Every design for Blois

Blois sits on the banks of the lower Loire, halfway between Orléans and Tours, its lower town spread along the river and its upper town clinging to limestone slopes. Daily life moves between the two, up and down steps and steep lanes, with the river never far away and the Sologne on the opposite bank.

What gives Blois its character is that a royal court once lived here. During the Renaissance this was the official residence of the King of France, after Count Louis II of Orléans became King Louis XII, and the town still wears that past lightly. The Château Royal de Blois rises on its promontory, the old streets keep fine mansions such as the Hôtel d'Alluye, and the Maison de la Magie draws families from far and wide. The Escalier Denis Papin is a favourite climb, and the Jardins de l’Évêché offer roses and a quiet pause. The Blésois, as locals are called, cross the river on the pont Jacques-Gabriel as part of their everyday routine.

The château is the image that stays with you, and the one worth carrying: stone, river and royal history in a single view.