Explore the Castle of Blois, Blois

Visit the royal castle of Blois, known as the Château Royal de Blois. Classified as a historical monument since 1845, the royal chateau presents a magnificent panorama of the art and history that filled the castles of the Loire Valley. Surrounding an inner courtyard, its four wings constitute a unique example of the development of French architecture from the 13th through the 17th century.

The chateau was a significant setting for the French royal court, often used as a resort. The Treaty of Blois was signed here in the early 16th century, and Calvinists eventually used the grounds.

With its multitude of styles, the tower evokes the destiny of France's seven kings and ten queens. Some of the castle's most famous inhabitants include Louis I, Duke of Orléans, who was assassinated, leaving his widow Valentina Visconti and poet son Charles behind. Catherine de' Medici, the wife of King Henry II, also lived and died in the castle and the two queens of Henry IV, Margaret of Valois and Maria de' Medici.

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