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The city of Blois is build as an amphitheatre on the slopes that overlook the Loire and invites the loiterer –as well as the architecture passionate—to explore the maze of its medieval street.  It was heavily damaged during the war. The new constructions were laid out in a manner to clear perfectly the view of the chateau. But the typical French atmosphere is to find mainly in the OLD QUARTIERS: the ancient, tortuous streets, climbing capriciously the scarped slopes of the river shore like the rue Pierre de Blois, du Chant-des-Oiseaux, the rue du Puits-Chatel and rue des Papegaults.  Also the rue Rebrousse-Penil, pedestrian, joining the rue du Commerce: adorable passage under a house. Admire also the place Saint-Louis with its beautiful old houses. Loiter around the porte Chartraine, porte Cote and the lively rue Denis Papin (the inventor of the steam machine), a son of this city. Also the illusionist Louis-Eugene Robert Houdin was born here and lived here (the city financed a "House of Magic Robert Houdin”). If you want guided visits of the old Blois take info at the chateau tel 0254741606.
Blois, actual capital of the  Loir-et-Cher was, was, after all, the centre of French Renaissance. Look at the prestigious chateau, where most important events of French history were plotted. Louis XII, king of France in 1498, was born here in1462.
Let's start the visit of the chateau.
The architecture of the chateau de Blois covers 4 centuries of tormented history of the town. A journey that starts in the 13th century, after the counts of Blois had given their freehold to the king of France, continuing with the royal grandeur of Renaissance art and the murderous hours of religion wars to end with much quieter times but much richer in conspiracies, of Gaston d’Orleans in the 17th century.
The chateau is built on a slope in full centre town, and takes the form of a quadrilateral surrounding an honour courtyard. The exterior façade shows a medieval part, recognisable because of its pointed roof, it houses the salle des “Etats Generaux” (13th century) with 2 woodwork-covered naves. A more modern one, nicely build in stone and bricks built under Louis XII (1498) which equestrian statue stands in the main porch. Crossing the interior courtyard, go to the terrace overlooking the Loire and the last vestige of the medieval remnants: le Tour de Foix. Come back in the courtyard and admire the gothic choir of the chapelle Saint-Calais, private chapel of Louis XII. Certain sculpted personages (1st and 4th windows, left of the entry) remind us of the Rabelaisian smutty stories of that era. At the end of the interior courtyard a famous staircase is enclosed in an octagonal tower equipped with balconies and decorated with marvellous sculptures from where the courtesans could follow the ceremonials.
First floor, the salle des Gardes, where Ronsard met Cassandra, and the cabinet of the famous Catherine de Medicis where this intriguing woman who was the mother of three kings of France, kept her personal papers, jewels and a collection of poisons hidden in mural cupboards opening with a secret mechanism The guide will show the cupboard of poisons that was opened by pushing with your foot on a device hidden in the plinth! At the 2nd floor, the apartments of Henri III. Here, the Duke of Guise was assassinated and died in the king's room.  It gave Henri III the opportunity to get rid of one of his most heavy opponent. The guide will precise to the visitor the exact spot where 23 knife stabs were planted in the unfortunate duke by 8 men armed with daggers and 12 with swords! In those times they had the style of well-done work!;-).This Duke de Guise was the head of the Catholic League, supported by Spain. His murder was one of the most dramatic episodes of the religion wars. More in next article....

Bibliography

Regions Gourmandes: Les pays de la Loire, by H.Walden (Paris, ed.Hatier 1993)—Guide du Patrimoine, Centre, Val de Loire , by Perouse de Montclos (ed.Hachette 1992)—Het dal van de Loire, by A.Sperber (Brussels, ed.Harenberg 1992)—Par les champs et par les greves, by G.Flaubert (1885)—Guide du Routard 1998 (ed.Hachette)—de kastelen van Frankrijk, by L.P.Boon (1956)-Histoire tourmentee de Blois, by J.P.De la Rue  (ed.La Cité 1995)