About Château de Blois Tickets
Explore Château de Blois
Use your Château de Blois tickets to admire the grand architectural styles of this magnificent castle. The structure of the Château de Blois boasts of not just a couple, but four major eras of the traditional French styles of architecture. While the Château de Blois was built between the 13th and 17th century, there are four grand wings here, all of which belong to different eras in time. The medieval fortress has a gothic style, while the Louis XII wing is known for its Flamboyant Gothic style. The Francois I wing, on the other hand, has an early renaissance style of architecture, and the Gaston, Duke of Orleans wing has a classical French architecture.
When exploring the Château de Blois, visiting the Blois Fine Arts Museum is one of the best things to do in Loire Valley. Tucked in the Louis XII wing, this fine arts museum boasts of thousands of sculptures, paintings as well as tapestries from the 16th to the 19th centuries. With a total of 300 centrepiece paintings made by noted French artists, the museum also houses works of artists like Boucher, Ingres and Rubens, to name a few.
Another major highlight of the Château de Blois tickets is the spectacular Light and Sound Show here, which is also a major dramatic feat here. The show is organised in the castle every evening between late April to late September, and is said to be a tribute to this Royal Château. The show also has 360-degree video mapping projections, which are used to showcase the marvellous architecture of the castle as well as the history of its courtyard.
You can also enjoy an augmented reality experience at the Château de Blois with the availability of HistoPad here. The castle contains around 400 HistoPads, which are digital tablets for visitors, who will be able to explore the castle in an augmented reality form. The HistoPad uses state-of-the-art technology, complete with animated decorations inside the castle, as well as information about the life and customs of the sovereigns and their courts. You can also use the HistoPad to enjoy a virtual treasure hunt here, see 3D representations of the four periods of construction of the castle and more.
Château de Blois History
The Château de Blois was built between the 13th to the 17th century, in various different phases in time. You can find many different buildings inside the castle, a lot of which have been built in the architectural styles of the eras they were constructed in. The castle was formerly known as Blisum Castrum, and was attacked by the Vikings in 854. However, it was during the 10th and 11th centuries when the Counts of Blois began preparations to rebuild this fortress.
The Big Tower, along with the St. Sauveur Collegiate Church were built by the end of the 12th century by Count Theobald I, while the Estates General Room was built during the beginning of the 13th century, thereby becoming one of the oldest seignorial rooms, and the largest remaining civilian gothic room in the entire country.
In 1397, the castle was given to Louis I, who was the Duke of Orleans, and after his assassination, the castle became the retirement home of his widow. Later on, it was inherited by their son, Charles d’Orleans. When he returned to the castle after being kept hostage for 25 years, he helped to rebuild the castle, which then went on to become the royal residence of King Louis XII in 1498.
The entrance of the main block and the Italian garden were constructed in the early 16th century here. In 1515, when Francis I became king, he began the construction of a new wing here, which became the most important library of the castle of that time, thereafter forming the royal library after it was moved to the Chateau of Fontainebleau.
Then, the Château de Blois became the place where Henry I and his brother Louis II were assassinated during the late 16th century. After this, the castle was the home of King Henry IV, who was the first monarch of Bourbon. In 1626, the Château de Blois went to Gaston of France, the Duke of Orleans.
Over the years, the castle remained neglected for over a century, owing to the French Revolution, resulting in its contents being removed. However, instead of being demolished, it became the military barracks. In 1840, the Château de Blois was designated as a historical monument and was then restored. As of today, it is open to the public as a museum, with a lot of its rooms available for viewing.
Know Before You Go
Address: 6 Pl. du Château, 41000 Blois, France
Timings:
The Château de Blois remains open every day of the year except on December 25th and January 1st. The opening hours of the Château de Blois are:
- 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. (2nd January 2022 to 1st March 2022)
- 09:00 a.m. to 06:30 p.m. (1st April 2022 to 30th June 2022)
- 09:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m. (1st July 2022 to 31st August 2022)
- 09:00 a.m. to 06:30 p.m. (1st September 2022 to 6th November 2022)
- 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. (7th November 2022 to 31st December 2022)
By Car:
You can get to the Château de Blois by self-driving your car. from Paris, you can take the A10 or RN152, and get to the Château, which will take around 2 hours to reach.
By Bus:
You can also avail a ride in one of the many public buses that travel to Blois from Paris, which takes around two and a half hours.
By Train:
Alternatively, the fastest way to reach Château de Blois is by taking a train ride from the Paris Austerlitz station to the Blois Station. The ride takes an hour and a half, and upon reaching the Blois Station, you need to take a short 10-minute walk to the castle.
- The castle is wheelchair accessible.
- You can also avail a wheelchair on loan here.
- Those assisting visitors with disabilities are allowed free entry into the castle.
- Resting areas, washrooms as well as other sanitary facilities are also available on site.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi is available for visitors to the castle.
- Assistance, guide, or service dogs are also allowed inside the castle.
- You can also find a souvenir shop, a bookstore and a gift shop here.
- Cafes and restaurants are available for those who wish to relax and enjoy refreshments during their visit.
- Resting seats and areas inside the Château de Blois
- Wheelchair on loan facilities
- Suited sanitary facilities
- Free locker facilities for small bags
- Baby changing facilities
- Stroller parking spaces
- Entry to guide or assistance dogs for visitors with disabilities
- While there is no specific dress code for the castle, it is best to dress in a comfortable, and semi-formal attire.
- It is advisable to bring a small camera inside the castle since photography is allowed here.
- When availing the Château de Blois tickets, it is recommended to book them in advance since the tickets tend to get sold out quite often.
- Spend some time exploring the countryside surrounding the castle during your visit, for an even better experience.
FAQ's
What is the best way to buy tickets to Château de Blois?
The best way to buy the Château de Blois tickets is to book them online, so that you can secure your slot of visit, while also enjoying the best deals and discounts and saving your time and money here.
What is the best time to visit Château de Blois?
The best time to visit Château de Blois is during the late spring and summer seasons, when the weather here is perfect, and the flowers and plants in the gardens and surrounding countryside are in full bloom. Additionally, you must visit Château de Blois during the early morning hours of the weekdays, when the crowds here are relatively lesser.
Can I buy Château de Blois tickets online?
Yes, you can buy Château de Blois tickets online. Online tickets not only make your booking process easy and hassle-free, but are also very convenient, since you can avoid the long queues at the ticket booths. These online tickets also offer you a quick, skip-the-line entry into the castle, while also including numerous deals and discounts.
What is Chateau de Blois famous for?
The Château de Blois is famous for being one of the most important Renaissance monuments and historical sites in all of France. It is one structure that gives visitors a glance into the evolution of French architecture, right from the Middle Ages, all the way to the 17th century. The castle is also a place where you can learn about the history of the Loire Valley, all the way back to the reign of Louis XII. Furthermore, it is also a fine arts museum, with over 35,000 works of art by many famous French and other international artists.
Is Chateau de Blois worth visiting?
Yes, the Château de Blois is definitely worth visiting. In addition to being an important monument of the Renaissance era, it is also a site of historical significance where you can learn about the evolution of France, as well as French architecture from the 13th to the 17th century. You can also enjoy several unique exhibitions, tours of the rooms and halls as well as an amazing light and sound show here.