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Chateau de Blois Review

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Château de Blois

Phone: 02-54-90-33-33
www.chateaudeblois.fr

Category: Museums/Galleries, Castles/Palaces
Location: Blois

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Fodor's Review:

The massive Château de Blois spans several architectural periods and is among the valley's finest. Your ticket entitles you to a guided tour—given in English when there are enough visitors who don't understand French—but you're more than welcome to roam around without a guide if you visit between mid-March and August. Before you enter, stand in the courtyard to admire examples of four centuries of architecture. On one side stand the 13th-century hall and tower, the latter offering a stunning view of the town and countryside. The Renaissance begins to flower in the Louis XII wing (built between 1498 and 1503), through which you enter, and comes to full bloom in the François I wing (1515-24). The masterpiece here is the openwork spiral staircase, painstakingly restored. The fourth side consists of the Classical Gaston d'Orléans wing (1635-38). Upstairs in the François I wing is a series of enormous rooms with tremendous fireplaces decorated with the gilded porcupine, emblem of Louis XII, the ermine of Anne of Brittany, and, of course, François I's salamander, breathing fire and surrounded by flickering flames. Many rooms have intricate ceilings and carved, gilt paneling; there's even a sad little picture of Mary, Queen of Scots. In the council room the Duke of Guise was murdered by order of Henri III in 1588. In the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Fine Arts Museum), in the Louis XII wing, you can find royal portraits, including Rubens's puffy portrayal of Maria de' Medici as France Personified. Every evening mid-April through mid-September, son-et-lumière shows are staged (in English on Wednesday). Call 02-54-90-33-33 for details; tickets cost EUR 7 (joint ticket with château EUR 11.50).

Cost: EUR 8
Open: Apr.-Sept., daily 9-6:30; Oct.-Mar., daily 9-12:30 and 1:30-5:30

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