Looking for inspiration for your vacation in the Loire Valley?
Not only is Blois perfectly situated for visiting the region's Châteaux, it's also packed with heritage treasures. You can choose to visit the majestic Château, discover the amazing museums, stroll through the town center or stroll along the peaceful quayside.
In this article, we give you 8 good reasons to discover Blois and draw your attention to a few points.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is Blois worth a visit?
The answer is yes! The town of Blois has a charm all of its own, with an architecture that blends monumental heritage with small streets full of character and historic houses. Bordered by the Loire River, which provides a beautiful backdrop, the city's peaceful lifestyle is sure to charm you! For us, Blois is one of the most beautiful towns in the Loire Valley.
Blois is also at the heart of the Loire Valley, renowned for its vineyards, picturesque landscapes and, of course, its châteaux. Add an enchanted dimension to your stay! This makes the town an ideal starting point for discovering the region's heritage and culinary treasures.
WHERE TO STAY IN Blois
Downtown
Enjoy the city, its restaurants and beautiful architecture.
- Fleur de Loire Hotel - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Château des Basses Roches - prices, pictures and availability
In the southern countryside: Chambord, Chevery
Surrounded by castles and charming villages, less than 30 minutes from Blois
- Hotel Relais de Chambord - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Les Sources de Cheverny - prices, pictures and availability
In the northern countryside
For a little peace and quiet, but close to the city. Fewer castles.
- Hotel Le Grand Cèdre - prices, pictures and availability
Reason 1: for its Château
If you're ever in Blois, you won't want to miss its magnificent Château, one of the richest in the Loire Valley. We loved its collection of sculpted facades, bearing witness to 4 different architectural periods and styles! From the heights of the Château, you'll also have a breathtaking view of the Loire and the city.
In addition to its remarkable architecture, the Château de Blois offers an immersion in the history of the French Renaissance through the opulence of its decoration. Special mention for the Galerie de la Reine, with its wood-panelled ceiling, its collection of busts and its amazing tiled floor! The site itself is well worth a half-day visit, as it also houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
Reason 2: for its Cathedral
Overlooking the Loire with its elegant allure, Blois Cathedral is one of the city's must-sees. Its architecture is just as delightful as its interiors, with the nave flooded with light from 33 contemporary stained glass windows.
Once you've appreciated the various details it conceals between the stained glass windows in the chapels, beautiful pieces of sacred art or its listed organ, you'll be able to admire it from afar. From the banks of the Loire, the silhouette of the Cathedral stands proudly and adorns the river with majestic reflections!
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
- Think aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Reason 3: for its museums
If you're an art lover, you won't be disappointed by Blois' cultural offerings, which are as varied as they are delightful! The city will surprise you with its original museums:
- La Fondation du Doute: contemporary art center presenting a varied collection (paintings, sculptures, films) by over 50 artists, grouped together by artist Ben.
- La Maison la Magie: a playful plunge into the world of illusion, with interactive exhibits and, of course, demonstrations of tricks that will amaze young and old alike!
- bd Boum-Maison de la BD: one of the few museums in France dedicated to the 9th art, comics! You can discover original plates through thematic and monographic exhibitions.
But if you prefer more classical museums, you can choose between the Natural History Museum housed in the former Jacobins convent or the magnificent Fine Arts Museum. Located on the grounds of the Château de Blois, it houses several masterpieces (including a painting by Ingres and Rubens) and exhibits over 300 works on a variety of themes (small formats, portraits, mythology, etc.).
Reason 4: for your assets
The diversity of buildings and architectural styles over the centuries makes Blois an interesting destination for history buffs.
We admired more than 8 hôtels particuliers (including Belot, Villebresme and Sardini), but our favorite is the Hôtel d'Alluye. Built in the 16th century, its richly decorated façade is a benchmark of early Renaissance art.
Don't miss the Tour Beauvoir, originally a keep surrounded by a moat, which became the property of the Counts of Blois in 1256, and the Pavillon Anne de Bretagne, the last remaining example of the royal gardens at Château de Blois.
Religious heritage is also in the spotlight in Blois, with beautiful religious buildings such as the Eglise Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and the Église Saint-Nicolas in the town center.
On the other hand, you'll have to walk a little further to discover the modern Basilica of Notre-Dame de La Trinité, which is listed as a Monument Historique and stands out from afar with its 60-metre-high bell tower!
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Reason 5: for the banks of the Loire
There's nothing like a bucolic break after a day of cultural visits! All you have to do is go to the quays of Blois to start a visit that's as picturesque as it is peaceful. In fact, the town has taken this on board, with a host of facilities (deckchairs, shaded picnic tables and footpaths) for strolling around, and in our opinion, it's the most pleasant town in the Loire!
And don't forget that Blois has some lovely green spaces! In addition to the garden of the Château de Blois, we particularly liked the Eveché terrace, just behind the Cathedral. In addition to its chestnut tree terrace and rose garden, it offers a stunning view over the town of Blois. You can also take a look at Square Victor Hugo, opposite the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul church.
Reason 6: for the beauty of its historic center
We couldn't recommend Blois without mentioning its historic center. With its cobbled streets, timber-framed houses, townhouses and charming squares, the old town offers a picturesque, unspoilt atmosphere.
In addition to this captivating period setting, you'll discover as you wander around that Blois is also a lively town, with its welcoming cafés and craft stores, notably the Quartier des Arts in rue Saint Lubin.
Reason 7: For the Denis Papin staircase
Don't miss out on this mythical staircase, which is adorned with a new artist's design every year. When we went there, we were surprised to discover a typographic décor in volume, inspired by the world of George Maciunas, a major artist of the Fluxus movement. Find out more on the town's website here.
Once you're up there, you'll have a great view of the city on the horizon, and then you'll be able to reach the Cathedral!
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Reason 8: for its fine dining
Blois is the perfect city for epicureans, offering a culinary scene as vibrant as it is refined! Let yourself be tempted by the tempting addresses we've tested, which you can find in our dedicated article.
Finally, the city can boast the presence of the sublime Fleur de Loire Hotel. With its Relais & Châteaux label, it's well worth a visit to Blois! Whether it's the 2-star restaurant, the Sisley spa, the Amour Blanc restaurant with its spectacular view over the Loire (photo below) or the charming hotel with its swimming pool, you'll have every excuse to come and spend a wonderful time.
Reason 9: for its roots in the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned for the beauty of its landscapes, majestic châteaux and vineyards.
Blois is perfectly situated between all these points of interest:
- Just 20 minutes from the iconic castles of Chambord, Cheverny and Chaumont-sur-Loire. To find out which ones to discover, read our article dedicated to the most beautiful Châteaux around Blois.
- Close to beautiful villages such as Montrichard and Chedigny. Check out our dedicated article to find out what to choose between these pretty hidden corners!
The town also lies on the legendary Loire à Vélo cycle route.
Blois seems like the perfect place to plan your vacation in the Loire Valley!
DISCOVER Blois
- Things to do in Blois - coming soon
- Where to sleep in Blois: best hotels
- Where to eat in Blois: best restaurants - coming soon
- Visit the Château de Blois - coming soon
- Visit Blois Cathedral - coming soon
- The best castles around Blois
Some disadvantages of a trip to Blois
The rates
Blois remains a very affordable city for travelers, although prices soar in the high season (between May and August). To avoid unpleasant surprises, we recommend booking well in advance.
We prefer the booking platform because it offers a wide choice of accommodations and the calendars are updated in real time.
The tourist influx
The towns of the Loire Valley are popular destinations the world over. As the summer season is very touristy, the number of visitors can be higher. We therefore advise you to anticipate your bookings for your various activities and also your meals at restaurants, which are often crowded between two castle visits.
The weather
When the weather's nice, we recommend that you come and enjoy the town of Blois, with its pleasant gardens and shady quays to cool off in. However, the climate remains mild all year round and very pleasant throughout the Loire Valley region, so come whenever you like!
The city's gradient
Although the town of Blois is not very large, you'll need to bring good shoes, as the streets are sometimes a little steep and often cobbled. Likewise, if you want to get some great views, you'll have to climb up and down some stairs.
How to get to Blois
Blois is located in the Centre-Val de Loire region, with excellent access to the A10 freeway from Paris or Bordeaux and the A11 from Nantes. The city has numerous free parking spaces, which you can find on the official city website here. Want to rent a car in France? Here's our advice.
The town is also served by train. To get there, you'll need about 1h30 from Paris, 2h20 from Nantes and 40min from Tours. You can book your tickets here. Allow a 10-minute walk from the Blois-Chambord train station to the city center. Turn this walk into a stroll and contemplate the banks of the Loire!
Last but not least, Blois can also be reached by bike, as it is part of the Loire à vélo circuit. You can also opt for multi-day cycling tours that stop off in this pretty town!
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
