If you're passing through Blois, don't miss a visit to the cathedral!
A real nugget of the city, it will delight architecture fans and history buffs alike. In addition to its façade , which blends Gothic and classical elements, Saint-Louis is distinguished by its collection of beautiful stained glass windows.
In this article, discover our useful tips for visiting Saint-Louis Cathedral and having a wonderful time!
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit Blois Cathedral?
Why is Saint-Louis Cathedral worth a visit? Our opinion:
Of course, when we think of Blois, we immediately think of its majestic château (article coming soon), but its cathedral is also a must-see! Overlooking the Loire with its elegant allure, its architecture is just as delightful as its interiors, notably with its nave flooded with light from its 33 contemporary stained-glass windows. We're sure you'll fall for it too!
Why is Blois Cathedral famous?
Cathédrale Saint-Louis is renowned for both its architectural history and its artistic heritage: it is home to a number of remarkable stained glass windows, a listed organ and the relics of several saints. After visiting Blois Cathedral and Château de Blois, both iconic in the city, you can continue your discoveries with our article on the top châteaux to visit around Blois here.
Our favorite moments
While the cathedral is impressive from the outside, it has a lot to offer inside, and we loved it:
- Stroll through the nave and revel in the light streaming from the original stained glass windows.
- Discover the Chapelle de la Vierge and its explosive mix of styles.
- Admire the choir and its dazzling 19th-century stained glass windows (photo below).
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
History in brief
This religious monument has stood the test of time: four churches in succession before the cathedral came into being!
- 10th century: The church appears for the first time and is dedicated to Saint Peter.
- 11th century: A crypt was built to house the tomb of Saint Solenne, Bishop of Chartres and a highly respected advisor to King Clovis.
- 12th century: The Collegiate Church of Saint-Solenne is entrusted to canons for rebuilding.
- 16th century: the building underwent a new reconstruction campaign (apse, west facade) under the reign of François 1er.
- 17th century: After a devastating hurricane, reconstruction of the building began, thanks to Colbert, Controller General of Finances (1619-1683) and the financial support of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The church was consecrated a cathedral in 1697, with Saint-Louis as its patron saint.
- 19th century: The axial chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Jules de la Morandière, and the neo-Gothic ambulatory are rebuilt.
- 21st century: The cathedral is enriched by 33 stained-glass windows designed by Dutch artist Jan Dibbets and produced between 1933 and 2000 by master glassworker Jean Maurel.
How to get there: Saint-Louis Cathedral, Blois
Where is the cathedral?
- In downtown Blois
- 4, rue Porte Clos-Haut
- Close to the famous Château de Blois
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.
How to get there?
- By train: Blois is served by regular connections from major cities such as Nantes (2h20) and Paris (1h30). From the station, it's a 16-minute walk to the cathedral.
See the available schedules and book your train tickets now. - Public transport: From Blois train station, three bus lines (B, C, F, République stop) take you to the cathedral in 11 minutes.
To plan your itinerary, we recommend you visit the official website of the public transport network here.
- If you're coming by car, Blois is perfectly served by freeway: via the A10 from Paris (2h11) or Bordeaux (4h) and via the A71 from Lyon (4h30).
If you're looking for a unique experience, we recommend a day of discovery by bike, to discover downtown Blois and enjoy the incredible scenery of the Loire Valley. See prices and availability.
Parking
Several pay parking spaces are available just in front of the cathedral on Place Saint-Louis, and bike and motorcycle parking spaces are available by entering the courtyard of the town hall just behind the cathedral. However, as these spaces are quite popular, another open-air parking lot is available along the quays: the Mail parking lot.
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
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating...
Best time to visit
As with all religious buildings, we advise you to avoid service times if you want to make the most of your visit. To find out more, visit the cathedral's official website here.
Otherwise, you can visit us at any time of day, as we are not overcrowded. However, for a quieter visit, we advise you to come as soon as it opens. A final tip: visit the cathedral when the sun is high, to enjoy the magnificent play of light through the stained glass windows.
Length of visit and main difficulties
We recommend you allow between 10min and 30min for a tour of the cathedral, looking at its facade in detail, discovering its grandiose nave before discovering its secrets.
We didn't notice any special facilities for people with reduced mobility, but the site is accessible to baby carriages and wheelchairs (with the exception of the crypt).
Advice on how to visit
The building has no specific route. For our part, we chose to start by admiring the façade and its magnificent bell tower.
Afterwards, we suggest you explore the interior of the building to appreciate its architectural richness and the different constructions that have succeeded one another over time. Don't forget to look up to appreciate the shimmering colors of the stained glass windows and their play of light!
A LITTLE MORE patience
All the photos, maps, information, good addresses to make your stay in the Loire Valley a success, will soon be gathered in a single ebook!
If you wish to be informed of the publication of our guide on the Loire, register:
Schedules and rates
The Cathedral is open every day from 9am to 7pm, free of charge.
Please note that the crypt only opens on Sundays after the 10:30 a.m. mass.
Check the detailed timetable on the cathedral's official website here.
Catering
Blois is a gourmet town with a varied choice of tempting restaurants.
While we wait for our article on the city's best restaurants (coming soon), here's a small selection:
- Just a 5-minute walk away, Restaurant Le Petit Honfleur puts Normandy in the spotlight with friendly, tasty cuisine.
- If you simply fancy a sweet break before resuming your visits, you can grab tasty pastries or generous sandwiches at Boulangerie L'atelier Sims, a 9min walk away.
- And if, on the contrary, you feel like taking your time, discover the Restaurant Au Rendez-Vous des Pêcheurs which, in a warm setting, offers refined cuisine full of flavors.
Remarkable architecture
Let's give some figures: the Saint-Louis Cathedral is 79m long and 32.50m wide. So take time to admire the details!
A majestic façade
Start your visit to the cathedral by taking a closer look at its remarkable facade.
We loved the mix of styles, with beautiful Gothic elements like the buttresses and the high gable, not to mention the many gargoyles lurking from their balconies! Classical details such as the triangular pediment and the medallions in relief nestling in the corners of the building blend in.
Finally, the cathedral's unique feature is its bell tower, perched majestically to the north of the façade. In Renaissance style, it features Ionic and Corinthian columns, giving it a very elegant air. Don't miss the lantern-topped dome, splendidly erected in 1603 under Louis XIV.
After contemplating this architectural testimony, you can return to the cathedral for a fascinating walk! The 49-metre-long nave is sure to take your breath away. Built in a sober Gothic style, it features numerous elevations built between 1680 and 1700, opening onto side chapels. The nave's keystone height is 18.40m, giving an unobstructed, soothing view, despite the fact that the cathedral has no transept.
Also note that if you come on a Sunday, you may be lucky enough to discover the crypt!
An exceptional choir
After strolling through the majestic nave, take time to admire the choir of the Cathédrale Saint-Louis. The first thing you'll notice is the beautiful marquetry on the altar dating from 1698, but what really catches your eye are the dazzling stained-glass windows in the apse. The latter features five sections dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. You'll then stroll through the neo-Gothic ambulatory, added at the end of the 19th century, whose radiating chapels will reveal a variety of secrets.
A visit full of surprises
Beautiful pieces of sacred art
Many of the cathedral's stained glass windows are remarkably colorful!
The stained glass windows in the choir: Dedicated to the story of Saint-Louis, King of France, they were created by the Lobin workshops in Tours in the 19th century, and their colors are absolutely vibrant!
The stained glass windows in the axial chapel in the ambulatory: dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and also dating from the 19th century, we spent a good while observing the delicate motifs and bold color combinations.
The stained glass windows in the side chapels and nave elevations were entrusted to Dutch artist Jan Dibbets in 1992 by Jack Lang, Minister of Culture and Mayor of Blois. These 360m2 of contemporary stained glass flood the cathedral with a very special light! In fact, unlike the others, you'll notice that they're very simple and stylish. No embellishments, just drawings, signs and words in different languages from the Gospels, encapsulated in glass. The result is absolutely stunning!
We also spotted some lovely paintings in the Chapelle Sainte-Anne and the Chapelle de La Bonne Mort. Even though we haven't found any specific documentation on them, we invite you to observe them, simply for the pleasure of your eyes!
Other noteworthy details
Various details add to the charm of Saint-Louis Cathedral, starting with the twisted columns in the axial chapel of the ambulatory. We particularly enjoyed detailing the different elements that intertwine on the capitals, such as the cherubs and fruit carvings, the mix of colors (yellow, green, red) and the golden scallop shells. These pillars, which perfectly imitate the medieval style, were in fact designed in the 19th century by French architect Jules de la Morandière.
We also really enjoyed the chapel just off the sacristy, which features some lovely 17th-century marble bas-reliefs and the relics of Charles de Blois. Count of Blois, Duke of Brittany (1341-1364) and protagonist in the War of the Breton Succession, he was beatified by the Church on his death.
If you look closely at the stained glass window above the altar, you can make out the Latin expression: "Hoc est enirn corpus meurn" ("This is my body"), the words spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper.
Finally, just before exiting, take time to admire the organ above the entrance portal. Classified as a historic monument in 1908, it was built in 1703 by artisans Jean-Baptiste and Robert Clicquot, and housed in a sumptuous buffet donated by King Louis XIV. Take time to observe this breathtaking organ with 35 stops and 51 ranks on four manual keyboards. After numerous modifications after the Revolution, it was Merklin, the famous French organ builder, who reinvented the organ with a symphonic vision, inaugurated on June 13, 1882.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
- Get away from it all with Region Lovers' beautiful destinations!
- Once a month
- Advertising-free
Frequently asked questions
Things to do around Blois Cathedral
The cathedral can be the starting point for a superb stroll around Blois!
- Right next to Blois town hall, you'll find the bishop's garden (article coming soon), offering a magnificent view of Blois and the Loire. Ideal for a pleasant break, don't miss the superb rose garden below the garden, open in fine weather, home to over 400 varieties of old and rare roses.
- Stroll through the charming streets of downtown Blois, then take a step back and stroll along the banks of the Loire. Then you can admire the cathedral overlooking the city!
- Finish your tour with a visit to the Fondation du doute, a contemporary art center featuring a varied collection (paintings, sculptures, films) by over 50 artists, curated by artist Ben. (watch the site here)
Finally, if you're looking for a unique experience, we recommend booking your tickets for a magical show at the Château de Blois. See prices and availability.
Why is Blois Cathedral called Saint-Louis?
Originally a small oratory dedicated to Saint-Pierre, the cathedral changed its name to Solenne, when the saint's relics were transferred in 589, before taking on the name Saint-Louis, in homage to Louis XIV, King of France from 1643 to 1715, nicknamed the Sun King. Indeed, it was thanks to this funding that the cathedral was rebuilt in the 17th century after a violent storm. And it was a woman, Marie Charron, from Blois of course, who made the request to the king.
What are the service times?
The Cathedral regularly hosts masses on weekdays at 7.15am and 6.30pm, and on Saturdays at 9am. Check the days and times of celebrations on the cathedral's official website here.
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
SHE MADE THE TRIP Claire
