Loire valley castles and cultural tourism Chenonceaux Blere
CHATEAU ROYAL DE BLOIS
BLOIS
Chateau Royal de Blois
41000 BLOIS
: 02 54 90 33 33
Web Site : CHATEAU ROYAL DE BLOIS
The central courtyard of the Château de Blois comprises four buildings. They represent the four great periods of French architecture: 13th-century Gothic in the Salle des Etats; flamboyant Gothic and early Renaissance in the Louis XII wing (constructed in the late 15th century); 16th-century Renaissance in the François I wing, introducing an Italianate ornamental and architectural vocabulary in the spiral staircase and Loges facade; and 17th-century Classical architecture in the Gaston d'Orléans wing, exemplified by François Mansart's beautiful cupola. Visitors may rediscover the recently renovated royal apartments restored in the 19th century by the architect Félix Duban. The château houses three museums: the Archaeology Museum focused on current digs; the Lapidary Museum tied to the restoration; and the Museum of Fine Arts with its painting, sculpture and decorative arts collection, dating from the 16th to early 19th century.
