Discover Blois through several distinct themes: royal apartments and an audiovisual show at the Château royal, the history of magic, contemporary art, and activities on the Loire. For your stay, you can first consider whether culture, art or outdoor experiences should be your main focus. Options range from walking tours to a cycling route and boat trips.
Château Tour and Son-et-Lumière
The visitor route at the Château royal de Blois includes the royal apartments. The Château also presents the 45-minute audiovisual Son-et-Lumière show “Ainsi Blois vous est conté.†The tour and the show differ primarily in format: the apartments are part of the visit, while the show combines image and sound. Seasonal dates and performance details may change. The presentation of the collections may also change over time.
Magic and Contemporary Art
The Maison de la Magie presents the history of magic through unique objects that belonged to Robert-Houdin or other great magicians. An interactive space and a live magic show complement the theme; the visitor programme may change. In addition to the objects, interaction and performance are also central. For those interested in magic, this offers a different experience from the château tour.
The Fondation du doute is a contemporary art venue in Blois. Its permanent exhibition route is devoted to Fluxus, an international 20th-century art movement. The Fondation is located in the rooms of a former monastery dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Here, a focus on contemporary art meets the historic context of the building.
On Foot, by Bike or on the Loire
Les Petits Clous comprises four walking routes through several historic districts of Blois; bronze plaques mark the routes. La Loire à Vélo starts in Blois and offers 60 km of cycling paths along the Loire. The two options have different focuses: walking tours through historic districts on the one hand, and a cycling route along the river on the other.
The Observatoire Loire offers boat trips on the Loire in Blois. Availability may vary by season, so check which trips are offered for your travel dates.
Tailor Your Stay to Your Interests
When looking for a hotel in Blois, the different themes can serve as a starting point: the château and Maison de la Magie represent historical themes and performances, while the Fondation du doute focuses on contemporary art. Les Petits Clous, the cycling route and boat trips offer different ways to explore Blois and the Loire on foot, by bike or on the water. This lets you tailor your stay to your own interests rather than treating all the options equally. Be sure to take seasonal show dates and the availability of boat trips into account for your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Mer, Lavardin, Mennetou-sur-Cher, Couddes, Vallières-Les-Grandes, Contres, Souvigny-En-Sologne, Chaumont-Sur-Tharonne
For the broader travel overview: Loir-Et-Cher.
