🇫🇷 France · Places to discover
What to see in Blois ?
18 places curated by Hozy - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
MAP · OVERVIEW
Blois occupies a singular position in the Loire: a royal city without the museum-like veneer of Chambord, it has retained real daily life around its château and steeply stepped streets. This is where Francis I and Catherine de Medici played out a chapter of French history, and the town carries this memory without turning it into forced spectacle. The Saint-Nicolas quarter, on the left bank, gives a good sense of this dual character.
Spring and early autumn are the best windows, before the summer rush that saturates the approaches to the Château Royal de Blois. Two days are enough for an honest visit, including a bicycle outing to Cheverny from town. The train from Paris-Austerlitz is direct and swift. Don't concentrate all your time on the château: the old town below it, often overlooked, is equally worth exploring.
Landmarks & heritage (6)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SARoyal Château of Blois
Landmark
Jewel of the French Renaissance where four kings of France resided. François I's spiral staircase is a unique architectural feat, and the night-time son et lumière is well worth the visit.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SABeauregard Estate
Landmark
A Renaissance château in Cellettes housing the Gallery of Illustrious Figures, a unique collection of 327 painted portraits of historical personalities unmatched in France. The tulip gardens are spectacular in spring.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAPapeteries Quarter – Lower Old Town
Landmark
A network of medieval alleyways between Place Louis XII and the Loire, lined with 15th-century half-timbered houses. Rue Pierre de Blois and Rue du Puits-Châtel are the most authentic, away from the tourist throng.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAChurch of Saint-Nicolas, Blois
Landmark
Former Benedictine abbey church from the 12th century, older than the château yet often overshadowed by it. Its sober, soaring Romanesque and early Gothic architecture possesses a rare purity.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SARue Porte Côté and Château Steps
Landmark
Blois's most picturesque pedestrian ascent, featuring irregular stone steps, Renaissance townhouses and suspended gardens. Locals navigate it daily where tourists consult their GPS.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SACathedral of Saint-Louis, Blois
Landmark
Gothic edifice rebuilt after the 1678 storm, featuring contemporary stained glass by Jan Dibbets installed in 2000 that creates striking contrast with the ancient stonework. The bishop's palace gardens in terraced form offer breathtaking views over the Loire.Nature & parks (4)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SATown Hall and Anne of Brittany Gardens
Nature
The town hall occupies the Gaston d'Orléans wing of the château, whilst its public gardens below serve as Blois's verdant drawing room. Ideal for a picnic with views across the honey-coloured tile roofs.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SARussy Forest
Nature
A 3,600-hectare woodland massif on Blois's doorstep, a former royal hunting estate now open to the public. Well-marked trails wind through oak forests and ponds, perfect for escaping the château circuit.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SABoire Basse Pond – Vineuil
Nature
A natural lake bordering the Loire at Vineuil, popular with anglers and Sunday walkers. Riverside vegetation shelters grey herons and kingfishers, just minutes from town.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALoire Riverbanks – Bouillie Levée
Nature
A towpath along the south bank of the Loire between Blois and Chailles. Locals cycle and walk here to follow the wild river, spotting sandbanks and migrating birds in peaceful solitude.Viewpoints (4)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAView from Plateau de la Croix-Chevalier
Viewpoint
Natural vantage point north-west of Blois overlooking the Loire valley for several kilometres. The vines of Coteaux du Vendômois sweep the foreground with the river beyond, composing a quintessential Loire landscape.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAPanorama from Butte des Châtaigniers
Viewpoint
A natural hilltop north of Blois offering a 180° panorama over the Loire valley and the city's rooftops. Locals climb here at dusk; visitors rarely know of it.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SABishop's Gardens
Viewpoint
Terraced gardens suspended above the Loire, often overlooked by time-pressed tourists. The view over the river and Blois rooftops from these formal French gardens ranks among the finest in the city.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAJacques-Gabriel Bridge
Viewpoint
An 18th-century bridge and listed historic monument, among the Loire's finest. Walking across at sunset, watching golden light play on the water and the château's silhouette, is unforgettable.Activities (4)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAHouse of Magic Robert-Houdin
Activity
Europe's only museum dedicated to magic, housed in the former residence of the father of modern magic, facing the château. Live performances and mechanical automata captivate children and adults alike.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALoire à Vélo Bike Rental - Blois
Activity
Starting point for the Loire à Vélo cycle route, the EV6 itinerary running alongside the river. Locals know the Blois–Chaumont-sur-Loire loop (45 km return) as the perfect day's cycling.
Wikipedia (en) - CC BY-SAMuseum of Resistance, Deportation and Liberation of Loir-et-Cher
Activity
A sober yet deeply moving museum tracing local history under Occupation, often overlooked in favour of the châteaux. Testimonies from Blois resistance fighters bring rare human dimension to this period.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAPlace Louis XII Market
Activity
Blois's most vibrant Saturday morning traditional market, featuring local producers from Sologne and the Loire Valley. Goat cheeses from Berry and Vineuil asparagus are essential spring finds.