Located on two hills on the right bank of the Loire, Blois is dominated by its cathedral and the famous château. Blois is the capital of the Département Loir-et-Cher and the business center of a farming district whose chief products are wheat, wine and vegetables, especially asparagus. Chocolate and footwear are also manufactured nearby.
The Château de Blois was the principal royal residence until Henry IV moved the court to Paris in 1598. Louis XIV's building of Versailles sealed the final eclipse of Blois. One enters the château through the wing Louis XII to reach the beautiful large inner courtyard which is enclosed by four contrasting wings. (history of its architecture)
Louis XII Wing (1498 - 1503): This façade is formed by a gallery serving the various living rooms. It marked a new step towards comfort, because until then, the rooms had opened one into another. At each end of the gallery a spiral staircase in a tower connected with the floors above. The wing infuses Gothic design with Renaissance spirit, sealed with the king's porcupine symbol and motto From near and afar, I can defend myself.
Gallery Charles d'Orléans (15th cent.): Until Mansart began to build the new château in the 17th century this gallery was twice as long as it is now and connected the two ends of the courtyard. It was built in the middle of the 15th century and was the first example of stone and brick used together in this way. The gallery is supported by very low basket-handle arches.
François I Wing (1515 - 24): The building extends between the 17th century Gaston d'Orléans wing and the 13th century Chamber of States. Only 12 years passed between the completion of the Louis XII wing and the beginning of this wing, but the progress made was important. It meant the triumph of the Italian decorative style. French caprice, however, persisted in the general plan. The windows were made to correspond with the internal arrangement of the rooms, without regard for symmetry; they were sometimes close together, sometimes far apart; their frames were sometimes double, sometimes single, and pilasters sometimes flanked the window openings, sometimes occupied the middle of the bay. A magnificent staircase was added to the façade. Since Mansart demolished part of the wing to make room for the Gaston d'Orléans wing, this staircase is no longer in the center of the façade. It spirals in an octagonal well, three faces of which are embedded in the wall. This masterpiece of architecture and sculpture was evidently designed for great receptions. The well is open between the buttresses and forms a series of balconies from which members of the court could watch the arrival of important people. The guards who saluted the guests stood on these balconies. The decoration is varied and elaborate. The royal insignia of the salamander are used together with all the customary themes of the Renaissance.
Gaston d'Orléans Wing (1635 - 38): This structure in the Classical style, by Mansart, makes a sharp contrast with the rest of the château.