Editing Blois (section)

== Landmarks and tourism ==

Since 1986, Blois is part of the [[French Towns and Lands of Art and History|French Towns of Art and History]] programme, which promotes the cultural and historical estate.

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Blois - facade des Loges Blois France.jpg|''Lodges Façade'' of the [[Château of Blois]], on Francis I wing, seen from Victor-Hugo Square.
France Loir-et-Cher Blois Hotel de ville 01.JPG|[[Town hall, Blois|Town hall]].
France Loir-et-Cher Blois Jardin Eveche 01.JPG|[[Rose garden|Rosarium]] in the [[Bishopric Gardens, Blois|Bishopric Gardens]].
Rue des Papegaults and Petit Degres Saint-Louis in Blois.jpg|Street cross between ''rue des Papegaults'' and ''rue des Petis Degrés St. Louis''.
</gallery>

[[File:Loire Cher Blois1 tango7174.jpg|thumb|right|[[Château of Blois]] (seen from the South)]]
[[File:Château de Blois-1.JPG|thumb|right|Château of Blois (seen from inside)]]
[[File:Blois.Maison de la Magie.wmt.jpg|thumb|right|[[La Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin|Robert-Houdin House of Magic]]]]
[[File:Château et ateliers.jpg|thumb|right|[[Former Poulain Chocolate Factory, Blois|Former Poulain Chocolate Factory]]]]
[[File:« Le Tourbillon magique » - décoration estivale 2018 de l’escalier Denis-Papin à Blois.jpg|thumb|right|[[Denis-Papin staircase]] in 2018]]
[[File:Cathédrale Saint Louis (Blois, Loir et Cher, France).JPG|thumb|right|[[Blois Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Blois Hotel de ville 02.JPG|thumb|right|Blois Cathedral, Town Hall, and the Rosarium seen from the Bishopric Gardens]]
[[File:Maison de l'acrobate in Blois 01.jpg|thumb|right|The ''Maison des Acrobates'']]
[[File:Blois.Loirebruecke.wmt.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Jacques-Gabriel Bridge]], with the cathedral behind, over the [[Loire]] river]]
[[File:Blois Église Saint-Nicolas.jpg|thumb|right|[[St. Nicholas Blois Church]]]]

=== Château of Blois ===
The [[Château of Blois]], a [[Renaissance]] multi-style [[château]] once occupied by King [[Louis XII]], is located in the centre of the city, and an 18th-century stone bridge spans the Loire. It was also the residence of many [[Counts of Blois]], who were amongst the most closest [[vassals]] to the King of France between the 9th and the 14th century. Many gardens are located around the château, like:
* the '''St. Sauveur Garden''' (''Parterre Saint-Sauveur'' in French);
* the '''Lily Garden''' (''Jardin des Lices'');
* the '''King's Stronghold''' (''Bastion du Roi''), and;
* '''Victor Hugo Square''' (''Square Victor Hugo'').

=== House of Magic ===
Right in front of the château, ''[[La Maison de la Magie Robert-Houdin]]'' (i.e.: [[Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin|Robert-Houdin]] House of Magic) is a [[List of museums in France|museum]] dedicated to [[illusionism]]. This is the only public museum in Europe which incorporates in one place collections of magic and a site for permanent performing arts, and directly reflects the personality of Robert-Houdin.<ref>[http://www.virtourist.com/europe/chambord/22.htm Blois, La Maison de la Magie] at virtourist.com</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=165816 |title=Mussee de la Magie. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718040351/http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=165816 |archive-date=18 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelsignposts.com/Paris/paris_museum-magic.php|title=Travel signposts, Paris Museum of Magic.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302091632/http://www.travelsignposts.com/Paris/paris_museum-magic.php|archive-date=2 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/10/AR2005061001074.html|title=Keck, Gayle, Washington Post, And Now for Paris' Next Trick. | newspaper=The Washington Post| date=12 June 2005 | access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref>

=== Louis-XII Place and Fountains ===

Opened after bombings in 1944, the place stands right below the château, closest to the [[Loire]] river, and is actually located at the centre of Blois downtown. There are local shops and restaurants, and a 16th-century fountain stands below the [[Sycamore]]s planted in the place. Known as '''Louis XII Fountain''' (''Fontaine Louis XII''), this is one of the greatest and oldest [[fountain|water inlets]] throughout the city, but far from being the only one. Among the other founts, there are:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Emmanuelle Plumet |title=Laissez-vous conter le parcours des fontaines de Blois |url=https://www.culture.gouv.fr/Media/Medias-creation-rapide/Laissez-vous-conter-le-parcours-des-fontaines-de-Blois.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321140550/https://www.culture.gouv.fr/Media/Medias-creation-rapide/Laissez-vous-conter-le-parcours-des-fontaines-de-Blois.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-21 |url-status=live |website=Ville de Blois |publisher=French Minister of Culture}}</ref>
* '''St. Martin Fountain''' (''Fontaine Saint-Martin''), below the staircase between the château and Louis XII Place;
* '''St. Nicholas Fountain''' (''Fontaine Saint-Nicolas''), within the [[St. Nicholas Blois Church|St. Nicholas Church]];
* '''Elected Representatives' Fountain''' (''Fontaine des Élus''), in ''rue Foulerie'';
* '''Ave Maria Fountain''' (''Fontaine Ave Maria''), in ''place Ave Maria'';
* '''Town hall Fountain''' (''Fontaine de l'Hôtel de Ville''), below the Denis Papin staircase (where was the former Town Hall before [[World War II]]);
* '''St. Jack Fountain''' (''Fontaine Saint-Jacques''), in ''rue Denis Papin'';
* '''Corbigny Fountain''' (''Fontaine de Corbigny''), in Victor Hugo Square ;
* '''Simple Fountain''' (''Fontaine des Simples''), in the Lily Garden, in remembrance of a monumental [[Château de Versailles|Versailles]]-style fountain lost after WWII bombings.

=== Comics Museum ===
Blois is also the location of so-called ''Maison de la BD'', a museum devoted to the art of comic books.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blois.fr/en/attractive/remarkable/comic-strip-house | title=Comic strip house }}</ref> Since the 1980s, this museum hosts an annual comic festival in late November called ''BD Boum'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://maisondelabd.com/information | title=Bd BOUM annulé }}</ref> described as "the leading free comic book festival in France".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.blois.fr/en/attractive/festive/bd-boum | title=Bd BOUM (Comics festival) | date=22 November 2019 }}</ref>

=== Former Hôtel-Dieu ===

Already by 924, monks from the St. Lomer community were given some acres below the medieval castle, but outside the city walls, on the bank of the Loire river. In the 13th century, a proper church was built, then fortified because of the [[Hundred Years' War]]. [[St. Nicholas Blois Church|St. Lomer Abbey]] was completely destroyed during the [[French Wars of Religion]]. The edifice was rebuilt until the early 18th century. When the [[French Revolution]] broke out by 1789, the church was turnt into a [[Hôtel-Dieu]], namely a charity hospital for the have-nots, because Revolutionners destroyed many clergy- and royal-related monuments. After that, new buildings were added to the original St. Lomer Abbey, which became [[St. Nicholas Blois Church|St. Nicholas Church]], and the additional edifices remained dedicated to the [[Hôtel-Dieu, Blois|Hôtel-Dieu of the city]]. Nonetheless, this part was gradually abandoned and taken back by some public services. A reconversion project is currently under study.

=== Former Poulain Chocolate Factory ===

In the late 19th century, [[Bloisian]] industrialist and chocolatier [[Victor-Auguste Poulain]] established [[Chocolat Poulain|his brand's]] factory next to [[Blois station]]. The premises moved in the 1980s. Nowadays, those are housings and host the [[INSA Centre Val de Loire|National Institute and School of Applied Sciences]] (''INSA'').

=== Denis-Papin Staircase ===

As Blois is built on a pair of steep hills, winding and steep pathways run through the city, culminating in long staircases at various points. The most iconic of them is the monumental [[Denis-Papin staircase]] which overlooks the town, provides a panoramic view by overlooking the downtown and the Loire Valley, and regularly enlivens urban space with original decorations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blois Town Hall official website |title=Denis-Papin staircase |url=https://www.blois.fr/en/attractive/remarkable/denis-papin-staircase#/gallery-id-7888 |website=blois.fr}}</ref> The fountain next to the staircase is a reminder of the location of the first Town Hall, destroyed after bombings on 16 June 1940.

=== Town Hall and Bishopric Gardens ===

Blois achieved independence from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Chartres|Diocese of Chartres]] in 1697, and the [[Blois Cathedral|cathedral]] was completed by 1700. As a result, the first bishops engineered wide gardens on several levels, next to the premises. Since the destruction of the former Blois town hall during [[World War II]], local authorities requisitioned the bishop's apartments to establish there the new town hall. Now organised as an [[urban park]], the gardens offer a panoramic view on the downtown, the [[Loire]] river, and [[Blois-Vienne]]. A statue of [[Joan of Arc]], given to the city by American patron J. Sanford Saltus, stands in the middle of the park. Bishopric gardens are open to public all the year, and a remarkable [[rose garden]] can be visited from 15 May and 30 September, each year.

=== Hôtels Particuliers and Timber Framing Houses ===

Since Count Louis II of Orléans became King [[Louis XII]] of France in 1498, the city started to host many noblepersons from all the Kingdom. All would build their own mansion as close from the [[château of Blois|château]] as they could. King Louis XII also imported [[Renaissance]] style from Italy due to his successful military campaigns there. Among these so-called ''[[hôtel particulier|hôtels particuliers]]'', there are:
* the ''[[Hôtel d'Alluye]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel d'Amboise]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel de Belot]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel de la Capitainerie]]'' (a.k.a. ''Hôtel de Bretagne'');
* the ''[[Hôtel de la Chancellerie]]'' (i.e.: Chancellery Hotel);
* the ''[[Hôtel Denis-Dupont]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel d'Épernon]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel de Guise]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel de Jassaud]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel de Lavallière]]'', built for [[Louise de Lavallière]];
* the ''[[Hôtel de Rochefort]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel Sardini]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel Viart]]'';
* the ''[[Hôtel de Villebresme]]'', in which [[Denis Papin]] lived;
* the ''[[Château de la Vicomté]]'' (i.e.: ''Château of Viscounty''), in the hamlet of ''Les Grouëts''.

In addition, many citizens from the peoples engineered [[timber-framing]] buildings all across the city, including:
* the ''[[Logis du Loup, Blois|Logis du Loup]]'';
* the ''[[Maison des Acrobates, Blois|Maison des Acrobates]]''.

Please note all the above edifices have been listed as [[historical monument]]s.

=== Blois-Vienne and the Loire river ===

''[[Blois-Vienne]]'' (or merely ''Vienne'') is the name given to the southern part of the city, on the left bank of the [[Loire]] river. Independent from the city until 1606, there are many traces of the river's past. The main link between both banks is the [[Jacques-Gabriel Bridge]], built in the early 18th century. From the levees circling the surroundings to other abandoned bridges, Vienne has also conserved a harbour, named [[La Creusille Harbor|''La Creusille'']], which is now an urban park right on ''[[La Loire à Vélo]]'' bike route.<ref>{{cite web|title=La Creusille Harbour|url=https://www.blois.fr/en/annuaire/parcs-jardins-espaces-naturels/port-creusille|author=the Blois City Official Website|website=blois.fr|date=2022}}</ref> Beyond the levees, [[La Bouillie Park|''La Bouillie'' Park]] is getting rehabilitated, and actually is a [[spillway]] in the event of floodings. Further to the south of the city, the ''[[Forêt de Russy]]'' is a reminder of the thick woods that once covered the area.

=== Religious buildings ===

The city also is provided with many religious edifices, including:
* '''[[Blois Cathedral]]''', dedicated to both Kings [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]] and [[Louis XII]], built between 1564 and 1700.
* '''[[St. Vincent Blois Church]]''', dedicated to Saint [[Vincent de Paul]], built between 1625 and 1660.
* '''[[St. Nicholas Blois Church]]''', dedicated to bishop [[Saint Nicholas]] of Myra, built in the 12th century.
* '''[[Blois-Vienne Church]]''', dedicated to Saint [[Saturnin]] of Toulouse, built between c. 1500 and 1528.
* '''The [[Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Trinité]]''', dedicated to [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Our Lady]] of the [[Holy Trinity]], built between 1932 and 1939.