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Chateau de Blois

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Visit the Royal Château de Blois, the residence of 7 Kings of France. Explore its unique mix of architectural styles, royal apartments, and the iconic spiral staircase.

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Chateau de Blois

Visit the Royal Château de Blois, the residence of 7 Kings of France. Explore its unique mix of architectural styles, royal apartments, and the iconic spiral staircase.

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About Chateau de Blois

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Here is a tourist description of the Royal Château of Blois, designed for a guidebook, highlighting its unique architectural diversity and its connection to action cinema. The Royal Château of Blois: A Condensed History of France Proudly overlooking the Loire River, the Château of Blois is the ideal key to understanding the evolution of French architecture. Its inner courtyard is an open-air spectacle, bringing together four different styles in a single space: medieval Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Classicism, and the Louis XII style. Its most iconic feature remains the famous spiral staircase of Francis I, a true feat of openwork sculpture that soars towards the sky. The château was the scene of major historical events, such as the assassination of the Duke of Guise, but it also possesses a lighter, more spectacular side. This majestic setting has naturally attracted the film industry. The shadow of Jean-Paul Belmondo lingers here in swashbuckling scenes and period films, where his natural panache resonates with the grandeur of the setting. Between the richly colored royal apartments and the sound and light show that illuminates its facades at nightfall, Blois offers a captivating royal immersion, both scholarly and dynamic.

Tip for an even more exceptional visit.

Not to be missed, in addition to the classic tour of the castle, an unusual 2-hour tour is offered (€5 extra), with access to places not open to the public.

8 Key Dates

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1214

The Hall of the Estates General: Construction of the oldest civil seigniorial hall in France (Gothic style). It is the main remaining vestige of the castle of the Counts of Blois.
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27/6/1462

Birth of Louis XII in Blois and called Father of the People.
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1498

Blois becomes a royal residence. Louis XII, born in Blois, becomes King of France. He transforms the fortress into a Renaissance palace and has the wing built that bears his name, recognizable by its red brick and equestrian statue.
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1515

The François I Wing Influenced by the Italian Renaissance, François I had the most famous wing of the castle built, housing the iconic monumental open-air spiral staircase.
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23/12/1588

The assassination of the Duke of Guise by the guards of King Henry III: A bloody episode of the Wars of Religion at the heart of the royal castle
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5/1/1589

The main royal residence, Catherine de Medici died there in 1589. Her famous cabinet with 237 wood panels, some of which were secret, can still be found there.
CATHERINE DE MEDICIS
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1635

Gaston d'Orléans commissioned Mansart to build the classical wing, introducing the French-style dome and the purity of 17th-century lines.
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1845

The pioneering restoration of Blois was undertaken by Félix Duban, one of the first castles to be restored. It served as a model for the preservation of many other monuments in France.