Blois, just an hour and 22 minutes from Paris by train and roughly halfway between Orleans and Tours in the Loire Valley, is a perfect hub for exploring the beautiful cities with their impressive castles along the river valley. It is a charming city, with its old streets clustered around the Château de Blois in the center of the city. Blois makes a perfect short break and is compact and easy to walk on. There is good public transport to some of the nearby castles and good train connections to many other French cities.
Fast facts
- In the department of Loir-et-Cher (41)
- In the Center-Val de Loire region
- 48,500 inhabitants
- Tourist office 23 place du Chateau
Tel.: 00 33 (0) 2 54 90 41 41
Tourism website
How to get to Blois
- By car
The distance from central Paris to Blois is about 159 km (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.
Guide to traveling from Paris, the UK and London to Blois
Getting to Blois the easy way
- By Bike
Blois is located on the main cycle route in the Val de Loire, which offers 550 km of trails, footpaths and secondary roads specially marked for cyclists. You can choose a part of the route, and there is a very good section, Châ teaux by Bike , that takes you to some of the castles. You will find suggestions for accommodation, places that are friendly for cyclists, places to eat and more at the local tourist offices that also have a very good free map.
More information on the tourist website.
A little history of Blois
The city began as the fortified residence of the Counts of Blois in the 10th century. With such a powerful family protecting the city, it inevitably prospered and grew along the river and around the bridge that was built in the 11th century.
The city was a natural trading post on the road from Chartres to Poitou, and the transfer of the French kings to live in Blois assured its importance. Convents and churches followed and the city expanded along the Loire. In 1716, what became known as the Great Icebreaker destroyed the old bridge and a new one was built. It is a beautiful structure that joins the two banks and was followed by piers along the river bank.
The French Revolution wiped out 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 neighborhood and new buildings that more or less conform to the urban landscape.
Today Blois is a prosperous city; The natural heart of the Loire Valley with good connections to the east and west. It is a perfect base for exploring the Loire River, the castles along its banks, and the many gardens in the area.
Where to stay and eat in Blois
Blois is a major hub, so there are plenty of options, from modest hotels to elegant bed and breakfasts and from top-notch Michelin-starred restaurants to friendly casual riverside bars.
- Guide to accommodation and restaurants in Blois
For snacks and quick drinks, there are many places along the main roads and in the square in front of the castle.
The Forges du Chateau
21 Place du Château
Phone: 00 33 (0) 2 54 78
Right in front of the castle, this is a good place to have a drink and an aperitif in the small walled garden. There is a wide selection of wines to buy in the cellar below the house and good regional products as well.
Things to do in Blois
- Châ teau de Blois
Visiting the glorious castle in Blois is the main reason why most people visit the city. Dominating the city and the river, it has it all: a story of royalty and intrigue, of romance and dark deeds; spectacular architecture spanning four centuries and four very different styles; an interior filled with fine art and furniture; some wonderful events in the summer, and a truly remarkable son-et-lumiere (sound and light) show on summer nights. - The House of Magic (Maison de la Magie)
1 place du Château
Tel.: 00 33 (0) 2 54 90 33 33
Website
You cannot miss this extraordinary museum housed in an old red brick house in front of the castle entrance. If you can, catch the first show every half hour when the windows open and the heads of six dragons pop out. And don’t think this is just for kids; Magic of this type is for all ages. The museum is dedicated to Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin. Born in Blois in 1805, he made clocks and automatisms, many of which you will see in the museum as you go from illusion to illusion in its five levels. There are shows on select days in the underground theater and special events.
- The helmet
old The old part of Blois stretches from the castle 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 since the church was taller than the castle (its three towers form a great landmark), the King refused. Instead, Louis offered the site of the old Saint Solenne church, which had just suffered extensive damage from a hurricane. The bishop had to accept and the church became the Cathedral of San Luis. Today, it is notable mainly for a set of stained glass windows added in 2000.
- Walking through the old town
The Tourist Office has a good map detailing four walks, all about two kilometers long and starting in the center of the city. With the map, the walks are well marked with different bronze dials embedded in the sidewalks.
The porcupine route (emblem of Louis XII) takes you through the old streets surrounding the castle and the castle’s public gardens.
La Fleur de Lys takes you on a circuit to the Puits Chatel district, full of Renaissance houses.
The Saint-Nicolas Steeples is a footpath around the western part of the city that surrounds what was once an old abbey.
The sailboat walk is around the area on the left bank that takes you across the river. It gives you a great view of Blois and the castle and takes you to the Church of Saint-Saturnin, once a major pilgrimage destination.
Purchases
The rue du Commerce and its surrounding streets offer the best shopping in Blois, which is historically known for chocolate making through its commercial position on the Loire. Chocolate maker Auguste Poulain opened his first shop in Blois in 1847 and quickly became the great modernizer, establishing his own brand and mechanizing his production. Bought in the 1990s, today you will see mass-produced (but still very good) Poulain chocolates in every supermarket in France.
- Eric Saguez 74 rue du Commerce
Tel.: 00 33 (0) 2 54 78 20 73
Irresistible cakes, patisseries and chocolates in 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 living room . - Patissier-chocolatier Stephan Buret
20 rue du Commerce
Tel.: 00 33 (0) 2 54 78 02 96
More fantastic creations here, including the Saint-Michel (a Grand Marnier butter meringue confection among them).
- Markets
Blois is a natural center for the region, so it has a good variety of markets. - Daily markets
Tuesday morning: Place Louis XII
Wednesday morning: rue Pierre et Marie Curie
Wednesday afternoon: Begon-Coty neighborhood
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 at the Courier St Jean rue Jeanne d’Arc, second Sunday of every month
Out of blois
From Blois, a local bus company runs buses to the castles of Chambord, Cheverny and Beauregard and back to Blois every day.
Bus guide from Blois.
Trips from Blois
With such a central position, Blois is surrounded by attractions. Here are some suggestions for places to visit.
- The best attractions in the Loire Valley
- Gardens in the western Loire Valley
- Gardens in the eastern Loire Valley
- Guide to the Cathedral of the city of Bourges
