Duration: 1h to 1h30 - Buy your tickets online

Tour with the HistoPad - Systematic disinfection

Audioguided tour - Systematic disinfection

Duration: 1h to 1h30 In extracharge on the entrance ticket: +3€ per person, to book on the spot (subject to availability).

Magnetic loop system for the hearing-impaired - inquire at front desk

For the use of the magnetic loop, it is necessary to activate the "mobility" option on your hearing aid (we advise you to ask your hearing aid specialist) .

General guided tour (only in French)

Duration: 1 hour

• From 8 January to 9 February 2024: 11 am and 3 pm
• Winter holidays (from 10 February to 10 March 2024): 11 am (except on Sundays), 2 pm, 3.30 pm
• From 11 to 29 March 2024: 11 am (except on Sundays) and 3 pm
• From 30 March to 3 November 2024: 10 am, 11 am, 2 pm and 4 pm
• From 4 November to 20 December 2024: 11 am (except on Sundays) and 3 pm
• From 21 December 2024 to 5 January 2025: 11 am (except on Sundays), 2 pm and 4pm

No general guided tour during the European Heritage Days (neither on December, the 24th and 31st at 4 pm)

Booking online here (website in French only) or on the spot (subject to availability) / Groups limited to 25 people. In extracharge on the entrance ticket

Foreign language tours

Orientation Tours in foreign languages are organized in July/August in the courtyard - Inquiry at the reception desk when you arrive.

Duration: 30 min

Family tour

Everything you ever wanted to know about the lives of the kings and queens, a guided tour unveils their story and opens the doors to the Royal Château of Blois. What were they eating? What odors were they smelling? Nothing will be a secret for you afterwards.

Duration: 1h15

Every day at 2:30 pm during school vacations. Booking by phone 0033 (0)2 54 90 33 33 or on the spot (subject to availability /I\ This tour takes place from 2 registered families (inquire on the spot when you arrive) Groups limited to 18 people - Without an extracharge for children / Additional fee for adults: +5€

Children will discover the Chateau and the Fine Arts Museum while having fun; there will be questions, games, riddles, puzzles, drawings and observation... At the exit, a small gift will be theirs. No extra charge.

"Behind-the-doors" tour (only in French)

A conference guide will take you on a very special tour of the château and show you parts that are usually closed to the public: apartments, towers, fortifications, attics and other unusual places.

Duration: 2h

• From 8 January to 10 February 2024: no scheduled visits
• From 11 February to 24 March and from 17 November 2024 to 5 January 2025: every Sunday and public holiday at 10.30 am
• From 30 March to 30 June and from 7 september to 13 October (except during the European Heritage Days) + 9, 10 and 11 November: every Saturday and Sunday and public holidays at 10.30 am
• From 6 July to 1 September 2024: every day at 10.30 am and 3 pm
• All Saints holidays (from 19 October to 3 November 2024): every day at 10.30 am

Booking by phone 0033 (0)2 54 90 33 33 or on the spot (subject to availability) / Groups limited to 18 people This tour is prohibited for children under 8 years old. Not accessible for people with reduced mobility and the visually impaired (many stairs). In extracharge on the entrance ticket: +7€/adult and +4€ for young people from 8 to 17 years old.

"Under the queens' petticoats" tour (only in French)

Duration: 1h30

• From 30 March to 2 November (except July and Angust) : every Saturday at 4:30 pm

Booking by phone 0033 (0)2 54 90 33 33 or on the spot (subject to availability) / Groups limited to 18 people Forbidden under 14 years old. In extracharge on the entrance ticket: +7€/adult / +4€ for young people from 14 to 17 years old.

Nocturnal Murmurs (only in French)

• Winter holidays (12 February to 8 March 2024): on Mondays and Fridays at 7 pm
• Christmas holidays: on Mondays and Fridays - 23, 27 and 30 December 2024 and 3 January 2025 at 6:30 pm

Prices: 22€/adult, 16€/reduced price, 12€/child /!\ from 8 years Book your visit online here (group limited to 25 people). For further information: 0033 (0)2 54 90 33 33

The booking service stands ready to answer any questions from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 5:15 pm.

Accessibility

Useful information:

- On the Place du Chateau, 2 parking spaces for people with reduced mobility (PMR, in French) are at your disposal, as are toilets designed for the disabled; they are located at the back of the courtyard, on the right. They may be reached via the ground floor of the Francis I wing. - Wheelchair available on loan, information at the reception desk - Seats are present in all rooms, throughout the visit

The château has held the national ‘Accessible Tourism’ mark for hearing and mentally impaired visitors

Explanatory notices for visitors are available in the reception area, as is a magnetic loop system for the hard of hearing. Portable magnetic loops loan available for the audio guide route. For the use of the magnetic loop, it is necessary to activate the "mobility" option on your hearing aid (we advise you to ask your hearing aid specialist)

For persons with mental and cognitive disabilities, suitably tailored tours are offered, on reservation.

For your tour of the Fine Arts Museum (located in the Louis XII wing, accessible by the staircase, half a flight up from the Hall of the Estates General), we can lend you magnifying glasses and eyeglasses (TVmax). Folding stools are available at the museum. Please ask for information directly at the museum entrance.

For blind or visually impaired persons , suitably tailored tours are offered, on reservation.

Whenever material is borrowed, an identity document will be requested.

Quality program

Wishing to extend the best of welcomes and to upgrade the quality of tourism services in France, the French state has created the Qualité Tourisme (Quality in Tourism) label.

Possessing this label since 2010, the Royal Chateau of Blois is committed to fulfilling all the relevant criteria and, consequently, to offering you, the visitor: a warm welcome involving personalized service, clearly formulated and precise information, knowledgeable and responsive staff, clean and comfortable premises and facilities, and informed advice facilitating your discovery of our territory.

Comfort for visitors

• Resting seats in the Chateau
• Loaned wheelchair (see reception area)
• Suited sanitary facilities

/!\ Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult in charge of their supervision

Only small bags that can be easily carried in front of you are allowed in the Chateau. A locker is available for your other bags. However, big luggages are not allowed. Our staff is not authorized to keep your personal effects. Our free locker is currently open (under condition of an application of the Plan Vigipirate /anti-terrorist security plan)

Strollers are not permitted in the Royal Apartments . Stroller parking: Strollers may be left under the gallery. W ithout c ont inu ous surveillance

Baby carrier with metal frames are not allowed inside the chateau.

Visitors' Rules and Regulations

The gift shop offers a wide range of articles allowing you to find the ideal gift: decoration, regional gastronomy, art objects, quality books, souvenirs...

The gift shop all year rouand, except for 1 January and 25 December, during the opening hours of the chateau.

Information: Tel : 0033 (0)2 54 90 33 39 Contact the gift shop

Access and parking facilities

> By car

From Paris: 180 km/112 miles (2h) - autoroute (motorway) A10: Paris/Bordeaux - exit Blois - route nationale (highway) RN 152: Paris / Orléans / Blois From Nantes: 285 km/177 miles (3h) From Lille: 400 km/250 miles (4h) From Lyon: 450 km/280 miles (4h30) From Bordeaux: 400 km/250 miles (4h) To prepare your itinerary, go to: mappy / viamichelin / google maps

GPS coordinates: - Decimal degrees: Latitude 47.585343 Longitude 1.331537 - Degrees, minutes, seconds, hundredths: Latitude N46 35 08 77 Longitude E1 19 53 52

> By train 1h30 from Paris (Gare d'Austerlitz): the Paris / Tours and Paris / Nantes lines To prepare your itinerary: www.voyages-sncf.com www.ter.sncf.com/centre

https://en.francevelotourisme.com/leasure/sites-and-historical-monuments/chateau-royal-de-blois

> By bus There is a bus stop at the foot of the Royal Château of Blois.

- Azalys transport company: to inquire: 0033 (0)9 693 693 41 or www.azalys-blois.fr - Shuttles: to inquire: www.remi-centrevaldeloire.fr - www.bloischambord.com/planifier/transport/navette-bus-mini-bus

> From foreign countries by plane From Paris: Orly (180km/112 miles) or Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (220km/137 miles) airports From Tours: Tours - Val de Loire airport (60km/38 miles) Parking facilities > Car park The closest underground parking lots: - "Chateau" parking at 200m (416 parking spaces), access on avenue Jean Laigret - 3€ / 3 hours - "Valin de la Vaissière" parking (336 parking spaces), access on quai de la Saussaye The Blois town center features ample surface parking, including more than 600 free parking spaces (10 to 15 minutes from the foot of the Chateau) > Camper van parking

Parking area "Parc des Expositions": south of the Loire, on Avenue Wilson, next to the "Parc des Expositions".

From 1 June to 30 september, the parking is not allowed in several places on the Loire side like Levée des Tuilerie, Edmond Mounin parking lot on the right bank and Port de la Creusille on the left bank. Apart from these spots, the parking for camper vans is allowed on public roads, on condition of having an adequate size.

More information here (website only in French language)

> Bus park

Free park for buses situated 400m away from the chateau. Download the map

Stays and sojourns

http://www.bloischambord.com/sejours-cles-en-main/sejours-individuels

Information: Booking department of the Blois/Chambord tourism office 0033 (0)2 54 90 41 42 - [email protected]

Consult the offers of our other partners.

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What To Do in Blois (My Top List + Map)

• December 26, 2023

Situated between Orléans and Tours, Blois is a place you don’t want to miss in your Loire Valley itinerary. It’s a picturesque small city with medieval cobblestone streets, half-timbered burghers’ houses, a magnificent castle and an impressive Gothic cathedral!

The city reached its peak when it became the second capital of France under the reign of Louis XII in the 15th century. Actually, the royal château of Blois is considered a symbol of the French Renaissance and it’s one of the must-see castles in Loire Valley.

What to do in Blois in one day

Blois is a perfect destination for a day trip from Orléans or Tours. In fact, many tourists visit the city for its royal chateau. And while the castle is something not to be missed, I’d recommend you to dedicate at least one full day to this charming city. Moreover, thanks to its good public transport (trains and shuttle buses), Blois is an excellent base for exploring the chateaux in the central part of Loire Valley.

In this one day itinerary for Blois, you’ll find not only how to visit its royal castle (and skip the lines), but I’ll take you beyond the beaten path. This walking itinerary is suitable for all travellers without any modifications, no matter if you’re staying overnight or visiting the city on a day trip.

The itinerary starts with a visit to the royal castle, which is located on your way to the Old Town from Blois – Chambord train station. After that, you can dedicate as much time as you want (and have) exploring the Old Town.

Find a map of this Blois itinerary (with all attractions and restaurants’ websites) at the end of the blog post.

• Breakfast at Boulangerie Simonnet
• Visit the Royal château of Blois
• Taste the crepes at Le Comptoir de Mamie Bigoude Blois
• Climb Escalier Denis Papin
• Admire the Cathedral of Saint-Louis
• Relax in Jardins de l’Évêché
• Taste regional specialities at Le Castelet
• Walking around the Old Town of Blois
• Visit Maison de la Magie

Pont Jacques-Gabriel

• Admire Saint Nicolas Church

08:15 AM – 08:45 AM Start your one day in Blois with breakfast at Boulangerie Simonnet or Boulangerie Lamargot . Both bakeries offer great sandwiches and delicious pastries.

Royal château of Blois

09:00 AM – 11:30 AM The Royal château of Blois (Château Royal de Blois) was built between the 13th and 17th centuries. Once home to the powerful Counts of Blois, the castle became a royal residence under the reign of Louis XII in the 15th century. During the following centuries, 7 kings and 10 queens of France lived here, adding their own style to the architecture of the building.

Each of the four wings of the chateau has its own history and features a different architectural style – from medieval through Gothic and Italian Renaissance to Classical. You can truly appreciate the beauty of the castle from its inner courtyard, where you can see the four architectural styles represented.

Pay special attention to Francois I Renaissance wing and its richly decorated octagonal staircase. Also, don’t miss the spectacular view of the Loire from the castle’s gardens.

Note: horse-drawn carriage tours of the Old Town depart from the square at the chateau’s entrance.

Every evening from April to September, you can enjoy a Sound & Light Show in the courtyard of the chateau. The show recreates the most famous events in the castle’s history.

Lunch at Le Comptoir de Mamie Bigoude Blois

11:45 AM – 01:15 PM It’s time for some crepes! Head to Le Comptoir de Mamie Bigoude Blois , a lovely crêperie, just opposite the royal chateau. They offer a wide variety of delicious crepes, ranging from salty to sweet (you can even customize with your favourite toppings).

Escalier Denis Papin

01:15 PM – 01:30 PM The best way to reach the cathedral is via the stairway of Denis Papin. Since the 19th century, this iconic stairway has provided a link between the upper and the lower part of the town. At its top, you’ll find a statue of Denis Papin, the famous inventor from Blois. He is known for the invention of the steam digester, the forerunner of the steam engine.

Every year the 120 steps of the staircase are covered in a giant artwork responding to what’s happening in town.

Cathedral of Saint-Louis

01:40 PM – 02:10 PM The Cathedral of Saint-Louis (Cathédrale Saint-Louis), the seat of the bishop of Blois, was erected in 1697. It is built over a church from the 10th century, dedicated to Saint Solenne. You can still see the remains of the older church in the crypt. The cathedral is in Late Gothic style and it features stunning stained-glass windows by the artist Jan Dibbets.

Jardins de l’Évêché

02:10 PM – 03:00 PM Right next to the cathedral, you’ll find a beautiful garden, Jardins de l’Ancien Évêché. Created in the 19th century, this terraced garden includes a rose garden (Roseraie) and a garden of the senses (Jardin des Cinq Sens).

Also, from the garden, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Loire Valley landscape.

Dinner at Le Castelet

Finish this one day in Blois with a dinner at Le Castelet or Food & Brew – Le FaB .

For some regional and traditional specialities head to Le Castelet. The restaurant is set in a 16th-century townhouse, on a street lined with half-timbered houses!

For a casual meal and some craft beer, Food & Brew – Le FaB is the place to go. Besides the excellent draught beer, you’ll find delicious share plates made with locally sourced and organic products.

More ideas for your one day in Blois

Walking around the old town.

There are many picturesque alleys and tiny streets in Blois, but the most famous ones are Rue du Puits-Châtel and Rue Pierre. Walking on these cobblestone alleys, lined by tall stone and half-timbered houses, will take you back in time to the Middle Ages.

If you have additional time, I’d recommend you to follow some of the following scenic walks – Porcupine route, Fleur de Lys, Saint-Nicolas Steeples or Sailing Boat. They all are signposted with different bronze dials embedded in the pavements. More info about them (including maps) you can get from the Tourist Office Blois Chambord ( Address: 5 Rue de la Voûte du Château ).

House of Magic (Maison de la Magie)

Right across the Château Royal, you’ll find Maison de la Magie, a unique museum devoted entirely to magic. A large part of the exhibition is dedicated to the famous magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, born in Blois. He was so famous that Harry Houdini based his stage name on this Frenchman.

You’ll also find a variety of optical illusions and discover the history of the magical arts. Don’t miss the creative show every half hour – the windows of the building open and the six heads of a dragon monster show up.

Built in 1724, this is the oldest bridge in Blois. It is beautifully illuminated in the evenings, so if you’re staying overnight, don’t miss it!

Saint Nicolas Church

Saint Nicolas Church (Église Saint-Nicolas) is one of the oldest churches in Blois. Formerly a Benedictine abbey church, it dates back to the 12th century. The church combines Gothic elements with Romanesque style because it was rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries (due to damage during the Wars of Religion).

Château Royal de Blois – it’s one of the most popular castles in the Loire Valley, so book skip the line tickets in advance here .

Where to stay in Blois

If you’re planning an overnight stay, choose accommodation in the area between the royal chateau and Jardins de l’Évêché. All historic sights are located in that particular area, including many restaurants, so you’ll be just a short walk from everything.

Just a short walk from the Old Town, Mercure Blois Centre is a perfect base to explore not only the town but the castles in the Loire Valley as well (easy access to A10 motorway). The hotel also features an excellent restaurant, a modern bar and a wellness area with an indoor pool and a steam room. Why book – 5min walk from the Old Town, indoor heated pool, secure parking on site

Set in a historic house at the bottom of the walls of the castle, this B&B is just a few steps from downtown and many restaurants. Spacious, beautifully decorated rooms overlooking the river. Why book – near the castle, rich homemade breakfast, free parking nearby

Getting around in Blois

Find here a detailed map of this Blois walking itinerary.

Blois is a very compact and walkable city. All attractions are located just a few minutes away from each other.

How to get to Blois

Blois – Chambord station (Gare de Blois – Chambord) is the city’s main train station. It is located less than a 10min walk from the Old Town and the chateau. Check timetables and book train tickets online at SNCF official site .

Parking on the streets in the Old Town (red zone) is free on Sundays and from Monday to Saturday (between 12 PM – 2 PM and 6:30 PM – 9 AM). Outside these hours, you can park only for 2 hours. For a longer period, I would recommend you use the parking lots at the Château, Halle aux grains or Valin-de-La-Vaissière ( more info here ).

Day trips from Blois

Loire valley chateaux.

Near Blois, you’ll find some of the most popular chateaux of Loire Valley. This makes the town a perfect base to discover this beautiful region of France. For more information check out my travel guide to the best Loire Valley castles to visit , which includes a map and how to reach each of the chateaux.

Here is a list of the most popular castles near Blois (all located less than an hour away by train or car).

• Château de Chaumont – a fairytale 10th-century castle, once home to the Counts of Blois, Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers
• Château de Chambord – with its 440 rooms and 282 chimneys, this royal 16th-century castle is one of the largest in France
• Château Royal d’Amboise – another gorgeous royal residence of King François I (here you’ll also find the tomb of Leonardo Da Vinci)
• Château de Beauregard – an elegant 15th-century manor famous for its Portraits Gallery, which features more than 300 portraits of kings and political figures
• Château de Cheverny – a magnificent manor, considered to be one of the most furnished castles in the valley
• Château de Meung-sur-Loire – a 12th century castle, once a private residence of the Bishops of Orléans

A 40min away by train lies the city of Tours, the birthplace of Balzac. The city is famous for its half-timbered houses from the 15th century and medieval atmosphere. Another highlight is the Cathédrale Saint-Gatien, where you’ll find a chapel dedicated to Joan of Arc.

Find out more in my travel guide on what to do in Tours, France .

How to get to Tours Take a train from Gare de Blois – Chambord to Gare de Tours (40min journey). From the central train station, it’s just a short walk to the city centre.

How many days in Blois

Is one day in blois enough.

One day in Blois is enough to see the city, including a visit to the chateau and explore the Old Town. If you’re short on time, start with the castle and then continue with its historic centre.

1 or 2 days in Blois?

You won’t need more than a day to see the city, but Blois is a great base to explore the castles of Loire Valley. I’d recommend you to use the city as a base, you’ll need 2-3 days to see the most popular chateaux in the area.

Best time to visit Blois

If you’re visiting Blois as a part of your Loire Valley trip, the months of May, June or September are the best choice. Crowds are fewer and the weather is not hot, but nice and warm.

Carnaval de Blois takes place every year in March. The parade marches through the city from Place du Royal Château all the way to the Place de la République.

Faqs about visiting Blois

Blois is a picturesque medieval city with cobblestone alleys and half-timbered houses. It is worth visiting not only for the Royal Château but also for its pretty Old Town. The city is also a great base to explore the chateaux of the Loire Valley.

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11 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Blois

Written by Lisa Alexander Updated Dec 28, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Nestled on two hills above the right bank of the Loire River, this enchanting town is distinguished by its refined elegance. The architecture of Blois reflects the grandeur of past residents. Dominating the cityscape are the magnificent Château Royal de Blois (once home to France's kings) and the Cathédrale Saint-Louis, which both overlook the spectacular Loire Valley.

Blois rose to prominence in the 15th century, and the Renaissance spirit is felt throughout the city. Hôtels particuliers (noblemen's townhouses) of the Counts of Blois, impressive aristocratic mansions, and quaint half-timbered burghers' houses give the historic district a special ambience.

With its alluring old-world charm, regal heritage, and peaceful bucolic setting, Blois is one of the best places to visit in the Loire Valley to take in the region's cultural heritage.

Learn about the best places to visit and things to do with our list of the top attractions in Blois.

1. Château Royal de Blois

2. vieux blois (old town), 3. maison de la magie (house of magic), 4. eglise saint-nicolas, 5. eglise saint-vincent-de-paul, 6. cathédrale saint-louis, 7. eglise saint-saturnin, 8. jardin de plantes médicinales, 9. festivals, 10. fondation du doute: museum of contemporary art, 11. music concerts & cultural performances, where to stay in blois for sightseeing, map of attractions & things to do in blois.

One of the top tourist attractions in the Loire Valley , the majestic Château Royal de Blois has an illustrious history. Renowned inhabitants have included the Dukes of Orléans, seven kings of France, the prince/poet Charles d'Orléans, and several Counts of Blois who led the Crusades.

Built between the 13th and 17th centuries, the castle is a marvel of Renaissance architecture with ornate loggias, galleries, and oriel windows.

Visitors enter through the Louis XII wing (built from 1498 to 1503). Over the doorways appears the crowned porcupine, the emblem of Louis XII. The Salle des Etats is a remnant of the 13th-century castle, and the Francis I wing features a richly decorated octagonal staircase.

In the Galerie Charles d'Orléans is the Late Gothic Chapelle Saint-Calais with a terrace affording gorgeous views of the town. The château also houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts , which showcases a collection of artworks from the 16th through the 19th centuries. Highlights include the masterpieces by Marco d'Oggiono, Bourdon, Ingres, and Boucher.

Visitors should save some time to explore the Jardins du Roy surrounding the château. Created by King Louis XII and Anne of Brittany, the original Renaissance gardens are now landscaped in contemporary style with vibrant flowers planted beneath shady centuries-old trees. Throughout the year, the gardens become a magical venue for concerts, theater, and other cultural performances.

The château is open to the public (for an entrance fee) every day of the year except for December 25th and January 1st. Every evening during spring and summer, the château presents a sensational 45-minute show featuring special lighting and sound effects, Son & Lumière du Château , that recounts important events in the castle's history.

Gourmands should note that across from the royal castle in a 15th-century house is a renowned restaurant, L'Orangerie du Château , which serves modern French cuisine.

Address: 6 Place du Château, 41000 Blois

Official site: http://www.chateaudeblois.fr/?lang=en

The historic center of Blois has a distinctive old-world atmosphere. Vieux Blois is characterized by its handsome half-timbered burghers' houses, narrow pedestrian streets, and picturesque staircases.

Immediately east of the Saint-Louis Cathedral is the 18th-century Ancien Evêché , the former Bishop's Palace, now the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall).

The adjoining gardens, the Jardins de l'Évêché , are classified as Jardins Remarquables (Remarkable Gardens). Created in the 17th century, the expansive green space includes a Rose Garden (Roseraie) with a wonderful variety of blooms and a terrace with splendid views of the Loire Valley landscape. A snack bar offers refreshments and light meals during summertime.

To truly get a feel for the town, visitors should spend time exploring the medieval cobblestone streets. The Rue Pierre de Blois alley and the steps of the Rue Denis Papin are especially beautiful. The Rue du Puits Châtel traverses the Old Town and includes pedestrian staircases with scenic views.

There are also many elegant Renaissance houses throughout the town, including the fanciful Maison des Acrobates with carved details of nimble acrobats on the facade; the Hôtel de Condé on the Rue de Juifs (in the former Jewish Ghetto); and the grand Hôtel Sardini , an exceptional hôtel particulier (mansion) that is classified as a "historic monument" and is open to the public.

In the Maison Massé, across from the Château Royal, this unique museum is the only museum in Europe entirely devoted to magic as a performing art. The museum immerses visitors into the fantastical world of magic while offering an entertaining experience that is full of surprises.

Visitors are amazed by the museum's creative presentation, including a fire-breathing dragon that appears every half hour.

In the 2,000 square meters of exhibition space, a large section is dedicated to the famous magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, who was born in Blois. Several rooms present the life and work of Houdin. There are also exhibitions that explain the history of the magical arts and other areas that display a variety of optical illusions.

Throughout the year, the museum presents magic shows featuring award-winning performers and other talented magicians.

Address: Maison de la Magie, 1 Place du Château, 41000 Blois

The Eglise Saint-Nicolas stands in the shadow of the Château de Blois in the historic district of Blois, where the narrow streets are lined with distinctive old houses. Formerly a Benedictine abbey church, the building dates to the 12th century but was damaged during the Wars of Religion and rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Gothic elements define the architectural style, but further examination reveals Romanesque features such as the finely carved capitals. One unusual detail is the monumental gargoyle above the rose window.

Inside the church, visitors are awed by the bright sanctuary, which is illuminated by artistic stained-glass windows. Many of the windows are contemporary, which creates an unexpected contrast to the ancient structure.

Address: Parvis Saint-Nicolas, 41000 Blois

In the center of Blois near the Château de Blois, this 17th-century church exemplifies Baroque style with its graceful proportions. The Church of Saint Vincent de Paul was constructed over many years and was finally completed thanks to donations from Gaston d'Orléans.

Typical of a Jesuit church, the facade features three levels of Doric and Corinthian columns. The ornately decorated interior has a sense of drama with its carved red marble columns and opulently adorned chapels.

The church displays many fine sculptures, including two commemorative monuments. Surrounding the church are overgrown gardens that offer a sense of tranquility.

Tourists may visit the church year-round. Admission is free of charge.

Address: Place Victor Hugo, 41000 Blois

The Cathedral of Saint-Louis stands on high ground in the old town, northeast of the Château de Blois. There was a church on this site in early Christian times, which was rebuilt and altered in the 12th, 16th, and 17th centuries. However, the crypt dates from the original church of the 10th century.

The church was destroyed by a hurricane in 1678. Apart from the apse, the tower and the west front, the cathedral was entirely rebuilt.

The finely vaulted Gothic interior stuns visitors with its spaciousness. The cathedral features contemporary stained-glass windows by the artist Jan Dibbets.

The cathedral is open to the public for visits. Free guided tours are available in French for those interested in learning more about the cathedral and its stained-glass windows.

Address: Place Saint-Louis, 41000 Blois

One of the oldest churches in Blois, the Church of Saint Saturnin was built on the foundation of a pre-Romanesque chapel. Anne de Bretagne provided donations that allowed enough funds to reconstruct the building in the 16th century.

Unfortunately, the church fell victim to the Wars of Religion; it was damaged in 1568 and then restored later in the 16th century.

Open to the public for self-guided visits, the church interior dazzles visitors with its breathtaking rib-vaulted Gothic nave. Not to be missed are the 16th-century Chapel Saint Pierre and the aître , which are listed as National Historic Monuments.

Other noteworthy architectural and artistic elements are the hexagonal staircase, vibrant stained-glass windows, fine paintings, and statues.

Address: 13 Rue Munier, Blois

A surprising oasis of calm in Vieux Blois (the Old Town), this fetching garden is enclosed within ancient walls behind the cathedral. The lush green space flourishes with vibrant flowers and leafy trees, which attract many chirping birds.

The garden, also known as the " Jardin des Cinq Sens " (Garden of the Five Senses), is distinguished by its variety of aromatic herbs and medicinal plants.

A glorious sensory experience of sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste awaits. Visitors can admire the colorful flowers, listen to the calming birdsong, discern the fragrance of the herbs, feel the textures of the plants, and even taste some of the edible herbs.

The garden is open year-round Monday through Friday from 9am to 5:30pm. Entry is free.

Address: Place Saint-Louis, Blois

During summertime (June until September), the city of Blois organizes a lively festival called " Des Lyres d'été ," a series of over 300 events: music concerts, cinema, dance performances, street theater, storytelling, and fireworks. The events take place at public squares and outdoor spaces in Blois, as well as in neighboring villages.

Another amusing festival, the Carnaval de Blois in March celebrates the end of winter with a marching-band parade and street theater. The jubilant procession winds through the city from the Place du Royal Château all the way to the Place de la République. In keeping with the festive spirit, the event concludes with a highly anticipated performance at the Halle aux Grains (2 Place Jean Jaurès).

The Fondation du Doute is a daring museum of contemporary art focused on the period of 1960 to 1970. The collection displays the work of more than 50 artists, including about 300 pieces in total.

The 1,500-square-meter gallery space represents a diverse array of works, which allows for an in-depth appreciation of contemporary art. The foundation encourages visitors to discuss, question, and challenge their perception of art.

Bringing the world of art to visitors' lunch break, the museum has a trendy casual restaurant, the Café le Fluxus , which serves snacks and pastries in a creative setting. Occasionally the café is open in the evenings for concerts and other events.

The museum also has a boutique , which sells books and other products with a contemporary art theme.

Address: 14 Rue de la Paix, Blois

Blois boasts a wealth of cultural offerings, from classical music and traditional theater to pop music and avant-garde circus acts. The Maison de Bégon (Rue Pierre et Marie Curie) presents cultural performances throughout the year in a wide range of disciplines and genres, from poetry readings and comedy to dance performances and music concerts.

Chato'do (113 Avenue de Vendôme) is an immense venue used for music concerts, including rock, reggae, electronica, punk, blues, soul, and hip hop performances. This venue regularly hosts famous French and international artists.

The city's historic grain warehouse Halle aux Grains (2 Place Jean Jaurès) has been transformed into a space used for cultural performances. The Halle aux Grains offers an eclectic schedule of events: theater and dance performances; classical, rock, and world music concerts; and circus acts.

The most convenient hotels in Blois are found in the historic center near Vieux Blois. This atmospheric area, with its medieval cobblestone lanes and stately old mansions, gives overnight visitors a true feel for the city's old-world ambience. The more affordable hotels are generally outside the city center, for instance in the area around the train station. For those seeking a more leisurely experience, the countryside outside of Blois has several charming properties and offers easy access to begin exploring the Loire Valley region.

Luxury Hotels:

• Overlooking a tree-lined path along the Loire River, the Mercure Blois Centre Hotel is ideally located near Vieux Blois (just a five-minute walk away). This four-star hotel has a restaurant, spa, sauna, indoor swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, and a paid parking lot. The guest rooms are decorated in a minimalistic modern style. A breakfast buffet is available for an additional cost.
• La Maison d'à Côté is tucked away in the peaceful Loire Valley countryside in the small village of Montlivault (12 kilometers outside of Blois). This three-star boutique hotel is a good base for exploring Blois and the Loire Valley châteaux. Gourmands appreciate this hotel for its haute cuisine restaurant, with two Michelin stars, and its convivial bistro. The restaurant's Michelin-starred chef also offers cooking classes at the hotel from September through April. The guest rooms are simple and minimalistic in style but feature modern refinements.
• In the heart of the Loire Valley (35 kilometers away from Blois) is Le Manoir Saint-Thomas in Amboise. This four-star boutique hotel occupies a historic manor house renovated in keeping with its heritage. Guest rooms are decorated in traditional French style, and a breakfast buffet is served in a beautiful dining room which echoes the hotel's old-world elegance. The property includes a romantic garden with tall leafy trees and an outdoor swimming pool.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Housed in a stately ivy-clad building, the Hôtel Anne de Bretagne is a quaint lodging in the historic city center of Blois near the Château Royal. The three-star hotel's interior features an inviting lounge area decorated in old-fashioned style, while the guest rooms are more minimalistic and modern. A generous continental breakfast buffet is served in a lovely dining space with a garden terrace.
• The three-star Hôtel Le Monarque is well situated in the historic center of Blois, a short walk away from the Cathédrale Saint-Louis and within a 10-minute stroll of the Château Royal. This small boutique hotel is especially appreciated for its traditional restaurant, which serves authentic regional cuisine. The guest rooms are small but are decorated in an appealing, simple style. For an additional charge, a typical French breakfast buffet is available.

Budget Hotels:

• The ibis Styles Blois Centre Gare is located near the Blois train station, about a 10-minute walk to the Château Royal and a 15-minute walk to Vieux Blois. This three-star hotel offers simple contemporary-style guest rooms, a restaurant, and parking lot. The accommodations include a breakfast buffet. Families may choose to book adjoining rooms, and children are sure to enjoy the hotel's playground.
• Another affordable lodging option near the train station and a short walk away from the Château Royal is the two-star Hôtel Louise de Savoie . This excellent-value hotel has a cozy feel. The guest rooms are small but stylish considering the price. The hotel offers a generous buffet-style breakfast with good coffee, fruit juice, fresh baguettes, and croissants.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Awe-Inspiring Castles: Blois is an ideal starting point to discover the Loire Valley . Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this idyllic pastoral region is renowned for its magnificent Renaissance châteaux created by French Kings in the 15th and 16th centuries. For those who adore fairy-tale castles, Fougères (about a three-hour drive) in the picturesque Brittany region is a worthwhile detour. The fabulous Palace of Versailles (a two-hour drive outside of Paris) is an absolutely splendid castle, which outshines the rest.

Nearby Historic Towns and Charming Villages: About a 2.5-hour drive from Paris, France's capital city , Blois is an excellent addition to a Paris vacation. Many wonderful Paris day-trip destinations are within easy reach of Blois as well, such as the lovely village of Chartres (less than a two-hour drive) and its glorious cathedral. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the fascinating walled medieval town of Provins is a 2.5-hour drive from Blois. In the Burgundy region , the riverside town of Auxerre delights visitors with its old-world charm and amazing ancient churches.

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Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Loir-et-Cher

Situated on the edge of the Loire River, Blois, a City of Art and History, forms an attractive and harmonious architectural group with its royal château, houses in the old town and religious monuments.

A former residence of French kings, the Château de Blois is a majestic building that is unusual because it features several different architectural styles - Gothic, Flamboyant Gothic, Italian Renaissance and Classical - a wonderful range of French architecture. The château's highlights include the gate topped by an equestrian statue of Louis XII, the stunning internal courtyard and the four wings from different periods and of different architectural styles, and the sumptuous spiral staircase in the Francis I wing. The fine art museum in the Louis XII wing houses a collection of tapestries, paintings and sculptures. From April to September every year, an enchanting evening light and sound show, "Ainsi Blois vous est conté...", which recounts the history of this famous building, is put on in the courtyard.

Outside its walls, Place du Château is a very pleasant place for a drink on one of the café terraces. Horse-drawn carriage tours of the old town depart from this square, at the château entrance.

In front of the castle, the Robert Houdin magic museum is dedicated to magic and illusion. Kids and adults can discover the history of magic, as well as collections of magician's tools, like those of the famous French conjurer Robert Houdin. Another museum to visit is the Objet museum, a former convent housing a collection of works by modern and contemporary artists, such as Dali, Caesar, Arman and Christo. Horse fans should go to the National stud farm and immerse themselves in the world and history of horses.

The visit of Blois continues in the picturesque narrow, sloping streets of the historic centre, which are full of charm and great to stroll around. There are also beautiful gardens to be seen towards Saint-Louis cathedral. From the vast esplanade of the town hall, there is a fantastic view of the bishop's palace gardens, the slate roofs of the old town and the royal river!

Additional information Blois

Loir-et-Cher , halfway between Tours and Orleans, Blois boasts the splendor of the Loire Valley , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Former royal residence under Louis XII, there are traces of this illustrious past through the royal castle, wonderfully renovated during the nineteenth century.

City of Art and History, the former royal city is astonished by the richness of its heritage as well as by its numerous cultural sites. This city with a human size, with its 50 000 inhabitants, seduces by its sweetness of life, but also its amazing gastronomy. Fish from the Loire, such as catfish or pike, or wines from prestigious vines such as the hillsides of the Loire, delicious tortures are numerous in the region. Not to be missed, the Aristrocrate, a very good biscuit created in the XIXth century and which is the pride of the chocolatiers of Blois.

Turning towards culture, the one that balances the two big cities that surround it, also offers a beautiful program in terms of cultural events and other exhibitions of all kinds.

Things to see and do

Rich city, Blois does not lack of patrimonial or historical attractions, which attract lovers of beautiful stones and pretty legends.

• Tourist pride of Blois, the royal castle dominates the streets of the old center of the city and offers a perfect synthesis of the different castles of the Loire, through its architecture and its particular history. On its façade, one can indeed discover a fine example of French architecture between the Middle Ages and the 17th century. Royal residence of seven kings and ten queens of France, it still seduces today with its magnificent polychrome decors. Classified as Historical Monuments and labeled the Musée de France, it houses over 30,000 works, some of which are exhibited in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in the Louis XII wing. Also worth seeing are the royal apartments of the François Ier wing, the temporary exhibitions, or the incredible staircase that made the château famous.
• Carried by Ben, famous French artist, the Doubt Foundation is a place of culture and artistic expression. In the spirit of Fluxus, created in the 60s, several hundred works are exhibited on nearly 1,500 m².
• In a large bourgeois house of the nineteenth century, hides the best of the art of magic. Shows, incredible objects or other extraordinary surprises unfold on more than 2000 m² of paradise.
• City since 2010 of the prestigious cycling tour "La Loire à Vélo", Blois has become a must for cycling enthusiasts.
• The former convent of the Jacobins now houses two interesting museums, the Museum of Religious Art and the Museum of Natural History.
• Devastated in 1678, the cathedral of Saint-Louis was rebuilt with the help of Colbert's finances to become an impressive Gothic building. Since 2000, the site has decorated with superb stained-glass windows.
• Do not miss the town hall, set in the former bishopric of the eighteenth century, as well as its superb terraced gardens overlooking the Loire. It offers an incredible view of the city and the river.
• In the national stud farm, housed in a former convent of Carmelites of the 19th century, it is possible to discover about thirty stallions, as well as fine specimens of percherons, draft horses of the region.
• Do not forget to visit the Beauvoir tower which is the oldest monument of Blois since this dungeon dates from the end of the eleventh century. It is also the oldest prison in France, as early as the fourteenth century. For lovers of thrills, the dungeons have been transformed into "dungeons", that is to say you can sleep there. From the terrace you will have a beautiful view over the whole city of Blois. A tip: it is better to call before for the visit to +33 6 88 15 62 64.

Leisure activities

Places of interest, events and festivities.

Focused on culture, the city of Blois keeps organizing every year many events of all kinds that animate the ancient royal city. History, music... everyone is happy!

• Blois's big cultural event, the Rendez-Vous of History attracts nearly 25,000 people each year. Created in 1998, they take place over four days during which more than 300 debates and conferences are organized, with nearly 700 renowned speakers. Writers, historians, filmmakers, journalists meet to discuss a general theme chosen each year by a Scientific Committee. A cinema cycle is also organized with the projection of some fifty films and other documentaries. The event usually takes place during the month of October.
• Comics town, Blois organizes each year, in November, the autumn festival of comics, BD Boum. The opportunity for 20,000 visitors to discover nearly 150 authors and their publishing houses.
• Organized by Maison de Bégon, the Mix'Terres festival is a cross-cultural arts event. 18 professional and amateur shows, of which two-thirds are free, are organized, with the program: street art, music or even modern dance and circus. The appointment is in the course of May.
• In the summer, the city of Blois kisses to the sound of the Festival Des Lyres d'été. Throughout the city, there are free concerts, fairy tales, film shows or circus performances. In all, more than 200 appointments are offered. Between November and January, the equivalent is offered with Des Lyres d'hiver, including a beautiful Christmas market.
• New must-attend event, Blois International Choreographic Festival: Blois Danse, transforms the city into a dance ground in early July. Initiated by the professional dance company New York Azoth Dance Theater, which recently moved to Blois, the festival features performances by international companies, short dance films, workshops with choreographers, a dance workshop and a stage open to schools and associations in the region. A delicious, invigorating and unique event in the central region!
• From 21 june to 20 september 2024
• Office de Tourisme Blois-Chambord
• The summer of Blois-Chambord. Every day, from the end of June to mid-September, Blois-Chambord offers a variety of activities : concerts, theater, street shows and movie screenings. More than 200 events will enchant you with their diversity : concerts, theater, strolls, dance, magic, cinema, games, walks, well-being workshops and unusual visits.

Detailed information

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Blois Castle: The Key to the Loire Valley

To Blois or not to Blois, that is the question that travelers ask when planning their itinerary of Loire Valley chateaux. Though not as photogenic as some the other stars of the valley, Blois, easily accessible from Paris, is in many ways the key to understanding royal history and architecture all along the Loire. This illustrated article examines the men and women who made Blois, followed by information about hotels, B&Bs and restaurants in Blois and in the surrounding area.

Blois (pronounced a sharp blwa , vampire-like) holds a prominent place on the map, yet its castle is often ignored in favor of more photogenic stars of the valley. Chambord, Chenonceau, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Usée and Saumur, for example, readily lend themselves to adjectives such as majestic, exquisite, idyllic, dramatic, elegant or storybook. (Match the adjectives with the chateaux and you get a free subscription to France Revisited for the rest of this year.)

Blois Castle, le château de Blois , stands on a rise on the right bank of the Loire but it offers no great photo op from the river. The Blois Tourist Office might well sue me for libel for showing this gray-weather shot from the bridge across the river.

And the main entrance to the castle is more promising though still not as imposing or impressive or fairy-tale as we’d like our castles to look, particularly when seen under an indeterminate sky.

But that doesn’t make Blois any less notable. This is in fact the most historically and architecturally significant of the chateaux of the Loire Valley. Admittedly, that isn’t a line you use to get your spouse to choose Blois as a vacation destination or to get your 12-year-old excited about a trip abroad (how about telling him/her that there’s a Magic Museum with dragons in the windows across the square?). Nevertheless, Blois is a key to understanding the valley’s castle-scape.

What it lacks in outward photogenia it makes up for in details, in revealing history and in convenience to daytripper and valley bikers. Blois does have character(s). You just need to get closer to see it/them.

Let’s take a look.

Amboise Castle, a left bank chateau 22 miles downstream, is more photogenic from across the river but it’s now far less notable inside. Amboise is where Charles VIII (born 1470-reigned 1493-died 1498) died from fracturing his skull on a door lintel (careful when visiting old castles, folks, they weren’t designed with Disney building standards in mind, and just you try suing someone for tripping on a cobblestone).

Charles VIII and Queen Anne of Brittany were childless, so with no direct heir his cousin Louis d’Orléans ascended to the throne as Louis XII (1462-1498-1515).

Louis may have had Orleans in his name but he was a native Blésois, as the inhabitants of Blois are called. A century earlier, in 1391, his grandfather Duke Louis I d’Orléans, brother to then king Charles VI, had purchased the fortress of the Counts of Blois whose power had waned. He took full control of the county six years later. While most of the counts’ fortress was razed to its foundations to make way for the new castle of the mounting Orleans clan, Louis I kept the fortress’s Great Hall (1214), one of the largest civil halls in France still existing today from that period.

Louis XII would in turn raze much of the castle of his father and grandfather, again conserving the Great Hall as he pursued a transformation of the family castle to make it worthy of a king. (We’ll return to the Great Hall later in our visit.)

Louis XII greets us above the entrance.

Below him, his symbol: the crowned porcupine. His motto: qui s’y frotte s’y pique , meaning rub against him and you’ll get pricked (literally) or cross swords with him at your peril or if you don’t watch out you’ll get burned.

The initials to either side of the porcupine: L for Louis and A for Anne, you guessed it, of Brittany, his cousin’s widow. Anne was no looker, but having the duchy of Brittany in her dowry made her quite the catch. Louis therefore obtained the annulment of his own childless first marriage to wed her. Anne’s symbol, the symbol of Brittany, was the ermine, a pattern of black stoat (weasel) coats against a white background.

Viewed from the outer square, Louis XII’s brick-and-stone wing, circa 1500, speaks of the end of an era (Gothic). Inside we follow the call of a new era (Renaissance), a pleasure palace with a vast hallway and a succession of royal apartments. The main Louis XII wing now houses the town’s Beaux-Art Museum (more on the museum later). A chapel, truncated by subsequent developments at Blois, also remains from this time.

Louis and Anne had two surviving children, daughters, Claude and Renée, however the succession laws of the French kings stated that the crown could only pass to a male heir. That meant the search for good (i.e. useful) marriages for the girls and likely inheritance of the crown by cousin François (Francis). There was therefore no better marriage for Claude (de France), the elder daughter, than to cousin Francois (d’Orléans).

In 1515, less than a year into their marriage, Louis XII died and Claude’s husband became King Francois the First (Ier in French). (France has had plenty of Kings Louis and Charles and several Kings Henri but only two Kings Francois, the second being his grandson who reigned for only 17 months before dying from an inner ear problem at age 16.)

Claude, already duchess of Brittany by virtue of her mother Anne (she also inherited her mother’s looks), was therefore queen. Claude died at the age of 24, which gave her enough time to have seven children, including the future king Henri II—or perhaps it’s better said that having seven children by the age of 24 killed her, and getting syphilis from her husband didn’t help.

While Francois has gone down in history as a powerful builder king, Claude is remembered in the name of a sensual green or yellow-green plum, la reine claude , found ripe in markets in August. Francois I remarried after Claude’s death but had no children with his second wife, Eleanore of Austria, though plums continued to grow in the castle gardens. (Those gardens no longer exist; the city has grown into it.)

Francois grew up at the Chateau d’Amboise. It was there that he invited Leonardo da Vinci to be his neighbor. But Claude was naturally fond of her home castle at Blois and Francois I was intent on keeping it up-to-date. That meant tearing down portions of his predecessor’s château, already démodé, and creating something stylish and avant-garde.

This year France is commemorating the 500th anniversary of the coronation and reign of Francois (Francis) I. Chateaux great (e.g. Chambord ) and small (e.g. Beauregard ), however deeply or tangentially touched by the architectural and decorative spirit of the era of Francois I, are unfurling images of the broad-shouldered king with the long straight nose, sporting a thin moustache trickling into a full beard, wearing tights or armor, sitting in equestrian glory or standing in fur-lined grace. Blois itself is hosting a bookish exhibition called “Royal Treasures, the Library of François I,” running July 4-Oct. 18, 2015.

The equestrian statue of Louis XII may get the photo op at the entrance to Blois Castle, but it’s Francois I’s see-and-be-seen staircase that draws the lens once in the courtyard—though how to photograph it properly without looking like it’s been seen in a funhouse mirror is anyone’s guess.

Let me try again.

I give up. Photography may have become the lazy man’s travel writing but a skilled photographer still has his place.

Francois I (1494-1515-1547) would go on to launch enormous royal projects at Chambord, Fontainebleau and the Louvre, but he made his first mark on royal architecture at Blois. Palaces constructed or altered in his name were signed with his royal symbol the fire-breathing salamander and the motto nutrisco et extinguo referring to flames that nourish his people and extinguish his enemies.

The salamander sets the tone for decorative relief by the base of the showy outer staircase that defines the Francois I wing.

This is Blois’ architectural claim to fame. With loggia for nobility to look out onto the courtyard and to be seen from below, the theatrical staircase (1515-1519) and the wing of the castle that it serves set the stage for a new architectural style that would now developing throughout the valley. The Francois I wing gave royal momentum to the French Renaissance, thanks largely to Italian architects and decorators in its early phases.

This is no Eiffel Tower. Go to the top of the staircase and you’ll have little more than a view of tourist tripping over cobblestones down below (be sure to look up, though at the way in which the structure meets the ceiling). Nevertheless, this remains one of the architectural treasures of the Loire Valley. Again, not enough to plan a honeymoon around, but there you have it, 16th-century architectural sophistication—dramatic staircases were becoming all the rage.

If approaching from the train station, a 10-15 minute walk, your first view of the chateau is the back of the Francois I wing. Based on an Italian model, it looks more like an apartment building in Rome than a royal castle along the Loire.

It used to overlook the castle gardens but now faces a city road that wraps around a tremendous Atlas cedar. Beyond the cedar, one can also see from the balcony the orangery where citrus trees from the castle gardens were placed in winter. (The historical building now houses a gastronomic restaurant.)

Francois gets the architectural shout-out for this wing with the famous staircase, but the historical tale told inside speaks more about the era of his grandson Henri III.

Francois I’s son Henri II (1519-1547-1559), who eventually died from being poked in the eye during a jousting tournament, preferred to place his architectural monograms elsewhere, including on the Louvre and at Fontainebleau. But Blois continues to speak of the presence of Henri II’s queen Catherine de Medicis and of their third son, Henri III (1551-1574-1589).

Henri III’s era of the French Court was as perverse and manipulative as our own in terms of power struggles, festivities, fashion, intrigue and assassination. We have our own politics in which a vocal, heavily armed group proclaims that the “true” religion should guide policy; we, too, go in for fear mongering, lies and rumors passed off for evidence that one man or one party will destroy life as we know it; we too hear the siren of the politics of nostalgia, etc. Admittedly, we prefer to assassinate character more than body these days and we pretend that telling an armed public that “someone ought to shoot that guy” is just an expression of disagreement, but we surround our politicians with a sizeable security detail just in case.

In 1576 and again in 1588, Henri III convoked at Blois an assembly of the Three Estates: the clergy, the nobility and the Third Estate, i.e. all others. The assembly took place in the Great Hall of 1214, originally built as a multi-purpose hall for the Counts of Blois. At its best the Estates (or States) General, as it was called, served as an advisory body offering wise counsel to the king. Otherwise it might be a way in which those with lesser or no power could let off steam or a quarrelsome nuisance that the king would ignore. The body met periodically at various venues from the early 14th century until 1614, then not at all until 1789, when discontent was so loud that Louis XVI could no longer postpone the reunion—but more than reunion, revolution was in the air.

The Wars of Religion between Catholics and Protestants marked the tenure of Catherine de Medicis and her three successive royal sons. It came to a head during the reign of Henri III. It was bad enough that factions of warring nobility saw no room to compromise, but the ultra-Catholics felt that disaster would befall the kingdom since Henri III was childless, making the heir to the throne his cousin Henri de Navarre, a Protestant.

The Great Hall is a magnificent space for its time and for a family photo op on the throne. Portions of the apartments of Catherine de Medicis and of Henri III are also visible. It’s less the heavily restored décor that makes them significant as the events that took place there. With the right guide (human or audio), the events that took place but gets us thinking about how similar the power struggles of the late 16th century are to the politics of our own time.

In order to calm the warrior spirit of the hawkish Catholic nobility and clergy against the Protestants (Huguenots) on the occasion of the Estates General of 1588, Henri III had the Catholic leader Duke Henri de Guise assassinated as the duke was walking through the king’s bedroom to a supposed pow-wow with the king.

“My God he’s tall,” the king is reported to have said upon seeing his slain rival. “He even looks taller dead than alive.”

The Duke de Guise’s brother, the Cardinal de Guise, also a conspirator against the king, was assassinated in Blois Castle the following day.

Twelve days later, Queen Mother Catherine de Medicis, died here of natural causes at the age of 79.

And seven months later, on August 2, 1589, Henri III was in turn assassinated, caught off guard while on the pierced chair (i.e. the can) at the royal Chateau de Saint Cloud (near Paris). His assassin was a monk named Jacques Clément who represented forces of what we would now call the religious far right.

Upon Henri III’s death the king’s chronicler Pierre de l’Estoile wrote: “This king would have been a good prince had he been born in a better century.” It’s doubtful though that such a century has ever existed.

Heir and party to the Wars of Religion, Henri IV was not only a distant cousin rising to the throne but was also a Protestant, two strikes against him that meant he had to conquer his kingdom. He would eventually convert to Catholicism to be in phase with the majority, but without abandoning the reformers.

Photo Henri IV. The central role that the Loire Valley had played in royal politics was coming to an end as the Bourbon kings asserted a firm hand throughout the kingdom and took up more frequent residence in Paris and then Versailles. Henri IV’s main association with the Loire is far downstream at Nantes, where he signed the edict that granted the right to Protestants to practice their religion in peace along with certain politic rights, thus closing the Wars of Religion in France.

He nevertheless showed enough interest enough in Blois to order the construction of a new building in the gardens. As a builder, his heart—before it was pierced by an assassin monk in Paris in 1612—was more focused on urban projects in the capital.

After his assassination his queen Marie de Medicis assumed the regency for underage Louis XIII. But a power struggle ensued when he son reached royal majority in his mid-teens and he exiled her to Blois to keep her from meddling in affairs of state. A painting in the Louvre, La Fuite de Blois by Rubens, shows her escaping from Blois through the construction site that had been launched by Henri IV. That building was never completed and was eventually demolished.

(To recap royal deaths from 1498-1612: Charles VIII died from banging his head on a door lintel at age 27; Louis XII died from intestinal trouble at age 52; Francois I died from septicemia related to fistula around the unmentionables and kidney failure at age 53; Henri II died from a brain infection caused by being poked in the eye at a jousting tournament at age 40; Francois II died from an ear infection at age 16; Charles IX died from pleurisy at age 23; Henri III was assassinated by a monk will sitting on the can at age 47, and Henri IV was assassinated by a monk while riding in his carriage at age 56. Not pretty, but, ah, but the castles they built!)

Gaston, Duc d’Orléans

Louis XIII saw no need to keep Blois Castle in the French crown and so gave it to his younger brother Gaston in 1626. Had the power days of Blois ended? Not if Gaston could help it. Any pretext was good for Gaston (1608-1660) to conspire against or otherwise disobey his brother because as long as Louis XIII and Queen Anne didn’t have a son he remained first in line for the throne.

By the second decade of their childless marriage, Gaston could reasonably dream of occupying the throne should his older brother predecease him. Blois would then become a royal residence again.

So Gaston hired one of the top architects of the time, Francois Mansart, to build a new wing to his castle, thus bringing Blois into the modern era of the 17th century. Gaston may well have rebuilt the entire castle, razing the previous structures like an old villa on beachfront property, but the throne eluded him. In 1738, after nearly 23 years of marriage, Anne of Austria gave birth to a son (presumably fathered by Louis XIII). The existence of a healthy boy distanced Gaston one step further from the crown, and when Louis XIII died five years later, the boy became Louis XIV.

The Gaston wing resembles a stand-alone chateau and is notable for its relatively early Classicism, but viewed from the courtyard it sticks out as ambition gone wrong; the focal point of the courtyard remains the Francois I wing with its external staircase. Architect Francois Mansart would lend his name to the mansard, a high-pitched roof pierced with windows, then coming into fashion.

The grace of the Gaston/Mansart wing comes especially from the symmetry of the central structure with pavilions on either side reaching out to embrace the courtyard. Through his work here and elsewhere, Mansart nevertheless helped usher in an architectural style that would later become associated not with Gaston Ier but with Louis XIV.

Louis XIV’s prime minister Mazarin, tired of Gaston’s conspiring against the crown during the king’s youth, eventually exiled Gaston to Blois. There he lost the ambition (and perhaps the funding) to complete his dream castle.

The decorative elements of the interior were never finished. The interior monumental staircase of the Gaston wing, crowned by a copula, looks like a grand stage between plays. But Blois was now far from center stage, and the Loire Valley itself was soon but a sideshow as, about the time of Gaston’s death in 1660, Louis XIV began drawing plans for the entire theater district move to Versailles.

The Beaux Arts Museum

The main Louis XII wing houses a small collection that lends itself as much to pleasant if disinterested meandering as it does to a more studious examination of representative 16th- and 17th-century paintings, and to a lesser extent 18th- and early 19th-century works, including glossy, theatrical historical works from the early 19th century called “troubadour” paintings.

For students of 19th-century restorations of medieval and Renaissance castles, Blois Castle is a must see. But since none of those students is reading this, we might be tempted to pretend that that the original equestrian statue at the castle entrance wasn’t actually destroyed during the Revolution and that this window with the ermine of Anne of Brittany has been safely in place for 500 years.

No, let’s not pretend. Let’s be truthful here: The history of French chateaux is rarely that of a single moment in history, and all the more so at Blois. What we see is the result of evolving tastes and ambitions, good fortune and bad, and restoration. In 1788 Louis XVI, five years short of the guillotine, abandoned any royal prerogative to Blois Castle. It then served as barracks for troops and officers with no interest in protecting its historical significance. With the Revolution soon banging at the door there was no interest in protecting its royal symbols either. What was saved was saved for practical rather than historical or emotional reasons.

Then, several decades later, historical mindfulness came calling. In 1840 Blois became one of the first royal complexes in France to be designated a historical monument. Major restoration began several years later, beginning with the rehabilitation of the Francois I wing. The Beaux-Arts Museum opened in 1869.

A room inside this chateau is dedicated to the 19th-century restorers, particularly one Félix Duban, an architect who oversaw the restoration of Blois Castle until his death in 1870. In his terrific travel book “A Little Tour in France,” Henry James, writing in the 1880s, laments the heavy-handed restoration work that he encounters on his tour of the provinces. Nevertheless, it’s thanks to that post-royal history—as barracks, as possession of the city, as object of restoration—that we get to see and to appreciate the lessons in history and architecture that Blois teaches.

To Blois or not to Blois

That remains the question. Is it more rewarding to aim for the monumental unity of Chambord, the loveliness of Chenonceau, the dramatic view of Chaumont, or to get studious with Blois? You can’t go wrong as you plan or wing your way through the castle-rich area of the Loire Valley between Blois and Saumur. Still, a traveler much choose between chateaux while leaving time to enjoy the other pleasures that the region offers—vineyards, gardens, culinary explorations, a zoo, a long stroll by the river.

The architectural developments themselves may seem insignificant 500 years on. Nevertheless, Blois, considered a (perhaps the) key to the Loire Valley, deserves attention.

© 2015 Gary Lee Kraut

Useful information

Château de Blois , Blois Castle, is open daily except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Fencing demonstrations are given July 13-Aug. 16, 2015. One reason to spend the night in or near Blois is to attend the wonderful sound-and-light show in the castle courtyard, April 4-Sept. 20, 2015.

Blois Tourist Office , is next to the castle at 23 Place du Château. Tel. 02 54 90 41 41. The office and its website also provide information about chateaux in the surrounding area.

Maison de la Magie , the magic museum and fun house across the square from the castle entrance. Watch for the dragons in the window. Open April 4-Sept. 20 and Oct. 17-Nov. 1, 2015.

Loire à Vélo is the name of the Loire Valley biking system covering a cycle trail of about 500 miles. Its official website is here .

Getting to Blois : From Paris, there are infrequent direct trains to Blois from the Austerlitz Station. They take 1 hour 25 minutes. More frequent indirect trains take 2 hours, arriving in Blois via Orleans (from Paris’s Austerlitz Station) or via Saint Pierre des Corps (from Paris’s Montparnasse Station). A daytrip from Paris is possible. One worthwhile approach to beginning your longer Loire Valley stay in Blois is to spend the first day and perhaps night in the town before renting bikes or a car for wider explorations in the valley. Bus service from Blois goes to the nearby chateaux of Beauregard, Cheverny and Chambord. Inquire at the Blois Tourist Office or see the bus schedule here .

Lodging in Blois and the surroundings area

La Maison de Thomas , 12 rue Beauvoir, 41000 Blois. Tel. 09 81 84 44 59 or 06 60 14 41 41. In the heart of the town, a friendly townhouse for those without wheels or for a night in Blois before or after a biking trip.

16 Place Saint Louis , 16 place Saint Louis, 41000 Blois. Tel. 02 54 74 13 61. At Philippe Escoffre’s B&B a 5-minute hike uphill from center, three cozy rooms look out to the cathedral and over the river. Yes, the name is the address.

Le Plessis , 195 rue Albert 1er, 41000 Blois. Tel. 02 54 43 80 08. On the downstream edge of the town with a chemical-free, salt-water swimming pool.

Le Clos Pasquier , 10-12, Impasse de l’Orée du Bois, 41000 Blois. Tel. 02 54 58 84 08. Claire and Laurent Nicot’s B&B in a 15th-century manor house is another 1.5 miles further downstream.

Côté Loire – Auberge Ligérienne 2 place de la Grève, 41000 Blois. Tel. 02 54 78 07 86. A 2-star hotel and restaurant in Blois by the river.

L’Auberge du Centre , 34 Grande Rue, 41120 Chitenay. Tel. 02 54 70 42 11. Nine miles south of Blois. I found this 3-star village hotel with a pleasant restaurant. A choice stop during a biking trip in this portion of the valley.

La Maison d’à Côté , 26 rue de Chambord, 41350 Montlivault. Tel. 02 54 20 62 30. An 8-room inn with restaurant (1 star Michelin in 2015) 6 miles upstream from Blois toward Chambord

Le Château du Breuil , 23 route de Fougères, 41700 Cheverny. Tel. 02 54 44 20 20. Ten miles southeast of Blois, in the countryside two miles from the Chateau de Cheverny, Véronique and Bernard Gattolliat’s 39-room 4-star hotel with restaurant an swimming pool.

Domaine des Hauts de Loire , 79 rue Gilbert Navard, 41150 Onzain. Tel. 02 54 20 72 57.Ten miles downstream from Blois, across the river from Chaumont, a 4-star chateau hotel and restaurant. The 170-acre property also has a tennis court, outdoor pool, a pond where one can fish and bikes.

Restaurants in Blois

For a daytripper, one of the cafés below the chateau de Blois should suffice, or simply a sandwich and pastries from one of the bakeries in that area.

For those spending the evening: I’ve fond memories of a relaxed, gastronomic dinner at Christophe Cosme’s Le Rendez-vous des Pêcheurs , 27 rue du Foix. Tel. 02 54 74 67 48. Closed Sun. and Mon. There’s also the Auberge Ligérienne , a part of the hotel Côté Loire noted above. For a more formal meal in an airy historical setting there’s L’Orangerie du Château , 1 avenue Jean-Laigret. Tel. 02 54 78 05 36. It occupies the former citrus green house or orangery of the chateau. Also closed Sun. and Mon. For a more contemporary decor, more contemporary gastronomy, Assa , one mile downstream from center on the edge of the Loire, has 1 Michelin star (2015). 189 quai Ulysse Besnard. Tel. 02 54 78 09 01. Closed Sun. dinner, Mon. Tues.

– GLK

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Kyriad Blois Nord - 3-star hotel

Your Kyriad Hotel-Restaurant Blois is 4km.

The hotel can easily be reached by taking the A10 motorway. Your Blois 3 star hotel is in a commercial area, and close to a cinema and a 20-lane bowling alley. It is just 1km.

From your hotel at the heart of the Loire Valley, which is on the UNESCO world heritage list, discover the castles of the Loire, with more than 10 castles in a 20km radius.

The town of Blois is a hub for business, and the former corn exchange, which is close to our hotel, has been converted into a conference hall. Our hotel has a partnership with the conference hall and Blois tourist information office.

Your conferences and training workshops

For your meetings in Blois, we offer an 80m²

conference room which can accommodate up to 25 people in the U-shape arrangement and is equipped with a video projector, TV, DVD player, flip chart and free Wi-Fi. We can provide sweet and savoury refreshments for your breaks in order to make your event memorable.

For your benefit, you can also enjoy our exclusive WiFi+ service: free broadband WiFi throughout the hotel to surf, chat and watch videos to your heart's content.

Are you looking for a Blois hotel on the Kyriad website today? Finding an affordable Blois hotel is easy with Kyriad. We recommend the Kyriad Blois.

When you book with Kyriad, you are guaranteed a comfortable room at the best price.

Visit the Kyriad website in order to take advantage of the best deals and up-to-date special offers!

Your 3 star hotel room ... with free Wi-Fi

50 comfortable and well-equipped rooms (doubles, twins and triples) are available at the Kyriad Blois hotel, where every effort will be made to guarantee you relaxation, freedom and comfort, whether you are visiting with family or on a business trip.

The hotel also has two rooms which are accessible for guests with reduced mobility.

All our rooms are air-conditioned and fitted with a flat-screen TV, desk, telephone, bathroom with bath, hair-dryer, welcome tray with kettle, tea and coffee, and high quality bedding.

A welcoming area where you can dine any time of the day or night. Discover Le CAFÉ a new space ideal for relaxing, working or dining. You will enjoy its tasty dishes and the comfort of its cosy atmosphere.

Plush and stylish area

A selection of tasty and imaginative dishes to enjoy alone or share

Dishes to enjoy alone or share

Hot and cold drinks

From 6.30 to 9am, fill up on vitamins : tea, coffee, fresh fruit juice, cereal, pastries, eggs and cold meats, yoghurts and, last but not least, our fruit salads.

Fine dining with Kyriad

Here, as far as gastronomy is concerned, any choice is the right choice.

Room service is available until 10pm but must be booked in advance.

For your business trips or family holidays, your hotel in Blois offers you all the services to facilitate your stay: - Facilities for guests with reduced mobility - Free WIFI in all rooms - Hairdryer and iron available at the reception

Standard Room

Services & amenities

Main services and amenities, the little extras of the hotel, the reviews of our customers on the hotel kyriad blois nord.

Grade Summary of 1013 reviews

Breakfast 4.4

Service 4.4

Location 4.3

Le Restaurant - Kyriad Blois Nord

Opening hours.

• 06:30 - 09:00
• 19:00 - 21:00

Types of cooking

• Continental Breakfast
• Children's menu
• Specific Hallah menu
• Special Vegetarian Menu

Payment methods

• Credit cards
• Menu from : 10.90€
• Phone : +33 2 0254744466

Contact and location

7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m. (Paris time) - Cost of a local call

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Meeting room types and capacities :

Take advantage of our exceptional offers.

Escape Offer

Head off on a voyage of discovery and make the fun last: 15% discount for 2 nights or more on weekends, public holidays or during school vacations! Offer available with or without breakfast, and can be modified or canceled up to 15 days before your stay.

Family Days Offer

Escape with family or friends for a weekend or during the school holidays and enjoy a 25% discount if you book two or more rooms. Non-refundable, non-modifiable, and non-cancelable offer.

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– 10% off the daily rate for anyone over the age of 60. Come and discover one of our 250 hotels!

The joy of discovery also lies in the plate! Our HALF-BOARD offer includes one night in a hotel, breakfast and dinner included (two- or three-course dinners)

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Discover more with our Long Stay offer! Receive up to 20% discount on stays of three nights or more.

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