Best Things to Do In Blois, France

Why Visit Blois, Loire Valley

Located by the Loire River in the Centre Val-de-Loire region, Blois is a picturesque small city with an important history since it was the capital city of France under the reign of Louis XII.

Blois can be small, but it is packed with amazing attractions and easy to explore on foot. This lovely city is also a great base for a short holiday to explore the gorgeous Loire Valley.

From its Royal Château to the Gothic Cathedral to fantastic wine-centered tours, here is the full list of the best things to do in Blois for an amazing trip.

What to Do in Blois, France

Explore the Old Town

With its cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and charming little squares, the Old Town offers a picturesque and unspoiled atmosphere and transports visitors back to medieval times. Place Louis XII, with its distinctive red brick buildings, serves as a focal point and is home to a bustling market where local produce and delicacies can be sampled.

Before exploring the Old Town, stop by the Blois Tourist Information (5 Rue de la Voute) for a free city map. For a couple of euros, you can purchase a much better map that includes four self-guided itineraries to visit Blois’ main sights and historic houses.

Follow one of the four routes suggested itineraries marked by bronze plates on the ground. The plates (four different symbols for each itinerary) will help you navigate the emblematic places of the Old Town.

Royal Château de Blois

Perched on a promontory overlooking the Loire River, the Royal Château de Blois is one of the best things to do in Blois, France.

Built between the 13th and 17th centuries, it was the home of the powerful Counts of Blois before becoming a royal residence under King Louis XII.

The building has four wings, each featuring a different architecture since the various royals who inhabited the château had ordered new works time after time.

Besides its interesting architectural mix of Medieval, Gothic, Italian Renaissance, and Classical styles, the Château de Blois is full of history. The castle was where the Archbishop of Reims blessed Jeanne d’Arc before she left with her army for the Hundred Years War.

Today, the Château de Blois houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and it is one of the best spots in town to marvel at spectacular views of the Loire River – Click here to buy the tickets to the Royal Château de Blois

Address: 6 Pl. du Château; Opening times: Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

TIP: If you plan to visit more than one château in the Loire Valley, consider one of these Châteaux of the Loire Valley Passes.

Cathédrale Saint-Louis

The Cathédrale Saint-Louis is another majestic building in Blois.

Overlooking the Loire River, the Cathédrale Saint-Louis was erected in the 10th century but enlarged and rebuilt in the following centuries. Its predominant style is Late Gothic, which blends masterfully well with the 33 stained-glass windows added by 19th-century artists Jan Dibbets and Jean Maurel. The game of light created by the windows on the cathedral’s central nave will leave you in awe, guaranteed!

The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Blois and is dedicated to Saint Solenne, whose tomb is housed in the crypt. Surprisingly, this is one of the few religious places without a statue of Jeanne d’Arc, which is a pity because of her connection to the city!

Address: Place Saint-Louis; Opening times: Monday to Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Jardins de l’Eveché

Right behind the Cathédrale Saint-Louis and next to the Hotel de Ville, which was the Bishop’s residence, you will find the beautiful Jardins de l’Ancien Évêché.

Created in the 19th century, this terraced garden is divided into two sections. At the lower level is the Roseraie, the rose garden, which becomes a marvelous explosion of colors and scents in late spring. The upper level is the Jardin des Cinq Sens, featuring plants and flowers specifically grown to stimulate each of the five senses.

In the Jardins de l’Ancien Évêché, you can also see a statue of Joan of Arc riding a horse and enjoy great views of Blois and the Loire River.

The Staircase Denis Papin

The tallest staircase in Blois, connecting the lower and upper towns, is one of the best things to see in Blois, France; the ultimate Instagram spot! Twice a year, its 120 risers are decorated with original artistic creations. From a giant Mona Lisa to a more Olympic theme, locals and tourists love the staircase Denis-Papin!

The best place to fully appreciate the entire décor is the corner of Rue des Trois-Clés and Rue Denis-Papin.

And by the way, who was Denis Papin? He was a local physician and inventor (1647-1713) who invented the ancestor of the pressure cooker. You can see his statue on the stairs.

Museums of Blois

Blois has some interesting museums you should find the time to visit during your trip. Here are some favorites:

Musée de la Magie

This is the perfect museum if you are traveling with kids or are just curious to see a unique collection. The Musée de la Magie boasts over 700 objects and works of magic, as well as a number of interactive activities for an extra-fun visit.

The museum also hosts magic shows and a permanent exhibition dedicated to the famous magician Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin, born in Blois.

Don’t miss the creative show every half hour, when the appearance of dragons animates the main façade of the building!

Address: 1 Place du Château. Opening times: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6.30 pm

Musée de la Résistance

This museum was created in 1995 by the initiative of former deportees and members of the French Resistance to keep the memory of the terrible events of WW2 alive.

The exhibition space is huge, with 265 m², and it houses of-the-period documents and objects witnessing the birth of the Resistance and sharing the conditions of daily life during the occupation.

If you are a history geek, you can’t miss the Musée de la Résistance!

Address: 6 Place Victor Hugo. Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, the museum is open from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Day Tours from Blois

What to do in Blois if you have an extra day? Blois is a fantastic town to visit, and it is also well-located, which means that you can reach many other places from there! So why not take a day trip during your holiday?

The beautiful towns of Tours, Chaumont-sur-Loire, and Amboise are easy to reach by regional train from Blois, and there’s no need to book train tickets in advance.

You can also visit some of the most beautiful Loire Valley castles from Blois, like the Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, and Château de Cheverny. If you don’t have a car, you can visit the Château de Cheverny by taking the direct bus from Blois train station. You can instead reach the Château de Chenonceau by train, with one change in St. Pierre des Corps train station.

Another great alternative is to join a guided tour. This one heads to the castles of Chambord and Chenonceau, while this other tour will lead you to the châteaux of Chambord and Cheverny.

Wine Tours from Blois

If you love wine, there are many wine tours you can enjoy from Blois.

Blois is located in the Touraine wine production area, which is part of the Val de Loire wine region. The closest wine appellations are Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny.

The Cheverny appellation is well-known for producing white wines made with Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris grape varieties and red wines made with Pinot Noir + Gamay and Côt (Malbec) grapes.

The Cour-Cheverny appellation produces instead whites from the Romorantin grape variety. This is the only place in the world where you can find Romorantin-based wines – which are a true feast for the palate!

If you have a car, I recommend visiting the Domaine de Montcy and the Domaine du Vardet. Both estates offer vineyard visits and wine tastings.

If you don’t have a car, this guided tour offers wine tastings in Cheverny and Cour-Cheverny.

You can also visit Cheverny by bus and visit its famous château and La Maison des Vins de Cheverny (1 Avenue du Château, opens at 11 a.m.). Here, you can learn about the wines of Cheverny and Cour Cheverny and sample some of them.

And there you have it, the best things to do in Blois, Loire Valley, for a memorable day trip or weekend getaway. Bon voyage!

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