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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)

n 1843 Prosper Merimee, a famous French writer and also monuments inspector declares the chateau de Blois as a historical monument and ordered a full restoration. In 1990, during new restoration works a terrace by Mansart was discovered. To preserve the chateau for the new millennium, visitors are required to behave properly, since every year they still have to scratch 1200 pieces of chewing gum off the floors!
The chateau de Blois houses also the FINE ARTS MUSEUM in the Louis XII wing. Nearly 300 works covering the period going from the 16th to the 19th century: French paintings and sculptures, Flemish, Italian, portraits, iron works. Also a remarkable painting by Charles Durupt about the murder of Henri de Guise. Prehistorical and medieval findings are kept in the archaeological museum.
In the evening, you have a fairy-like view on the castle from the square downward. The balconies and arcades are lightened from the inside.
In front of the castle, place du Chateau, the HOUSE OF MAGIC ROBERT HOUDIN was opened in 1996 with objects, documents and posters showing us the world of Magic. Part of the collection comes
from Jean-Eugene Houdin (1805-1871), born in Hungary, naturalized American who took the nickname Harry Houdini.
He actually lived in Saint-Gervais, 3 km south of Blois.  On the roof, the famous mysterious clock, invented by Houdin, functioning without apparent mechanism. In the first basement you enter in the universe of magic with holograms, videos and collection objects that belonged to Houdin. In the second basement, the whole story of the celebrated magician and films of Melies, director of his Soirees Fantastiques.  The spectacle hall is the only one in the world totally pre-equipped for magic. Sometimes weird things cross the room: fake theatre boxes, disappearing spectators.
At the ground level a boutique gives you the opportunity to buy some magic devices and tricks to scare off mom or grandma.
“”Is it a book of Balzac that made me think of the streets of Blois and about what happens there, or is it what happened there that was the cause of this book?”” extr.of “Along the Loire “ by Gustave Flaubert. A stroll in the OLD BLOIS will lead you to the eglise SAINT-NICOLAS, for me much nicer than the cathedral. Ancient abbey church built in the 12th and 13th century, in roman and gothic style.  Notice when inside the form of the choir, and the curious stained-glass windows, almost surrealistic.
To finish with Blois a few words about the cathedral SAINT-LOUIS. Certainly not a jewel rebuilt in neo-gothic after its destruction by a hurricane in the 17th century.

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 Cit 1995)