Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bike Rental: Détours de Loire
bike rental is near the train station at 39 Avenue du Dr.
Jean Laigret (tel. 02 54 56 07 73). Because they also have a shop in Amboise, you
canrentabikeforaone-wayridetoAmboise,stoppingatgarden-richChaumont-sur-
Loire on the way (26-mile trip). See “Biking from Blois,” later, for route ideas.
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Château Royal de Blois
A castle has inhabited this site since the 900s. Size up the current one from the big square
before entering. Even though parts of the building date from the Middle Ages, notice the
completeabsenceofdefensivetowers,drawbridges,andotherfortifications.Gardensonce
extended behind the château and up the hill to a forest (where the train station is today). A
walk around the building's perimeter (to the right as you face it) reveals more of its beau-
tiful Renaissance facade.
KingsLouisXIIandFrançoisIbuiltmostofthechâteauyouseetoday,eachcallingit
home during their reigns. That's Louis looking good on his horse in the niche. The section
on the far right looks like a church but was actually the château's most important meeting
room (more on this later).
Cost and Hours:
€9.50, kids under 18-€7, €15 combo-ticket with House of Magic
(described later, under “Other Sights and Activities”) or sound-and-light show (see next),
€20 covers all three, audioguide-€4; daily July-Aug 9:00-19:00, April-June and Sept
9:00-18:30, Oct 9:00-17:30, Nov-March 9:00-12:30 & 14:00-17:30, free lockers available
with entry, tel. 02 54 90 33 33,
www.chateaudeblois.fr
.
Sound-and-Light Show:
Thissimple“show”takesplaceinthecentercourtyardand
featuresprojectionswithhistoricalnarrative.AnEnglishversionoftheshowrunsonWed-
nesdays, though the French version is worthwhile any evening if you're sleeping in Blois
(€7.50, covered by combo-tickets described above; daily June-Sept at about 22:00).
Information:
Attheticketoffice,pickupthehelpfulEnglishbrochure,thenreadthe
well-presented English displays in each room. The entertaining audioguide tells the story
of the château through the voices of its inhabitants (a nice change of pace from other audi-
oguides).
Tours:
In summer, tours of the château are run in English once a day (usually early
afternoon).
Visiting the Château:
Begin in the
courtyard,
where fourdifferent wings—ranging
from Gothic to Neoclassical—underscore this château's importance over many centuries.
Standwithyourbacktotheentrytogetoriented.Themedievalpartsofthechâteauarethe
brick-patternedsections(toyourleftandbehindyou),bothbuiltbyLouisXII.Whilework
