Chateau de Blois

The Royal Château de Blois (French: "Château Royal de Blois") is located in the Loir-et-Cher département in the Loire Valley, in France, in the center of the city of Blois. The residence of several French kings, it is also the place where Joan of Arc went in 1429 to be blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before departing with her army to drive the English from Orléans.

Built in the middle of the town that it effectively controlled, the château of Blois comprises several buildings constructed from the 13th to the 17th century around the main courtyard.

It has 564 rooms and 75 staircases although only 23 were used frequently. There is a fireplace in each room. There are 100 bedrooms.

Opening hours
- From 2nd January to 31st March: 9.00 am / 12.30 am – 1.30 pm / 5.30 pm
- From 1st April to 30th June : 9.00 am / 6.30 pm
- From 1st July to 31st August : 9.00 am / 7.00 pm
- From 1st to 30th September : 9.00 am / 6.30 pm
- From 1st October to 1st November : 9.00 am / 6.00 pm
- From 2nd November to 31st December : 9.00 am / 12.30 am - 1.30 pm / 5.30 pm
Ticket office closes half an hour before closing time.

The entire city center is worth a visit. The magnificent buildings and the very well-kept parks are a pleasure to look at.

The queens and kings who once lived at the Château Royal de Blois were important builders. Thanks to them, the castle has an architectural diversity that extends from the Middle Ages to the 17th century.The life-size equestrian statue of Louis XII. above the portal shows the builder of the entrance wing since 1502.