10 not-to-be-missed addresses in Blois

It's no coincidence that the royal town, so dear to François I, organizes the annual Rendez-vous de l'histoire, but Blois has never confined itself to its (very) rich past.Its theater, housed in the former Halle aux Grains, is one of the most sought-after contemporary stages, and the Fondation du Doute, designed by theThe Fondation du Doute, conceived by artist Ben, hosts national exhibitions every year, and the town is home to a young generation of designers and chefs who are brilliantly shaking up local traditions. A warm and lively town, Blois is also the gateway to France's most beautiful châteaux. What more could you need for a perfect family autumn weekend?

Where to stay in Blois?

Fleur de Loire, in Blois

Devotees of Fleur de Loire (Christopher Hay's stronghold) all wanted to extend the experience. Their wish has now been granted, as the talented chef has enhanced his table with a hotel that has become one of the region's HQs. A former hospice, the 17th-century building has been reinvented for the occasion by interior designer Caroline Tissier, who has produced a master stroke.... A bar organized around period pillars, two dining rooms with decor inspired by the changing colors of the Loire, and a Sisley spa extended by an outdoor swimming pool with a long lap pool. The 44 guest rooms (including 11 suites) offer the same unostentatious luxury, with their spaces decorated in shades of ochre and beige and contemporary furnishings. A special mention must also go to the room and terrace of the hotel's second Amour Blanc restaurant, set flush with the water, as a prelude to the gastronomic table. Inaugurated in 2022, the five-star hotel is a Relais & Châteaux member.

• From 194 euros, breakfast included Quai Villebois Mareuil 41000 Blois.
• Tel: 02 46 68 01 20

DR

Le Bois des Chambres, Chaumont-sur-Loire

The address all Chaumont-sur-Loire lovers have been waiting for. Just 300m from the estate, the hotel is built around a magnificently restored 19th-century barn and stable, set against two contemporary buildings housing 39 rooms. These are sober, delicate refuges, with cameos of green or bronze, enhanced by pure white cathedral ceilings. Grey linen curtains separate the lounge and bedroom areas, reinforcing the warm, cosy atmosphere, with quilts covering beds of unusual shapes: 2m x 2m. A stone's throw away is the Grand Chaume restaurant, whose dining room resembles a celestial vault, pierced by a forest of white arrows. Guests enjoy chef Guillaume Foucault's exquisite, sustainable cuisine at tables shaped like toues (flat-bottomed boats typical of the Loire region), topped with Limoges porcelain lighting fixtures. A place in perfect osmosis with the spirit of Chaumont and its annual garden festival, which celebrates the links between nature and the arts.

• From 176 euros, breakfast included. 41150 Chaumont-sur-Loire
• Tel: 02 36 65 84 00

Eric Sander

Where to eat, drink and dine in Blois

Assa

Here's the review of this 3-toque restaurant:"Happy Blésois, who have so many opportunities these days to enjoy fine meals in diverse and remarkable settings. The majestic river flows down to the ocean, inspiring Anthony Maubert's reflections, staging and even flashes of brilliance." Read more

© Gianni Villa

Le Bistrot du Cuisinier

Here's the review of this 1-toque restaurant:"A mainstay of the Quai Villebois-Mareuil, Thibaud Renard is committed to preserving local traditions, through local dishes, in both recipe and produce." Read more

• 20 quai Villebois Mareuil 41000 Blois
• www.lebi strotducuisinier.fr

Le bar 15 Cent 15

In one of the château's outbuildings, the former Orangerie restaurant was converted into a contemporary brasserie just two years ago. L'Oratoire now offers a blend of French and Japanese-inspired cuisine, as well as a bar for excellent cocktails (with a special mention for the Cosmopolitain and Purple Rain) created by Bacardi Cup finalist Jordan Paulus. All served in a beautiful room with an imposing central bar, or on the terrace offering a 180° view of the castle.
▶ 1 avenue du Dr Jean Laigret 41000 Blois. Tel: 02 54 78 05 36

Things to see and do in Blois

Château Royal

The Château Royal sums up five centuries of French history, as successive owners - from the Counts of Blois to François I - have enriched it without ever destroying the existing structure. To grasp this richness, first visit the medieval hall with its ceiling covered with 6,000 fleur-de-lis, and discover a remarkable 3D reconstruction of the building's construction stages - from the original 12th-century fortress to the Renaissance splendor of the 17th century. We then move on to the wing designed by François I, with its external spiral staircase, the wing designed by Gaston d'Orléans, whose buildingThe Gaston d'Orléans wing features a facade flanked by a 30-metre-high dome, while the spectacular royal apartments and their period furnishings are also worth a visit. It's a great show, and one that's rounded off by a visit to the city's fine arts museum, housed in the Louis XIII wing. And finally, if you visit the château between the beginning of April and the end of September, don't miss the sumptuous Sons et Lumières show, presented every evening at 10pm.
▶ Place du château. Tel: 02 54 90 33 33

Scaliger - Adobe Stock

A stroll through the old town

Just a stone's throw from the Hôtel de Ville and the quays of the Loire, a maze of alleyways infuses all the soul of old Blois, with its mansions, medieval houses and vaulted passageways. Our favorite route? From Place Jean Jaurès, with its Halle aux grains converted into a theater and concert hall (excellent program), head for Rue du Puits Châtel, Rue Denis Papin with its staircases tumbling down from the gardens of the Evêché, or Rue du Commerce with Maison Buret. The city's best patisserie-chocolate shop, where you can sample the famous pavé de Blois, bite-sized morsels combining old-fashioned praline and crunchy nougatine.

• Halles aux grains, 2 place Jean Jaurès 41000 Blois. Tel: 02 54 90 44 00
• Maison Buret 20 rue du Commerce 41000 Blois. Tel: 02 54 78 02 96

Robert Houdin magic museum and Fondation du doute

Opposite the château, you can't miss the grand XIXᵉ mansion once owned by magician and inventor Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. Pure pleasure for young and old alike, the place has kept the inventor's poetry and imagination intact, with its attic resembling a movie set, where magic workshops are offered.ma attic, where magic workshops are held, and rooms where you can discover automatons and shadow puppets before moving on to the auditorium and its illusions show.

Also not to be missed, to fully appreciate the cultural richness of Blois, is the Fondation du Doute, designed by artist Ben in 2013 to promote the Fluxus movement and its desire to desacralize art. You enter this former convent via a courtyard where the tone is set by an impressive " Wall of Words " featuring 313 of Ben's Tableaux écritures, before discovering the permanent exhibition featuring works by 50 artists from the movement (Daniel Spoerri...). Nearby, the cloister offers temporary exhibitions, conferences and concerts, with a restaurant-bar decorated by Ben on the first floor.

• Maison de la magie Robert Houdin, 1 Place du Château 41000 Blois. Tel: 02 54 90 33 33
• Fondation du Doute 14 rue de la Paix 41000 Blois. Tel: 02 54 55 3740

Château de Chambord

The largest château in the Loire Valley, and the grandest too... Built by François I and completed by Louis XIV, who held sumptuous festivities here, this Renaissance masterpiece has left a lasting impression.Its façade is flanked by four round towers, magically reflected in the waters of the River Cosson. Also spectacular are the double staircase, which two people can climb simultaneously without ever meeting, and the interior of the château, with its 440 rooms (80 open today) topped by painted ceilings and adorned with salamanders. A stone's throw away, the terraces reveal the impressive Chambord estate: 5500h of forest, home to wild boar, roe deer and a hundred varieties of bird. Discover Chambord from the ground or in a hot-air balloon with Les Compagnons du vent, who offer flights over the château at dawn and dusk.

• Château de Chambord 02 54 50 40 00
• Les Compagnons du vent 73 ter rue de Nanteuil 41350 Vineuil. Tel: 06 61 20 33 93

Mister vlad - AdobeStock

Chenonceau castle

Known as the "Château des Dames" (Ladies' Castle) because it was once the refuge of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, this Renaissance marvel is unmistakable for its 60m-long covered gallery overlooking the Cher River. You'll never tire of admiring the immense bridge, the keep or the turrets of the square pavilion.with the bedroom of the Five Queens (daughters and daughters-in-law of Catherine de Médicis), decorated with Flanders tapestries and paintings by Poussin, Veronese and Van Dyck. But here, the show is also on the outside, with gardens and flowerbeds, a farm and carriage gallery, and sublime orchards and vegetable gardens. A must-see, and if you wish, you can also take a canoe trip to the castle, which offers the unique experience of passing under the arches of the only bridge-castle in the world.

• Château et jardins de Chenonceau, Tel: 08 20 20 90 90
• Cher-Chenonceau 4km loop with Canoë Company. Tel: 06 37 01 89 92

An extra escape... A bike ride along the Loire

For many, this is the most beautiful cycling route in France. The 900km-long La Loire à Vélo route invites cyclists to follow Europe's last wild river along easily accessible itineraries, even for children. Leaving from Blois, you can choose from some thirty loops ranging from 10 to 40km, taking you to Chambord or Chaumont-sur-Loire, all on cycle paths laid out along the river banks, with the region's most beautiful villages as stop-off points.
▶ www.loireconcept.com