Château de Blois

• During the Renaissance, the kings of France made Château de Blois their favourite abode.

• The Royal Château of Blois became a centre of monarchical power and a significant historical monument in France.

• The lords of Blois and the monarchs of France continuously modified the château according to their tastes from the 9th century forward.

• The courtyard is now surrounded by structures representing the four major periods ( Gothic, Medieval, Classical and Renaissance,) of French architecture, from the Middle Ages to the 17th century.

• The Royal Chateau was magnificently rebuilt by Felix Duban in the 19th century.

• From the tiled floors to the wood panelling, Château Royal de Blois is completely furnished, decorated, and bursting with colour.

• The Blois Fine Arts Museum is housed in the Chateau, classified as a French museum.

• The museum is among the main French fine arts museums, with works by Rubens, Ingres,and Boucher.

• The Chateau, situated on a peninsula in the middle of town, has one of the most spectacular views of the royal river and Blois's mediaeval streets.

• From April through September, major milestones in the Royal Chateau's history are retold in large projections

• The sound and light show highlight the spectacular architecture of the courtyard.

• Audioguides provide simultaneous translation in ten languages.

The immense architecture of the Château de Blois, which shows not just one but four important French architectural eras, is what makes it so outstanding. The Gothic: Medieval Fortress, Flamboyant Gothic: Louis XII Wing, Early Renaissance: François I Wing, and Classical: Gaston, Duke of Orléans Wing were built between the middle ages (13th century) and the 17th century. Spend some time taking in the beauty of these facades and discovering the attraction's lengthy history.

One of the biggest and most magnificent events held at the Château de Blois is the distinctive Sound & Light Show. It happens every evening from late April until late September as a homage to the Royal Château. The event will feature enormous 360° video mapping projections to showcase the courtyard's stunning architecture and heritage. Expect a spectacle that brings the love, drama, and mysteries of the Château to life with breathtaking lighting and narrative.

Thanks to the 400 HistoPads (digital pads) accessible, visitors may now experience the Château de Blois in augmented reality. This cutting-edge technology creates astonishingly lifelike interactions by animating the furnishings, traditions, and daily activities of the sovereigns and their court. You may experience and learn about the architecture of the Château, take part in a digital treasure hunt, see 3D reconstructions of Château's four construction periods, and be an active participant at all times.

The Blois Fine Arts Museum is housed in the château's spectacular Gothic Louis XII Wing. Thousands of important sculptures, paintings, and tapestries from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries are displayed. Some of the centrepiece paintings (300 in total) are by French masters such as Rubens, Ingres, and Boucher. The museum also has a unique visitor's route app that engages all five senses.

• The courtyard of honor At the start of your tour, you'll see four wings, or monuments, surround the courtyard, each with a different style that attests to the Chateau's various occupants. Constructions and destructions have followed one another for over a thousand years, according to the demands of the illustrious personalities who called it home.

• The Foix terrace With its contemporary layout, this elegant location is made up of multiple terraces and is surrounded by plants and old flowers. It is one of the few mediaeval fortresses that once guarded the Foix neighbourhood and the city's west gate, located right below.

• The Saint-Calais Chapel Louis XII had the royal chapel built in tandem with his brick and stone wing construction. It was consecrated in 1508, but the nave was removed in the 17th century, leaving just the choir standing today.

• The Queen's Chamber It is often believed that Catherine de Medicis passed away in this chamber in 1589. The queen's monogram, which consists of two Cs entwined with Henri II's H, is shown on the walls. A chance to describe a day in the life of the queen is presented by this chamber. She attended Mass first thing in the morning before seeing guests. She welcomed ambassadors and prominent visitors after the midday lunch. The ladies could ride horses, fire arrows with their bows, or go hunting with the men in the afternoon, but most of the time they would prefer to engage in discussion, music, or needlework.

• The King's room François I ate his meals in the grand hall of the royal palaces, mostly by himself and occasionally with one or two close relatives or notable visitors. After then, he held an audience while speaking on a variety of topics while seated beneath a podium. The hall was accessible to everyone in accordance with French custom. The riches and authority of the kingdom are highlighted through the display of silverworks, carved furniture, and tapestries. Two fireplaces and a door from the time the wing was constructed are still present in the room (1515-1518). On the other side, Felix Duban designed the flooring and the painted decorations on the walls and ceilings.

• The Council Chamber The assassination of the Duke of Guise is supposed to have taken place in both the King's chamber and the Council room, where the king and his advisors would convene. Numerous paintings from the 19th century depict this horrific tragedy, which served as the climax of the Wars of Religion that tore through France in the second half of the 16th century. They highlight the extremely theatrical perspective of romantic painters and are presented here in chronological sequence, describing the events as they would be in a comic strip.