The city of Blois has a long and rich history, and is dominated by the famous Royal Chateau de Blois which for over 200 years was a royal residence and today is noted for its different architectural styles which includes its magnificent spiral staircase. The city stands on the banks of the River Loire which is crossed by a picturesque 18th century stone bridge, and is today part of the Loire Valley U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site. Blois is an important historical city and is included within this listing as it played an integral part in the historical development of France. The Loire Valley Heritage Site is described as containing - ‘exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty and comprised of historic cities and villages, and great architectural monuments’.
The lively and attractive old town of Blois is located just 50 kilometres north-east of Tours in the Centre Region of France and is surrounded by the vast areas of woodland which include the Forest of Blois, the Boulogne Forest and the Russy Forest. Built on two hills, the old town of Blois can be found to the south of the Cathedral and is filled with picturesque narrow sloping streets, steep winding pathways and stone stairways which run through the medieval quarter. The Place de Louis XII is notable for being the old market which is surrounded by narrow streets and the occasional half-timbered house. The town has retained much of its early royal splendour with historic, ornate stone facades and balconied houses lining the older streets. Maintaining a certain charm and atmosphere, Blois’s main attraction is certainly the Royal Chateau de Blois, but the town also offers visitors other attractions such as the 17th century St Louis Cathedral – the former Bishop’s Palace which today is home to the Town Hall – the Bishop’s terrace where a statue of Joan of Arc proudly overlooks the Bishop’s Gardens - the 12th century twin spired Church of St Nicolas - the 15th century House of Acrobats which is located near the Cathedral and retains original timbers decorated with pictures from medieval farces – one of the oldest churches in Blois, the St Vincent Church which displays a noteworthy series of stained glass windows that tell the story of Christ – in front of the chateau stands the Robert Houdin House of Magic which is really a museum of magic and is full of gadgets, photographs, pictures and paintings - Museum de l’Objet which is a contemporary art museum is housed in a former convent - and the Archaeology Museum.
For visitors to the Loire Valley looking for a little more, make your way to the medieval town of Beaugency which was, during the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, an important centre, or if chateaux are your thing make haste to the stunning Chateau de Chaumont, the Chateau de Cheverny and the Chateau de Chambord which is the largest of the royal chateaux.
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