Sightseeing in Blois | Blois Chambord – Loire Valley Tourist Office

Blois is an ideal place to stroll while enjoying a charming setting rich in history. The pedestrian streets of the old town are lined with half-timbered houses and intricate perspectives. From Rue Poids du Roi, a succession of facades and roofs leads to the bell tower of the Gothic cathedral Saint-Louis, which overlooks the town.

Blois, an open-air museum

Built into the hillside, Blois is a city to be explored, full of staircases, slopes and climbs. Situated on the banks of the Loire, it offers magnificent views of the royal river and the 18th-century Jacques Gabriel bridge. Don’t miss the Renaissance townhouses on rue du Puits-Châtel, or the Maison des Acrobates on place Saint-Louis, one of the oldest in Blois, dating back to the reign of Louis XI and awarded the prize for the most beautiful house in France in 1960.

Follow the King's court

To enable you to discover the town at your own pace, four pedestrian circuits called “Les petits clous” (little nails) and marked out with bronze nails guide you through different districts: the area around the château and royal gardens, the Puits-Châtel, the area around the former abbeys or the left bank and its magnificent panorama. Also available on the “Blois Chambord” app, a handy geolocation tool, plus a children’s quiz (6-12 years).

Blois has been awarded the “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire” (City of Art and History) label thanks to its efforts to preserve and promote its heritage. A program of visits is available during the spring and summer vacations and for Heritage Days. Check it out!

View tours and events

Les visites guidées de Blois - Ville d’Art et d’HistoireBlois

Ask for the guide!

The town of Blois has a fascinating history spanning more than 5 centuries. Numerous guides and guides offer guided tours on different themes, suitable for children, in hiking mode or at dusk.

If you can’t find their dates in our calendar, contact them!

Guide de Blois - Accompagnateur touristiqueBlois

Guided tours with a licensed guideBlois

La Fugue Enchantée, visites guidées au Pays des ChâteauxBlois

Blois-Chambord GreetersBlois

Bérénice Tarcher - Visites guidées en Val de LoireLa Chaussée-Saint-Victor

THE MUST-HAVES to visit

From the royal castle to the House of Magic

You’ll soon realize: in Blois, all roads lead to the château, and its striking facade is a unique demonstration of the evolution of architecture between the 13th and 17th centuries. Richly decorated and superbly restored in the 19th century, this royal residence has been home to no fewer than seven kings and ten queens of France. It is also home to the city’s Musée des Beaux-arts, featuring masterpieces by Ingres, Rubens and Boucher.

On a completely different note, don’t miss the Maison de la magie, located opposite the château. Its facade is astonishing: this large mid-19th-century bourgeois house takes a fantastic turn every half-hour, when a six-headed mechanical dragon appears in the windows! Its permanent collection dedicated to the magical arts also pays tribute to illusionist Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, one of the town’s most famous figures. Also at the Maison de la magie, don’t miss the fascinating “Secrets of Paper” exhibition. From origami to the repertoire of illusionists and artists, paper is revealed in all its forms: giant cocotte, suspended Japanese cranes, animated books and pop-ups, sculptures by Éric Joisel, savannah animals by Gérard Ty Sovann…

The Doubt Foundation

It’s also impossible to miss the Fondation du Doubt: its façade, covered with plaques signed by the artist Ben, is not unnoticed. The permanent collection includes works, videos and interviews with key players in the movement, from the great John Cage to Joseph Beuys and Georg Brecht.

As you leave the premises, an artistic tour of the city extends the pleasure: 30 enamelled plaques created by Ben can be discovered in 30 different locations, posing questions to challenge visitors. A fine illustration of the image of Blois, a lively, vibrant city where tradition and novelty resonate perfectly.