We continue to take you along with us on the roads of the Loire Valley and in this article, I’ll tell you all about our short stopover in the city of Blois, and give you some ideas for sightseeing and two great places to visit. By the way, this was my first time in Blois. This royal city, steeped in history, offers beautiful half-timbered houses, Renaissance mansions, remnants of fortifications, and a castle with astonishing architecture.
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Sound and Light show at the Château de Blois
This nighttime show recounts (with the voices of Robert Hossein and Pierre Arditi) the dramas, loves, and mysteries of this place, which is intimately linked to the history of the French monarchy, such as the assassination of the Duke of Guise. Luminous scenes follow one another on the facades of the castle.
My advice: bring a cushion or something similar to sit on (the cobblestones are hard on the bottom) and set yourself up in the center of the courtyard to get a great view of the entire show.
Royal Château of Blois
Place du Château 41000 Blois
Every night from mid-April to the end of September at dusk (10:00 PM or 10:30 PM)
Prices: €8.50 for adults / €7 reduced / €5 for children from 6 to 17 years old /
free for under 6s
There are also combined tickets for the castle tour + sound & light show_
Tour of the Royal Château of Blois
A superb example of French architecture through the centuries, from Louis XII to Gaston of Orléans, and including François Ier, this castle was the residence of 7 kings and 10 queens of France throughout history. It was the favorite residence of the kings of France during the Renaissance and is a true architectural synthesis of the châteaux of the Loire. You can even see the reconstruction of the royal apartments, furnished and adorned with polychrome decorations.
The castle actually features 4 wings from different eras and styles (Gothic, Renaissance, Flamboyant, and Classical), and in the middle of the courtyard stands the majestic François I staircase. The site also houses the city’s Museum of Fine Arts, with nearly 300 works on display to the public. To discover more, I recommend taking the unusual tour that we tested, which allows you to see parts of the castle usually closed to the public: the towers, the fortifications, the attics…
Unusual tour of the Château de Blois
By reservation on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays at 10:30 AM in July and August, and otherwise on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays at 10:30 AM from April to All Saints' Day
Prices: + €5 in addition to the admission fee / + €2 for children
Also see: the temporary exhibition on Gaston of Orléans, rebel prince and patron of the arts (until October 15, 2017)
Royal Château of Blois Place du Château 41000 Blois Open all year round, every day, self-guided or guided tour Prices: €10.50 for adults / €8 reduced / €5 for children from 6 to 17 years old / free for under 6s
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Where to sleep in Blois? La Maison de Thomas
La Maison de Thomas is a charming bed and breakfast in a restored historic building, very well located in Old Blois, in the city center, which has some lovely quiet rooms (as they face a pedestrian street).
Our room, the Médicis
A very lovely double room facing the street, with the possibility of adding an extra bed.
Price: starting from €105 for this room
Breakfast
What’s great is that, as in all the bed and breakfasts I’ve been able to test, breakfast is included in the room price, and there is no extra charge for it.
La Maison de Thomas 12 rue Beauvoir 41000 Blois The little extra: free Wi-Fi access
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Where to eat in Blois? Restaurant l’Embarcadère
This beautiful address on the banks of the Loire offers a terrace with a magnificent view of the river! The perfect spot for a romantic lunch or dinner, or a family meal.
To taste: regional craft beers from Brasserie Guillaume (€5.30 per bottle), their large salads for summer (€14.90).
Restaurant l’Embarcadère 16 Quai Ulysse Besnard, 41000 Blois Open 7/7 days from 12 PM – 2 PM and from 7 PM – 10 PM
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Thanks to the Centre-Loire Valley Tourism Board for this welcome and this tour of Blois.
I hope that with all this, I have made you want to visit Blois, and if you also have your recommendations and favorite spots for this area, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Find all my articles on the Loire Valley in the Centre-Loire Valley region below:
⇒ All my articles on the Loire Valley
⇒ All my articles on the Centre-Loire Valley
MY ARTICLES ON THE LOIRE VALLEY
⇒ The Châteaux of the Loire
⇒ Visit Orléans
⇒ Visit Blois
⇒ Visit Tours
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos not royalty-free, photographer's authorization mandatory before any use
